The Pronghorn men's basketball team (6-16 CW, 6-24 overall) heads into the final weekend of the season, still alive in the post season chase but no longer controlling their own destiny. With the weekend split versus the Fraser Valley Cascades last weekend, the Horns still remain two games out of playoff spot with only two games to play.
Even though they do not control their own fate, the only thing they can control is their own performance. For the team to have any chance of playing next weekend the goal is simple – win both games this weekend at home versus the University of Winnipeg (5-17 CW).
In addition to winning both games, the Horns will need both Calgary and Fraser Valley to lose both of their remaining games to end in a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot. In a three way tie it is unclear who would come out ahead until all the games are completed.
After struggling for much of the season, first-year Wesmen Head Coach Mike Raimbault has his troops playing their best basketball of the season. The Wesmen have won three of their last four games, including a road sweep last weekend of the Brandon Bobcats.
On paper, there is not much separating the Horns and Wesmen. The Wesmen score 74.4 points to the Horns 72.9 and defensively it's nearly dead even with the Wesmen's 87.2 slightly better than the Horns, who on average allow 87.6 points per game.
Third-year post Derek Waldner was a force last weekend for the Horns recording his sixth and seventh double-doubles of the season and moved into fourth in the conference in rebounding. With 30 rebounds last weekend, Waldner is now averaging 9.1 rebounds per game.
This weekend will also mark the final conference games in a Horns uniform for a pair of seniors. Horns leading scorers Randy Davis and Danhue Lawrence will complete their collegiate eligibility this year. Davis sits 12th in the conference, averaging 16.9 points, while Lawrence is four spots lower, averaging 14.9 points a night.
Tip-off for both Friday and Saturday night is set to follow the women's game at 8:00pm at the 1st Choice Savings Centre.
Webcast for both games can be viewed at: http://www.educationcdn.com/schools/pronghorns/
and live stats: http://www.uleth.ca/horns/teams/basketball/mens/xvisitor.htm