The No. 1-ranked Concordia Stingers advanced to the CIS Final 8 with a convincing 84-57 victory over the Laval Rouge et Or in the QSSF championship game at Concordia gym before a crazy capacity crowd on Friday night.
Led by fifth-year veteran Ben Sormonte, who was unstoppable, the Stingers shot 59.6 per cent to Laval's 36.2 per cent. Sormonte hit seven of eight 3s and led all scorers with 25 points.
Quebec MVP Pat Perrotte, also playing his final game at Concordia gym, had 23 points.
The Stingers out rebounded the Rouge et Or 38-20. QSSF Defensive Player of the Year Dwayne Buckley hauled in eight, while younger brother Damian nabbed six rebounds.
Montreal Gazette sportswriter Randy Phillips described the Stinger performance “as close to perfection as it gets for a team.”
The Stingers will return to national tournament in Halifax for the first time since 2005 when they were silver medallists. The draw and seedings will be announced by the CIS at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Concordia will practice at home Monday and Tuesday before leaving for Halifax on Tuesday evening in preparation for the national quarterfinals that begin Friday, March 16.
