MUN Sea-Hawks heading to Atlantic championships in Halifax
Memorial University's men's basketball team is competing in a major tournament in Nova Scotia this weekend, its first playoff appearance in almost a decade.
The Sea-Hawks are heading to the Atlantic University Sports Championships at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.
The team hasn't landed a play-off spot for the event in nine years, and this season they did so despite a recent blow.
One of the team's star players, 20-year-old Jacob Ranton, committed suicide over the Christmas break while he was home in Waterloo, Ontario.
MUN Sea-Hawks travel to Waterloo for funeral of teammate Jacob Ranton
Ranton was a second year business student on a full scholarship to play basketball for the Sea-hawks.
Coach Peter Benoite said the team came together after that experience.
"There's no doubt in my mind that what happened over Christmas has affected them and they're playing all out," he said.
"They want to continue the season and they want to continue playing hard," Benoite said." And we fully believe that Jacob's been with us and you know he'll be a sixth man for us this weekend."
Putting it all on the line
Benoite said that after suffering the loss, the team is taking nothing for granted.
"I think it gave us a sense of urgency to go out and do our best cause you never know when this is going to be over," he said.
"You never when this is going to end or what will happen. So, I think they just put it all out on the line and didn't worry about winning or losing."
Ranton's parents visited St. John's a couple of weeks ago to watch the team and to see where their son played. Benoite said it was tough for them, but helped give them closure.
The Sea-Hawks will play their first game of the tournament Friday night against Saint Mary's University.
