The Men Are On A Roll

Stingers Basketball Win Fifth Straight Game

SportsJulian McKenzie — Published January 19, 2014 | Updated January 20, 2014 at 1:21am

After the Stingers’ comeback against the Laval Rouge et Or on Saturday, no one looked more relieved than longtime head coach John Dore.

During the post-game interview with Stinger point guard Adam Chmielewski and shooting guard Jean-Andre Moussignac, Dore couldn’t help but interrupt to express his gratitude to his players.

“These guys are my heroes,” said Dore, much to the delight of the two players.

Despite being behind for most of the game—by as many as 13 points in the third quarter—Concordia’s men’s basketball team pulled themselves together and kept their winning streak alive in a thrilling 62-57 victory over Laval on Saturday evening, sweeping their home-and-home series with a 73-63 final over the Rouge et Or on the road two nights prior.

“It was a really gutsy win for us,” said Dore. “I thought we executed really well down the stretch, we did what we had to do to win the game.”

The Stingers’ comeback began in the fourth quarter, down 55-47, when forward Michael Fosu scored as he was fouled. His free throw completed a three-point play, making him the catalyst of a 11-0 run.

One of Dore’s “heroes” Chmielewski was a key player in the Stingers riposte, coming alive in the fourth quarter after a quiet first half. He finished the game with 12 points and eight rebounds, including a three-point shot that gave Concordia the lead.

“I felt [our] team came out flat at the start, but we knew we were ready to play once we felt the sense that the game was slipping away,” said Chmielewski.

After beginning the season 0-3, the Stingers have since won five games in a row, and have yet not lost in 2014. Moussignac, who scored 10 points and had five rebounds, says his team—filled with new personnel and players stepping into new roles—are finally starting to gel.

“Over the break, we practiced a lot,” he said. “We had more time to focus on every little detail. And it [paid] off, as you can see. We’re doing much better.”

The Stingers don’t have much time to enjoy their victory, as they’ll prepare for a significant rivalry matchup this Thursday versus the league-leading McGill Redmen. The game is at McGill, and tipoff is at 8 p.m.