espite beating Irvine while playing without three starters. The Bears had a chance to get back in with a win over the Aztecs but

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Canadas players gathered on their knees at one end of the court over the Olympic rings, taking it in together for a final time. Their special Rio run was over, but Blair Cameron Bann was already turning his attention to four years from now.The teams libero offered this to his dejected, overachieving teammates: What do we got to do for 2020?After their huddle, the players thanked their cheering fans at Maracanazinho arena and the supporters back home who embraced their strides in a sport that falls below other beloved ones there such as hockey or curling.I wish we could have put a little bit more out there for Canada and for the fans that came here to support us and for ourselves, Bann said. Im sure in a few days well look back and be happy with our tournament. Just qualifying was really big for our country. To do well and win some games here against some top-ranked teams, hopefully it keeps us going in the right direction -- and we dont stop here, we keep going, keep improving.Canada lost in straight sets to defending Olympic champion Russia in the quarterfinals Wednesday, a match that went far faster than anybody liked. Yet even in the immediate sting of defeat the Canadians realized just how far they had come to leave their mark in Brazil and beyond. They were the last one into the 12-team tournament, having qualified in a last-chance event in Tokyo just over two months ago.Captain Frederic Winters shared a warm hug afterward with his mother, Maggie Pajak.The finish is so bittersweet, and Canadas long flight home will certainly feature some reflection by the players and staff. They are thrilled that young kids are inquiring about national programs, so the interest is building by the day.Well take some time and look back at where we got to, and I think well be pretty proud of what weve done. Its hard to look at that now though, setter Jay Blankenau said. Its a huge step for volleyball in Canada to keep improving and use this as kind of a benchmark of what we can accomplish and try to be better and stronger next time.As coach Glenn Hoag prepares to step aside after more than 10 years in charge and a winning culture in place, many players expressed their desire to stick with the national team and try again in Tokyo.We dont want to be happy with just this, John Gordon Perrin said. We are in this moment, we enjoyed it and it was such a good feeling to play in these games at this level. We want to give ourselves the reminder: We want to be at this level and we want to play at the highest level in the world, and we want to be in 2020. We want to consistently do it. Cheap Shoes From China Fast Shipping .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Cheap Under Armour Shoes China . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. http://www.cheapshoeschinaonline.com/cheap-salomon-shoes-china-253a.html . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. China Shoes Outlet . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. Cheap New Balance Shoes China . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Leading California by 18 points midway through the second half, San Diego States Jeremy Hemsley thought he and his teammates became a little complacent.Coach Steve Fisher didnt see it that way and was more focused on the outcome -- a big win for the Aztecs, one week after they got blown out by 14th-ranked Gonzaga.Hemsley scored 15 points, Trey Kell converted a 3-point play with 2:21 remaining that pushed a shrinking lead back into double digits and San Diego State beat California 77-65 on Monday night.We let them get some easy looks and we werent rebounding as well as we did in the first half, Hemsley said. Thats something we do have to work on, playing the whole game and not letting the foot off the gas pedal.Malik Pope had 14 points and five rebounds in his season debut before fouling out late in the second half, Kell scored 11 points and Max Hoetzel added 11 points and seven rebounds for San Diego State (3-1). Pope sat out the first three games with a knee injury.The Aztecs shot just 36.9 percent and let most of a 62-44 lead slip away before holding on for their fourth straight win between the two teams.You have to be able to stem the tide and not allow a run to grow and grow and grow, Fisher said. It happens. I dont know that we let up. Cal competes hard and so do we.Both teams struggled shooting most of the game but combined for 67 free throw attempts at the Golden 1 Center, home to the NBAs Sacramento Kings.Ivan Rabb had 19 points and 11 rebounds in his first game of the season for California (2-1).Once Ivan settlled down and we settled down we were able to see the defense and we were able to do a better job, Bears coach Cuonzo Martin said.ddddddddddddOLDEN DEBUT FOR BOTH TEAMSThe game was the second NCAA game played at the Golden 1 Center. UC Davis beat Sacramento State 81-72 in the first half of the doubleheader. Former Cal point guard and current Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson attended the game and sat courtside.POLL IMPLICATIONSMaybe the voters saw this coming. California dropped out of the Top 25 this week despite beating Irvine while playing without three starters. The Bears had a chance to get back in with a win over the Aztecs but thats not going to happen now.BIG PICTURESan Diego State: Fishers team had been playing short-handed in its first three games but got most of the injured guys back. Popes return was key but the Aztecs will need to find more scoring somewhere. They made only 11 of 32 shots after halftime.California: This was a step up in competition and the Bears didnt handle it well early, shooting only 23.1 percent in the first half. That they made it close in the second half was mostly due to the Aztecs poor shooting. Still, what looked like a blowout turned into a tight stretch run and for that Cal can feel good. Getting Rabb back was also big, though its clear hes going to need some time to get adjusted.UP NEXTSan Diego State: Hosts Savannah State on Nov. 28.California: Hosts Wyoming on Friday night. ' ' '