REGINA -- Mental preparation will be a big part of the game plan for the Saskatchewan Roughriders as they get ready for the CFL West Division final. cheap jerseys from china paypal . The Roughriders will head west to face the Calgary Stampeders on Sunday, and quarterback Darian Durant says theyll have to keep their heads in the game. "You cant let the emotions get the best of you," Durant said Friday after practice in Regina. "You have to realize that its going to take a full 60 minutes of fundamental football to get the job done, especially on the road in hostile territory against a damn good team. You have to realize whats at stake and make sure that you have the right state of mind." Whats at stake for the Riders is a chance to play in the Grey Cup on Nov. 24. at Mosaic Stadium, their home turf. But first they have to get past Calgary, who won the West with the CFLs best record of 14-4. The Stampeders also won the season series with Saskatchewan 2-1, with both victories coming at McMahon Stadium. The rivalry between the two teams was heated this season, but Durant was looking forward. "It doesnt even matter what happened during the regular season. Its all about now," he said. "They know theyll face a different team. We know well face a different team. "I dont think what happened this year has anything to do with what youll see on Sunday." Slotback Geroy Simon, who spent 12 seasons with the B.C. Lions before joining the Riders in January, is drawing on experience to get through the West final this weekend. "You have to treat it like another game, but you know that its either win or go home and it can be a huge game for all of us," said Simon. "I know for me its all about, I want to leave a lasting legacy in a positive way, so this just kind of adds to that. I consider myself a winner and no matter where I go, I want to win and win championships." But for Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin, Sundays matchup will be his first West final as a head coach. Chamblin says he thought it would feel different. "It feels like its the next game and its a game that weve prepared and prepared to win," Chamblin told reporters Friday. "I thought it would be all the, you know, Wow, this is it. Its the Western final or Eastern final, or wherever I thought Id be. But its the Western final and as a head coach, I think thats just a maturity in my mindset and a maturity in the teams mindset is, its the next game and we have to be able to win." The Riders got to this point with a 29-25 win over the B.C. Lions in the West semifinal last weekend. Durant completed 19 of 23 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns in the semifinal win. He also picked up 97 rushing yards on six carries. Durant says running is important in every game. "Every game dictates a different guy stepping up, a different situation, so well see what the game holds. If its up to me and if a lanes open for me to run, then so be it. If we win by throwing the ball, then so be it. If (Kory) Sheets does it, then well take that too," said Durant. The Riders will also have slotback Chris Getzlaf back in the game. Getzlaf was the Riders receiving leader this year with 63 catches for 1,047 yards, but suffered a knee injury in the teams 29-25 loss to Calgary on Oct. 26 and hasnt played since. "He got through practice today," said Chamblin. "There was better progression. He ran his routes faster and he made more moves and things like that to finish the whole game plan." cheap jerseys from china wholesale . -- Yuniesky Betancourt is back with the Kansas City Royals after agreeing to a one-year contract. cheap jerseys from china . The win in the Lalla Meryem Cup completed an amazing year for the English teenager. She had five runner-up finishes, became the youngest member of Europes winning Solheim Cup team and was rookie of the year on the tour.TORONTO - Drake stood from his courtside seat, his arms over his head motioning for the sellout crowd to get on their feet as the final buzzer sounded and his iconic anthem, "Started From The Bottom" blared over the Air Canada Centre loudspeakers. The Raptors global ambassador was the guest of honour on Saturday but - as he explained to the hoard of media that assembled in front of him before the game - he did not want the evening to be about him, although the night was in fact titled Drake Night. It could have been and very nearly turned out to be a sideshow. The Toronto-born recording artist handed out free shoes while his DJ entertained a captivated audience of 19,800 at halftime. Moments later the buzz that had filled the arena abruptly disappeared as the Raptors came out flat in the third quarter, trailing by as many as 10 to the division-rival Brooklyn Nets, winners of their previous five contests. In the end, Drake asked for noise and the ACC faithful obliged, saluting the team and its ambassador. The Raptors had earned it, putting on a show of their own and sending their fans home with more than just a black and gold OVO T-shirt. "I think we just got a spark there," coach Dwane Casey said after the Raptors closed out the game on a 40-18 run to defeat the Nets 96-80. "I thought our guys showed mental toughness and won a slug-out game, which I dont know if we could have won a couple months ago, no less last year. [Its] a testament to our guys mental growth and mental toughness to win a game like that." "We stayed patient," said DeMar DeRozan, who led all scorers with 26 to go along with seven rebounds and a team-high five assists. "We knew they were going to make a run, especially in the second half and we understood that. We stayed disciplined, understood we had to get stops, rebound the ball and push it." DeRozan scored the last seven points of the third and first two of the fourth as the Raptors began to take advantage of a veteran Nets team that had played a double overtime game against the defending champions a night earlier. Toronto held the visitors without a point for over seven minutes of game time and without a field goal for over nine minutes during a 22-1 run midway through the final frame. Despite their 41 per cent field goal shooting and just 16 assists, the Raptors were able to get out in transition - besting the Nets 13-6 on the break - and take advantage of Kevin&nbssp;Garnetts absence on the boards (the 37-year-old was rested on the second night of back-to-back). cheap jerseys from china free shipping. . As a team the Raptors grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, five of them from Patrick Patterson, who continued to be a game-changer off Torontos bench. The Raptors outscored Brooklyn by 40 with Patterson on the floor Saturday. He finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds while fellow reserve John Salmons added 13, connecting on all five of his shots. The Nets and their rookie head coach Jason Kidd were struggling when they visited Toronto in late November, having lost five in a row before narrowly defeating the Raptors. This time around, they came to town riding a five-game winning streak, which included impressive victories over the Heat, Warriors and Thunder. Without Garnett, Deron Williams (nursing an ankle injury) and Brook Lopez (out for the season after foot surgery) in the lineup on the second night of a grueling back-to-back, Toronto seized another opportunity during this crucial stretch against sub-.500 teams. The Raptors have now won seven of their past nine contests overall and five of their last six at home, pulling within one-game of third place Atlanta in the Eastern Conference standings. With some assistance from Drake, the in-arena atmosphere reflected the teams recent success on Saturday and did not go unnoticed by those in the locker room. "I definitely think (Drake) succeeded," Amir Johnson said. "He got fans hyped, they had some sweet t-shirts in the crowd, everybodys screaming, every play everybody seemed like they were standing up cheering for us and thats what we need from our fans." "The atmosphere was great, I hope we can continue having that. Weve got to keep winning though." Accompanied by an entourage that included Tim Leiweke and Masai Ujiri before the game, Drake showed off his suit jacket, lined with a retro Vince Carter jersey. He also pitched in during the pre-game introductions, announcing the Raptors starters with his own unique twist. "Tonights not really about me, despite the title of the night," he said. "I think its just more about the momentum in the city, bringing the city together, how well these guys have been playing, honouring this squad that is really finding [itself], finding stability with each other and the revamp of this team." Given the result, its safe to say his mission was accomplished. ' ' '
