Red River College announces new Manager of Athletics

Red River College and the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference are pleased to announce that Shane Ray has accepted the position of Manager of Athletics and Recreation at Red River College. Shane currently works with Sport Manitoba as the Executive Director of Curl Manitoba where he is responsible for strategic planning, event management, human resources, financial management, fundraising and policy-making as well as working with Manitoba’s elite curling athletes. Previous to this role, Shane has worked as the Marketing Coordinator for the Bison Sport and Active Living program with the University of Manitoba, the Regional Manager and Executive Director for the Parkland Sport Council and the Recreation Director for the Rainy River Recreation Board.

Shane is a graduate of the Bachelor of Recreation Studies program at the University of Manitoba and is currently completing his Masters of Arts in Kinesiology and Recreation at the U of M.

Red River College will be competing in MCAC men's and women's volleyball, basketball and soccer in 2013-14.

MCAC Announces Coaches of the Year

With the athletic seasons all wrapped up, the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) has announced the coaches of the year in each sport. They are listed below: 

Men's Soccer: Martin Ward, Providence University College

Women's Soccer: Dante Calla, Providence University College

Men's Volleyball: Dan Gilbert, Red River College

Women's Volleyball: Scott Masterson, Providence University College

Men's Basketball: Sukhvir Singh, Red River College

Women's Basketball: Jaenas Pangilinan, Red River College

In soccer, Martin Ward continued his success with the Providence Freemen, leading his men’s team to a first place finish in both the regular season and the playoffs. On the women’s side, Dante Calla helped his team contribute to a Providence sweep in soccer this year, as they took home the championship in an undefeated season.

For volleyball, Dan Gilbert helped lead the Rebels to their fifth title in six seasons, capping it off with a gutsy win in the finals against a tough College Wesmen team. Women’s volleyball coach Scott Masterson gets recognition for a job well done with his team, as the Lady Freemen finished off the three-peat with their third championship in as many years.

In basketball, it was a great year for the Red River Rebels, as Sukhvir Singh is recognized for the second year in a row after an undefeated season and fifth straight championship, along with Jaenas Pangilinan on the women’s side, who helped his team win their second straight title.

Congratulations go out to all coaches after yet another great MCAC season. 

Rebels men ride defense to unprecedented fifth straight basketball title

Some may argue that basketball is headed into an era where the old cliché, “defense wins championships” doesn’t apply.  

Chances are Sukh Singh isn’t one of those people.

Again, the Red River head coach preached defense in an MCAC men’s basketball final.  Again, his team came up big.  Stopping the College Wesmen sharpshooters for the majority of the game, the Rebels won 72-56, and earned their unprecedented fifth straight championship.  Never before has one MCAC team won five straight titles, in any sport.

With a tournament-high 26 points in the contest, Red River forward Corey Neufeld was named the Basketball Final 4’s MVP.

After a 23-point outburst in the semifinals, it was clear early that the Rebels were looking to slow down College Wesmen guard Mike Villanueva.  Stymying him with ball pressure, Villanueva would go scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting in the first half.  On offense, meanwhile, Red River pounced, as a fresh Mike Hebert made all the hustle plays - coming up with five points, three rebounds and a block in the first quarter before sitting most of the second.

In that second quarter, Neufeld began to take over.  Perfect on his first four shots, he was able to push the Red River lead into double digits by himself.  Despite solid efforts off the bench from Winnipeg forward Cam Roche, who finished with 15 points and six boards, the College Wesmen were unable to sustain a run in the first half.

That storyline only magnified in the second half.  Villanueva began to look for his shot, and occasionally find it.  He would finish with ten points, but on 3-of-12 shooting.  As a team, Winnipeg went 5-for-18 from behind the arc, as the Rebels contested most of those looks.

With Roche the only constant on offense, the College Wesmen were simply unable to come back in the second half.  The Rebels ball pressure and help defense was outstanding throughout the game, certainly deserving of another championship trophy.

With a double-double, 15 points and 12 rebounds, Mike Hebert was named the player of the game for Red River.  Roche was given the honours for the College Wesmen.

For full Stat Tracker stats, including box scores and individual/team numbers, visit the MCAC Basketball Final 4’s stats page here.

For photos from the entire Basketball Final 4’s weekend, visit our Facebook page.