Lauren Grey
Blues Crew, Communications

The Capilano Blues' championship hopes came to a close in the PACWEST provincial semifinals as they were defeated by the top-ranked Vancouver Island University Mariners, 67-53. The Blues knew they would need a strong start to have a chance against the Mariners, and unfortunately, after a slow start, their comeback efforts were cut short.

The Blues came out with determination, staying close to the Mariners in the early minutes. However, by the end of the first quarter, the Mariners had a 21-14 lead. VIU’s supporters filled the gym, creating an atmosphere that felt more like a home game for the Mariners than the Blues. Their energy seemed to fuel the Mariners, who continued to hit seemingly impossible shots and make pinpoint passes that kept the Blues on their heels. By halftime, VIU had stretched their lead to 40-23. They were knocking down tough shots from all over the floor while also playing hard and physical defense. The Blues tried to respond, but VIU's precision and composure were too much to overcome.

Heading into the third quarter, the gap continued to widen. VIU led 58-36 after three quarters, with the Blues unable to find a consistent offensive rhythm. Despite a few late-game pushes that saw the Blues come within 10, they were never able to claw back into contention. With the final buzzer signalling a 67-53 defeat, the Blues hopes of a Provincial Championship came to an end. The Blues will need to regroup and focus on tomorrow, where they still have a chance to medal in the bronze medal game. This will be the Blues final game of the season. 

Tonight's top performer was Jenna Griffin, who ended the night with 14 points and seven assists in 36 minutes played. Jenna’s leadership showed all game, tomorrow will be her last game as a Blue, she will be very missed. Barcha Hnizdilova finished the game with 10 points and six rebounds, she has also been a very consistent player all year for the Blues. Maddy Coffin was a force on defence, trusted with the very hard task of marking one of the PACWEST’s best players, and she put up a very good fight; she finished the night with nine points, playing almost the entire game with 38 minutes logged.

The Player of the Game for the Blues tonight was Maddy Coffin 

The Blues will face the Douglas College Royals in a battle for the bronze medal at 12:30 PM, aiming to close out the season with a strong showing.

Come out and support your Blues at home!