AUS hoops finishes up for grabs

All but first place, held by X-Men, is undecided

The playoff teams are set in AUS men’s basketball entering the final week of the season, but plenty remains to be decided.

There’s also a milestone to recognize with Ross Quackenbush set to coach his final game at The Tower on Wednesday night against the Acadia Axemen.

Quackenbush is retiring after 23 seasons as Huskies head coach. He will depart with the rare distinction of a national championship as a player and coach.

What is known is the St. Francis Xavier X-Men will be the top seed for the Final 6 on March 2-4 at Metro Centre.

Despite some second-half hiccups, Steve Konchalski’s X-Men are regular-season champions for the first time since 2008-09.

St. F.X., 15-4, finishes at home on Saturday night against the Huskies. The X-Men are 8-0 in Antigonish.

The big prize of the second-seed, and a bye to the semifinals, is up for grabs with UPEI (12-7), Cape Breton (11-8) and Acadia (11-6) all even.

The Axemen, bidding for a second straight appearance in the nationals, have the best shot starting in their visit to Saint Mary’s.

Steve Baur’s team hosts Memorial on Saturday and Sunday with the Sea-Hawks (1-17) playing out the string.

Three wins by the Axemen slam the door, but two brings a tiebreaker into play.

Cape Breton visits UPEI on Saturday in a four-point game to close the regular-season for both teams. Either the Panthers or Capers can be no worse than even with the Axemen entering Sunday’s Memorial-Acadia game.

Saint Mary’s, 9-9, and defending-champion Dalhousie, 8-10, have yet to sort out fifth and sixth.

The Tigers have the easier schedule with the UNB Varsity Reds, out of the post-season at 6-12, visiting Dalplex for games Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Cape Breton guard Jimmy Dorsey (22.5 ppg.) and SMU forward Torey Fassett (22.4) are neck-and-neck for the scoring championship.

There is still a playoff race in the women’s league with UNB (5-13) needing a sweep at Dalhousie (7-11) and to cover a point differential to snatch sixth from the Tigers.

Otherwise, Acadia (15-2) will be the No. 1 seed in the women’s tournament March 2-4 at St. F.X.

Three-time defending champion Cape Breton, winners of 11 straight, is the second seed at 14-5 regardless of the outcome on Saturday at UPEI (2-17).

Saint Mary’s (11-7) and Memorial (10-8) can still flip-flop for third while the X-Women (9-10) can be no better than fifth. They held an automatic berth as host team.

Dalhousie can finish no higher than fifth even with a sweep of the Varsity Reds.

There is still a race for the women’s scoring title with Saint Mary’s guard Justine Colley (24.4) narrowly ahead of Cape Breton guard Cassie Cooke (23.4).