The X-Men basketball team were back in action this weekend at the annual Dalhousie Rod Shoveller tournament after a long holiday stretch away from game action. They went 1-2 in the three day event, recording a 66-60 victory over Bishops and dropping matches to UPEI (88-72) and Acadia (85-75).
The Axemen won the six-team tournament with a 3-0 record. UPEI was 2-1 on the weekend, while Saint Mary's, Dalhousie and Bishops joined StFX with 1-2 records.
X-Men head coach Steve Konchalski commented, "The Shoveller tournament followed the script of our pre-season in October, a young team trying to find itself in the first few games and gradually getting better and showing improvement in each game."
"Our freshmen really stepped up and exhibited their development in the win over Bishop's, with four frosh being on the court together during several key stretches of play."
That 66-60 win over RSEQ opponent Bishops came on the final day of play on Saturday. Freshman forward Kevin Bercy led the X-Men with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while player of the game and tournament all-star Jordan Clarke scored 13 points and had seven boards.
Shane Coupland scored 13 points and had four rebounds for StFX, while freshman Cameron Walker contributed nine points and five rebounds.
StFX held a 33-28 lead at halftime.
Replying for Bishops was Jona Bermillo with 18 points and four rebounds, Onnex Blackwood with 16 points and five rebounds and Matt McLean contributing eight points and 10 boards.
StFX started off the tournament with a Thursday evening encounter with UPEI. Their AUS counterpart got off to a 44-40 half-time advantage then turned in a 27-15 third quarter performance en route to the 88-72 victory over the X-Men.
Lorenzo Parker led the Panthers charge with 18 points and five rebounds, while Jayden Skinner-Nordin scored 17 and Joe Kendrick had 13 points, seven rebounds and six steals.
Replying for the X-Men was Jordan Clarke with 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Veteran guard Will Donkoh scored 12 points, as did sophomore guard Dave Benoit off the bench who drained four three-pointers. Rod Madera added 11 points and led the team in rebounds with seven.
Against Acadia on Friday afternoon, the X-Men played a close first half, down by only two points at half-time (46-44) before the Axemen took over in the third quarter. The Axemen outscored the blue and white 19-9 in the third frame as they held on to win 85-75.
Tournament MVP Owen Klassen turned in a game-high 27 points, along with 14 rebounds and three assists for Acadia. Anthony Sears scored 15 points and Anthony Ashe scored nine.
Kevin Bercy led the X-Men with 17 points and six rebounds, with Arthur Ashe scoring 15 points. Jordan Clarke tallied 14 points and five rebounds.
StFX (5-3) resumes AUS regular season action on Friday, January 10th as they travel to Halifax for a game against the Saint Mary's Huskies (6-2). Tip-off is 8:00 pm at the Homburg Centre.