There are high expectations as the Concordia Stingers open the 2008 Quebec university basketball season by hosting the UQAM Citadins in a doubleheader on Friday night at Concordia gym.
Concordia University president Judith Woodsworth will get the action under way when she tosses up the ball, tipping off the men’s game at 6 p.m.
The Stingers men’s team won nine games and lost seven to finish in second place in the Quebec University Basketball League last season. In the playoffs, the Stingers reached the conference championship but lost a tough game to the Laval Rouge et Or.
With fifth-year players Dwayne Buckley, Jamal Gallier and Levi Vann setting the pace, Concordia plans to improve on its 2007-’08 performance. Fourth-year all-Canadian guard Damian Buckley will also be someone to watch. He had an outstanding preseason, winning accolades at Canadian tournaments and in exhibition play versus NCAA teams in the U.S.
This year, the Stingers are ranked No. 3 in the country. From the Quebec conference only the McGill Redmen break into the Top 10. They sit at the No. 9 spot.
The Concordia women’s team is one on the rise. The Stingers struggled through a rebuilding phase a few years ago, but have been progressing the last couple of seasons. They finished with eight wins and eight losses last season, finishing in third place in the five-team Quebec conference. Concordia is expected to continue moving forward in a very tough league.
Leading the way will be fourth-year all-star guard Krystle Douglas, who was the leading scorer in the conference last year. She averaged 15.3 points a game. Veterans Yasmin Jean-Philippe, Kristin Portwine and Ebony Morris will also be impact players.
The women’s game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. tip off.
