Lights host Coaches vs. Cancer tourney tonight
George Ferguson
Havre Daily News sports editor
gferguson@havredailynews.com
The fight against cancer is a worthy and noble cause. Thanks to Montana State
University-Northern head men's basketball coach Shawn Huse, it is also a cause
that has brought an exciting basketball tournament to Havre each of the last
three years.
For the fourth consecutive season, the Northern Lights will host the Coaches
vs. Cancer/Super 8 Classic beginning tonight at the MSU-Northern Fieldhouse.
In three years the tournament has raised $2,000 for the Coaches vs. Cancer
Foundation. A percentage of that money has gone to programs along the Hi-Line
that prevent, detect and treat cancer. This year Super 8 is also donating $3
per 3-pointer made during the tournament, and those proceeds will also go to
the Coaches vs. Cancer Foundation.
“It is a cause and a fight I feel very strongly
about,” Huse said. “And I am really proud to say that some of the money raised
during this tournament comes back to the local area to help in the fight
against cancer.
“I think if you're going to have a basketball tournament, it should really
matter,” he added. “And this tournament is a win-win situation because we raise
money for the fight against cancer and we get to bring some exciting basketball
to Havre.”
The tournament will feature the Lights, as well as fellow Frontier Conference
member Rocky Mountain College. The Kings University College of Edmonton,
Alberta, and Concordia U.C. of Vancouver, B.C., will also be in attendance.
Originally, Huse had scheduled to bring in two upper-tier teams from Canadian
College basketball, but both backed out in July. Still, he expects this weekend
will showcase some very entertaining games.
“Having Rocky here is also nice because even though we don't play them, we get
to see them play two games,” Huse said. “They are going to be a very tough
opponent in our league this year.
“And even though they graduated some key guys last year, with the recruits they
brought in, I don't expect them to miss a beat this season,” he added.
The Bears will open the tournament tonight at 6 when they face Concordia U.C.
On Saturday night, RMC will face the Kings University, also at 6.
Northern (8-3) comes into the tournament fresh off a humbling 37-point loss at
Division I-A Boise State last Sunday. After this weekend's tournament, things
go back to being extremely difficult when the Lights travel to California to
take on the NAIA's No. 1-ranked team, Azusa Pacific University. Huse said that
now is a good time to play a pair of teams - in The Kings University and
Concordia U.C. - that the Lights have already handled fairly easily this
season.
“It is nice to slow the pace down a little and play a couple of teams that
aren't at such a high level,” Huse said. “We have played some very good
competition the last couple of weeks, and things are going to get really tough
when we go on the road next weekend.
“So I think this weekend's games will be very good for the mindset of our
team,” he added.
Huse isn't suggesting that either team the Lights face this weekend is
inferior. But the fact is that Northern thrashed The Kings University 77-52 and
also drubbed Concordia, 82-52, in a season-opening tournament in Edmonton last
month.
“Both teams play a similar style of basketball,” Huse said. “They both play
really tough defense, and they are always working hard on both ends of the
floor.
“What they lack in experience, they make up for in hustle and effort,” he
added. “And they can really get after you, especially defensively.”
Still, neither team should present a serious threat to the Lights. Despite
Northern's loss at Boise State, the Lights are still one of the highest scoring
teams in the Frontier.
Senior Jordan Matthews is averaging 17 points per outing and fellow senior
Marcus Wilson, as well as sophomore Cory Brothers, are also both averaging in
double figures. Junior Ronnie Simpson has come on strong as of late and has
raised his average to nearly 10 points a game, giving the Lights a very
balanced offensive attack.
“This weekend will be very good for us in a sense that we can really focus on
improving,” Huse said. “We will be able to work on some things that have been
hurting us lately.
“Plus, the tournament is for a great cause,” he added. “It is always a lot of
fun, and fans should see some very exciting basketball.”