The Kermodes men's basketball team controlled their own playoff destiny this week but the quest ended after splitting a two-game series against Columbia Bible College (CBC) to close the school's second British Columbia Colleges' Athletic Association (BCCAA) season.
Two victories over last-placed CBC Friday and Saturday (Feb. 19 and 20) would have ensured Quest's first ever playoff berth. Not only that, the squad of first and second-year players would have become the fourth seed out of six playoff teams.
But Quest was unable to hold onto leads in the first game despite having team captain Bryce Froberg, who tallied 21 points, back in the line-up fulltime after being sidelined with a shoulder injury. Quest was up 12 points at halftime before the Abbotsford squad went on a serious run, shooting 65 per cent. CBC went on to win the game 89-87.
"We just never seemed to be able to put them away," said head coach Sean Shook.
Quest bounced back to win the following game 89-78 to end the season in seventh place out of 10 teams with a record of seven wins and 11 losses. Mukiya Post recorded a career high 25 points, including an impressive dunk that sparked his teammates, said Shook.
"He played well and got us kick-started. He kind of got the bench going and got everyone excited," said Shook, adding that it was difficult, at first, for his players to get geared up for the game knowing that their playoff hopes were dashed.
"I think once they got going there was a bit of a pride factor in the fact that we could build on the total number of wins we had, especially for those guys who had gone through that 18 and 0 season last year in league play."
The Kermodes have come a long way since failing to earn a single victory in its rookie BCCAA season last year. The biggest improvement this year was greater depth on the roster. Players supported each other when teammates fought off slumps.
"At different times different guys stepped up," said Shook.
The women's team also failed to make the playoffs after splitting its two-game series against CBC, although it controlled only part of its destiny. Not only did the Kermodes need to win both games, they also needed Capilano University to sweep Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
Neither scenario actually happened. Quest won the first game 69-55 but lost the second game 55-52, while the Blues and Eagles split their series.
Quest finished in seventh place with a record of six wins and 12 losses, improving on last season's record of three wins and 15 losses for ninth place.
"It's a tough way to end our season, but looking at the big picture of things, I think we had a pretty successful year and built on last year," said head coach Todd Jordan, who expects to have between eight and 10 returning players next year.
Players from the men's and women's teams are spending part of their spring break working as parking attendants during the Olympics at Whistler Olympic Park to raise money for the basketball program.
Jordan and Shook arrived in Kamloops this week to scout players competing in the "AA" High School Provincial Championships.
