The stakes are high, and the NAIT Ooks men's basketball team is gearing up for a pivotal showdown in the ACAC Men's Basketball Playoffs. Finishing the season in fifth place in the ACAC North Division, they are set to face the Concordia Thunder in a play-in game on Friday, February 23rd, at 6 PM at the Concordia Gym. The teams, having split their regular-season matchups with two closely contested games, will now vie for the opportunity to advance to the next stage.

Head Coach Jordan Baker exudes confidence after a solid finish to the regular season, especially with an overtime win over Medicine Hat. "After a strong finish to the season with an overtime win over Medicine Hat, we are confident and focused heading into the playoffs," states Coach Baker.

The team's sights are set on a coveted spot in the Final Four, a goal that has fueled their determination throughout the year.

"Reaching the Final four has been a goal of ours all year, and we know we need to be playing our best basketball in what is a very competitive conference," adds Coach Baker, emphasizing the significance of peak performance in the playoffs. The ACAC is known for its competitiveness, and the Ooks are well aware of the challenges that lie ahead.

In the spirit of staying focused and taking it one step at a time, Coach Baker highlights the immediate task: "We prepare one game at a time. Concordia is our primary focus, and we will need to play well in order to advance past the play-in round."

The winner of the four vs. five play-in game will face Keyano College on Sunday at 3 PM, with a chance to advance to the ACAC Final-Four Championship. The host for the Final Four will be determined by the highest seed team remaining from the north division, adding an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to the playoff journey.

Catch the action on ACACTV or Telus Optik Channel 1998.