SQUAMISH, B.C. - Given all they could handle by a game Quest squad in the middle of an electric atmosphere, the Sheridan Bruins men's basketball (31-5, 18-3, OCAA) endured down the stretch and will advance to the national semi-final after Trevor Williams' three-pointer with 6.5 seconds remaining lifted them to an 87-84 triumph.
"Quest was unbelievable, their home crowd was unbelievable and that's just what we seem to want to do, take things right down to the end," Sheridan head coach Jim Flack said. "Of course it isn't entirely up to us, Quest is an incredibly good team. I've got to give them a lot of credit for the way they came out, but now we march on. It's just survive and advance."
With an energetic and rambunctious crowd fuelling them, Quest got off to a hot start taking an early 24-14 lead after a 15-2 run.
The Double-Blue would see themselves staring at a 12-point deficit - 39-27 - late in the first half, before clawing back to trim it five, 39-24 at the break.
Early in the third quarter, an 11-0 Sheridan run gave the Bruins a 52-47 advantage, but it would be short-lived as Quest answered with a 14-0 run of their own that proved critical in giving the tournament hosts a 63-56 edge heading into the final period.
Sheridan slowly chipped away at the margin, finally pulling level at 75-75.
The Bruins built a small 81-77 cushion only to see Quest tie it up again, before Allen Anderson knocked down a three-ball to restore the three-point edge.
Yet again Quest would even the score, with Jose Colorado - who connected on six threes and scored a game-high 27 points - nailing another jumper from downtown.
It gave Sheridan the chance to burn a little clock late and Williams dribbled at the top of the key before draining the pull-up three with 6.5 seconds left to push the Ontario champions ahead 87-84.
Cartiea French-Toney had a chance to get off the game-tying attempt, but Williams blocked it and heaved the ball towards the Quest basket as time expired.
Williams scored a team-high 25, while Dylan Periana (18) and Michael Selkridge (14) both hit double figures.
The Bruins will now meet the Alberta champions from Red Deer - who rallied from a double-digit halftime deficit to defeat Crandall - in the national semi-final.
Source: Sheridan College