The VIU Mariners have won their second consecutive PACWEST gold medal in women's basketball.  After failing to win a medal at the CCAA tournament last year the team is focused on winning gold in front of their home fans.  (PACWEST) 

By Dan Marshall

One More Step

Mariners looking to home court advantage for elusive national basketball championship

Mar 5, 2020 | 7:01 PM

NANAIMO – The VIU Mariners have known since May 2019 they would be hosting and playing in the CCAA Women’s Basketball Nationals.

But Tony Bryce’s squad carved out a winning path that makes the team a legitimate medal favourite in the tournament that runs Mar. 19-21.

The Mariners won the PACWEST regular season record with a 17-1 record, they won the gold medal at provincials and they are the number one ranked team in the country heading into the national tournament.

At provincials, VIU beat Camosun 71-54 in the semis and took down Capilano 60-53 in the final.

Coach Bryce believed his team upped their level for the gold medal game.

young volunteers

'Make a big difference:' Nanaimo volunteers collecting warm clothing for those in need

1h ago

strong storm

Wind warning issued as Pacific storm approaches Island

2h ago

stepping in

Federal minister asks labour board to intervene in Canada Post strike

4h ago

“I didn’t think we were brilliant in the semi final but we definitely came out much more engaged mentally for the final. We did a great job of executing a defensive game plan.”

The parallels between this season and last are strikingly similar for the Mariners.

Both teams went 17-1 in the regular season and won a provincial championship. However VIU wasn’t unable to medal at nationals last year and the goal is to treat the home fans to a championship performance this time.

Bryce noted the return of Kayla Gromme and the addition of American CJ Buckley were two key roster additions to an already solid core.

“One of my goals in the offseason was to get a little bit more athletic to prepare us for the national tournament and I think we’ve done that.”

The hope is the experience of being at nationals before will play a role as well.

“Most of us were there last year and I think we got caught up in it a little bit in that first game,” Bryce said. “Now that we’ve been through it I think that’s big for us and I think we’ll be able to be a little bit more relaxed and just go out and play.”

The last CCAA medal for a Mariners team was in 1998 when the then Malaspina Mariners won national gold.

Bryce said the players have been dialed in on winning gold at home all year and he is personally as well.

“For me it’s not about winning a PACWEST championship it’s about winning a national championship.”

To win the ultimate prize Bryce now knows first hand his team will need to play an up tempo game.

We’ve really tried to play with pace this year and I built an exhibition schedule that allowed us to go down to the US and play against some really good athletes.”

As much as possible Bryce wants to create an environment around the nationals resembling the team being on the road, including some team functions and events.

“You hope that the advantage of playing on the court that you practice on all year and shooting on the background that you shoot on all year gets you a few extra buckets. You want the energy of the crowd to maybe get you a few extra buckets as well. You’ve got to try to ride that wave of emotion without getting too emotional.”

The 2020 CCAA Nationals will begin with the awards banquet on Mar. 18.

The Mariners will play their opening game at 6 p.m. on Mar. 19.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77