CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — There will be no easing into nationals tonight when the Holland College Hurricanes play the host Langara Falcons.
“You’re just matching up with the best the country has to offer,” second-year Hurricanes wing Jace Colley said. “With them being the host team, their crowd and all those things will definitely play a part, but none of their fans are on the floor. So, if we lose a game, it’s on us.”
The Hurricanes have been a dominant force in Atlantic Canada, winning seven straight conference banners but have been unable to capture the elusive gold medal at nationals. They have a silver from 2013 and earned bronzes during the past three trips to nationals.
This year, they are in Langley, B.C., for the Canadian College Athletic Association championship.
Travis Adams attended the U Sports nationals with the Saint Mary’s Huskies as a rookie and has made two trips to the Canadian collegiate championship. After sitting out the first semester, Adams is back with unfinished business.
“Oh yeah, definitely,” the forward from Halifax said, “trying to get that gold medal.”
Adams has added physicality to a well-balanced Hurricanes squad that went undefeated during conference play and was ranked No. 1 nationally at the end of the season. They are an athletic bunch with a handful of players who can drop 20 on a team any given night.
“We have guys that score from pretty well every position,” head coach Josh Whitty said.
Colley, who has verbally committed to play Division 1 ball south of the border next year at Chicago State, Adams and fifth-year forward Roosevelt (Chicken) Whyley will be leaned upon during nationals, but don’t overlook their guards. The group is led by the trio of rookie Jordan Holness as well as fifth-years Connor Therrien and Martin Campbell.
“Jordan Holness has been tremendous all year and I think Connor is the best shooter in the country,” Whitty said, noting his 47.5 per cent success rate from three-point land. “There’s not a lot of guys shooting it at that clip.”
The Hurricanes outscored their opponents by 31 points per game during the regular season. It has played university programs during the exhibition season in order to play better competition. It is hoped that helps when the games get tighter this week.
Colley said it’s all about maintaining focus.
“When we lose, it’s when we get sloppy and careless and we lose our focus,” he said.
Adams said it will take 40 minutes of concentration and hard work while playing as a team.
The Hurricanes begin each year with the goal to get back to nationals, but there are no guarantees.
“This is the weekend we’ve been hoping to be in all year,” Whitty said. “You think about all the hours in the gym from that first weekend of September on, and now we have to go let it all hang out.”
Need to know
A look at the roster and schedule for the Holland College Hurricanes men’s basketball team at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championship in Langley, B.C.
Roster
Player Hometown Program
Jace Colley East Preston, N.S. Business administration
Connor Therrien London, Ont. Sport and leisure management
Martin Campbell Prince George's County, Md. Sport and leisure management
Isaac Cheverie DeSable Sport and leisure management
Jordan Holness Toronto Adult education
Roosevelt Whyley Nassau, Bahamas Heritage retrofit carpentry
Marc Hofer Stuttgart, Germany Business administration
Cameron Paynter Summerside Sport and leisure management
Josh Bourque Charlottetown Business administration
Eleazar Goodman Nassau, Bahamas Electronics engineering tech
Travis Adams Halifax Sport and leisure management
Schedule
All times are Atlantic.
Today
Quarter-finals
5 p.m. – Vanier Cheetahs (A1) vs. Humber Hawks (A4).
7 p.m. – SAIT Trojans (A2) vs. VIU Mariners (A3)
9:30 p.m. – Sheridan Bruins (B2) vs. Nomades de Montmorency (B3)
11:30 p.m. – Holland College Hurricanes (B1) vs. Langara Falcons (B4).
Friday
Bronze quarter-final
5 p.m. – Losers from Thursday’s first two quarter-finals.
7 p.m. – Losers from Thursday’s final two quarter-finals.
Semifinals
9:30 p.m. – Winners from Thursday’s first two quarter-finals.
11:30 p.m. – Winners from Thursday’s final two quarter-finals.
Saturday
Bronze semifinals
2 p.m. – Winner from Friday’s 7 p.m. game vs. loser of Friday’s 9:30 p.m. game.
4 p.m. – Winner from Friday’s 5 p.m. game vs. loser of Friday’s 11:30 p.m. game.
Placement game
6 p.m. – Loser from Friday’s 5 p.m. game vs. Loser from Friday’s 7 p.m. game.
Bronze-medal game
9:30 p.m. – Winner from Saturday’s 2 p.m. game vs. Winner from Saturday’s 4 p.m. game.
Championship game
11:30 p.m. – Winner from Friday’s 9:30 p.m. game vs. Winner from Friday’s 11:30 p.m. game.
