The University of the Fraser Valley men's basketball team is heading south for the 2012 holiday break.

The Cascades are going to Phoenix, Ariz. for a six-day conditioning camp with three exhibition non-conference games against National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) teams from the Phoenix area.

The Cascades will play in the Cactus Jam Holiday Tournament in Phoenix on:

Dec. 28 UFV vs Cochise College Apaches Dec. 29 UFV vs South Mountain Community College Cougars Dec. 30 UFV vs Phoenix College

The Cochise College Apaches won their third consecutive championship last year by claiming the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference title outright. It was the Runnin' Apaches' second ACCAC title in the last three years. The team also won 17 straight games en route to a 25-win season and another Top 20 finish in the final NJCAA Division I National polls, claiming the No. 18 slot in the NJCAA final poll.

South Mountain CC Cougars is gearing up for next season to revisit Danville, Ill. for another crack at the national title.

The Phoenix College Bears are home of the four time region one district one champions, 2008 NJCAA Men's Basketball Academic Team of the Year, 2007 & 2009 NJCAA Academic All American Team. UFV men's squad is 7-3 and sits in second place, one game behind the UBC Thunderbirds (82) in the Pacific Division of Canada West. UFV is currently ranked sixth in the CIS Top 10 poll.

CASCADES' CANCER FUNDRAISER

The University of the Fraser Valley women's basketball team will host a fundraiser in partnership with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation on Jan. 24 at Finnegan's Pub in Abbotsford.

The event is part of the Cascades annual participation in the "Shoot for the Cure," an initiative led by the CIS women's basketball coaching association. The project started in 2007 and has raised close to $512,000 from the 44 member schools that participate in women's basketball.

The Cascades, nationally ranked second in the CIS Top 10 poll, will also host their fifth annual 'Shoot for the Cure' basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 26th against the UNBC Timberwolves at the Envision Athletic Centre.