Axemen can hold their heads high

The Acadia Axemen may have fallen short of the ultimate national university men’s basketball title, but they can hold their heads high.

Despite an 18-2 regular season and 25-6 overall record, the Axemen were regarded relatively lightly by some entering last weekend’s CIS Final Eight in Ottawa after losing the AUBC final to Saint Mary’s.

Those who had the chance to see the Axemen live and at their best this season knew all too well how talented a team this is. They were, at worst, the second-best team in the nation. With all due respect to the rankings, a single loss by three points - albeit in a conference final - wasn’t going to alter that fact.

Acadia’s loss in the AUBC final did more than drop them from a probable second seed at the Final Eight to fifth. It meant, if they won their quarterfinal, they had to face top-ranked Carleton in the semifinals instead of in the final – it may have cost them a national title.

Acadia did beat the five-time defending CIS champions in dramatic fashion, avenging a lopsided quarterfinal loss to the Ravens at last year’s Final Eight. The bad news: it took the Axemen two overtime periods, leaving them with little or nothing left in the tank in the second half March 16 against a hungry Brock team with seven players in their fourth or fifth year. Acadia ended up falling three points short, just as they had in the conference final. I hesitate to say they lost in either case: this Acadia team is not a loser. On another day, with another set of circumstances and a break here and there, the result could have been different.

One might argue the Axemen had their share of breaks their way during the tournament, both against Carleton and in their semifinal win over Laval. They more than held their own against Brock, building a 10-point halftime lead, but simply ran out of gas.

The Axemen have nothing whatsoever to be ashamed of. Even though they weren’t as sharp as they could have been down the stretch, Brock won the game on the court, fair and square. They are worthy champions - and have the trophy and banner to prove it.

Those who watch basketball on a regular basis suggest defense wins championships. The Axemen came as close as they did to a national title because they played solid defense. Yes, they allowed Laval 77 points and Carleton 80, but they did a great job all weekend in shutting down the opposition’s main scoring threats.

I felt both good and bad for Axemen veteran Achuil Lual. Though Acadia won as a team – and lost as a team – that they got as far as they did this season was due in no small part to his tireless efforts. Defense doesn’t always get its due in sport, but Lual was a deserving choice as AUS Defensive Player of the Year, and at the Final Eight made the tournament all-star team.

Paulo Santana also stepped up at the Final Eight’after a regular season marred by injury, scoring 15 points against Carleton and a team-high 18 against Brock.

Leo Saintil finished with 61 points and 26 rebounds in Acadia’s three tournament games, and joined Lual as a tournament all-star.

Peter Leighton came off the bench to score a game-high 23 against Carleton.

Shawn Berry had 25 in the win over Laval.

Sunday’s loss marked the end of the Acadia careers of Lual, Berry and James Burke, but everyone else - including Saintil, the conference MVP - will return this fall, their sights set on achieving the goal that so narrowly eluded them this season.