It may not come with office pools, celebrity
brackets, national media attention or a catchy
theme song from CBS, but November Madness is underway at Brigham
Young University Idaho.
It was 8 weeks go this Thursday that coaches held
the draft for the school’s competitive basketball league.
All of those early morning practices, and hard
fought games that players put their sweat blood and tears into have prepared
them and their respective coaches for this moment.
The tournament actually began the week before
Thanksgiving break and now only the final four teams remain.
The 88ers held their final practice before Friday
night’s game earlier this week.
88ers Head Coach Steven Flanders decided to have
his team scrimmage with the Titans for the majority of his team’s hour and a
half practice.
After the scrimmage Coach Flanders huddled up his
team and told them that they’d be having some fun before they’re final practice
was over.
Everybody participated in a 3-point shootout.
There was clear no winner. A few players could make
50 percent of their shots, but it was clear to see that everybody was cold
after a rigorous hour and twenty minutes of drills and scrimmaging.
The 88ers know that Friday night’s game will be a
taught test they’ll need to pass in order to even have a shot at eternal glory.
Power forward Mitch Huntsman talked about what
they’re doing to prepare.
“I think that the biggest thing to prepare for the
tournament is that we just have to have fun. We’ve got a talented team; we’ve
got a good coach, we’ve just got to put it all together that’s what our team’s
all about.”
Coach Flanders reflected on what his team has been
able to accomplish this past season, “We just had a lot of fun this season. We
really hit our stride when we smoked the Spartans. Our team has transformed a
lot since then playing together well.”
But for the 88ers it’s not all about physical preparation
there’s also the spiritual aspect of playing basketball at BYU - Idaho.
Patrick Lunquist also known as "The White
Mamba" has been the team’s designated “spiritual guide” this season.
He explained what that involves,
“What I like about our team is we’re pretty
good but we’re pretty spiritual, we know how to get up that way. We say our
prayers before we come to practice, before a game so I think that really helps
us out.”
Coach Flanders isn’t sure where the nickname came
from, but mention that Lunquist has lead his teammates in group prayers this
season.
Here’s a breakdown of the final four:
88ers will take on the Knights this Friday at 7:30
P.M.
Titans will play the Hurricanes at 9:30 P.M.
The championship game will be played this Saturday
and that is scheduled to tip off at 4:30.
All three games will be played in the main gym of
the Hart building.
