Sandy McLachlin
Sports Reporter

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – The men’s basketball team is already looking forward to next season after failing to win a medal at the college national championships here last weekend.

“The fact that we lost last year in the quarter-finals at provincials and then we won it this year means that this year’s loss in the quarter-finals at nationals will only make us want to win the (Canadian) championship even more next year,” said Daviau Rodney, a sharp-shooting guard who was second in Hawks scoring with 12.88 points per game and plans on returning next fall.

The team entered the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association tournament on a 19-game winning streak, including an unbeaten run through the Ontario championships earlier this month.

The Hawks won their first game here last Friday – a 104-71 rout of Quebec’s Montmorency College – setting up Saturday semi-final Saturday night against Calgary’s Mount Royal College, the gold medallists.

“It’s a pretty big disappointment,” Humber forward Jeremy Alleyne said after the 64-61 loss to Mount Royal.
Then, the Hawks had to play the host University of Northern British Columbia in a consolation game that would have given them a shot at a bronze medal.

“It’s a hard game for them to come back and get excited after a tough loss,” conceded UNBC head coach Mike Raimbault after his team defeated Humber 82-78.

Humber head coach Darrell Glenn, named national coach of the year before the tournament began, said with only one starter graduating – Mike Dvorak he’s optimistic about next season but always concerned about his players staying eligible.

“I think we’re in a great position,” said Glenn. “But our challenge is the guys doing their part in the classroom and putting themselves in a position to help us move forward.”

Humber has won five national titles, the last in 2001.