The Champs Advance

The VIU Mariners flexed their muscle on Friday punching their ticket to the PACWEST gold medal game with a 91-60 victory over the Camosun Chargers.

Eight different players hit the scoresheet showing off the true balance of the Mariners. They shot 49% from the field and 47% from downtown led by the player of the game Usama Zaid. He had a game high 34 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Jerod Dorby was solid as well with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Bryson Cox chipped in with 11 points.

The Chargers had no answer for Zaid however did see scoring from 10 different players as they shot 37% from the field and 47% from behind the arch. Shaquille Maharaj was named the player of the game with 13 points, six rebounds and four steals. Both Mathew Hampton and Ismail Abdulahi each dropped in 11.

The Mariners will now face the Douglas Royals in the PACWEST gold medal game on Saturday night at 8:00pm. The Mariners are looking for their fourth straight Conference title a feat that has not been accomplished since Vancouver City College (VCC) won seven straight from 1973-1980. The Royals have not won gold since 2008. The Chargers on the other hand will try for bronze when they meet the Langara Falcons at 3:00pm.

Following the game Ryan Watters talked with Mariners’ head coach Matt Kuzminski