Manitoba, Winnipeg, and Calgary have to ‘take care of business’ …
Manitoba (10-6) at Brandon (7-11) – Can the Bisons keep on winning? Yes, but they travel to Brandon, where history suggests the ‘Cats have a chance to break the 8 game run for the Herd. Yes, Manitoba swept Brandon last season at BU, but that was the 1st time that had happened since 1975 ! And, the ‘Cats will be fired up for their Seniors, Earl Thompson Jr, Denham Buchanan, and Esmat Atem, who play their final games in Brandon. Coach Gil Cheung’s team also has their eye on a play-off spot, and this weekend is that chance, as they wrap up their schedule and wait. The ‘oddsmakers’ would say no, but these teams are fierce rivals, and no quarter will be given. 8 pm / 7 pm Central
Regina (7-9) at Winnipeg (10-6) – The Green Cougars are fresh from a euphoric Saturday win over the highly regarded Calgary Dinos, and that momentum should give them a lift as they challenge the Wesmen. Both these teams are scrambling for play-off position, and we have them both making it in. They are evenly matched at the guard spot; Regina’s Brandon Tull, Alex Igual, and young Johneil Johnson ready to tussle with Winnipeg’s Denzel Lynch-Blair, William Sesay, and Sean Tarver. The Ws have home court, but Regina have won 5 of the last 7 meetings. 8 pm / 7 pm Central
Calgary (12-4) at Thompson Rivers (8-8) – As they have for quite a number of weeks now, the Dinos are being described as “ … a very talented team,” by TRU head coach Scott Clark. “They are big and fast and athletic.” Well yes, but the #6 Dinos have lost games on the past 2 Saturdays, and have suffered some ‘uneven play’ for a team meant to be a championship contender. The Senior celebration in Kamloops for 5th year all-star, Volodymyr Iegorov, will be emotional, and could be a big catalyst for extra focus by the Wolf Pack. TRU is coming on with a young group, and are on home turf. 7 pm Pacific both nights
Can the home favourites prevail in these remaining 4 series?
UBC-Okanagan (2-14) at MacEwan (5-11) – The Griffins last game was an impressive win over Winnipeg on Saturday, and they have beaten UBC-O in 7 of the last 8 meetings. Heat mainstay, Mitch Goodwin has been hurt, and UBC-O are not in the play-off mix. Okanagan have lost 4 games this season by 5 points or less; they can play well at times, but not well enough to come out on top. The GMU seniors should get a good send-off in this final home set. 8 pm / 7 pm Mountain
Trinity Western (2-14) at Mt. Royal (7-9) – The Blue Cougars are within reach of a play-off spot, while the Spartans are out. Guard play is so critical, and MRU has it with Derek Wolf, Glen Yang, Craig Martin, and the combo G-F, Josh Ross, their assist leader with 3.7 apg. TWU have rookie, Josiah Meppelink, stepping in, but they are just not as cohesive a group as they need to be. Good match-up with Patrick Vandervelden of Trinity facing Brett Layton of Mt. Royal. 8 pm / 6 pm Mountain
Victoria (7-9) at Fraser Valley (7-9) – We might have placed this game in the ‘chance of an upset’ group, but the Cascades really aren’t decided favourites here. UFV has played well against some tough teams, but lost a home game on Saturday to TRU. The Fraser Valley big men should be up to defending against UVic, and the guard strength for the home side is there. The last home games for Manny Dulay and Vijay Dhillon may drive the ‘Trees’ to a sweep, but Victoria wants to nail down a play-off berth. The Vikes defense looks to be coming around, and role players have a shot at stepping up their minutes. 8 pm / 7 pm Pacific
UNBC (4-10) at UBC (15-1)– The Timberwolves, with Marcus MacKay, Rhys Elliott, and Vaggelis Loukas, can be a tenacious group, even on the road (ask Manitoba or Fraser Valley!). However, after 6 straight League losses since Christmas to ‘mere mortals’, they must be prohibitive underdogs against the mighty Thunderbirds. (‘The Ubyssey’ student news may not have enough flattering adjectives to describe the UBC domination.) Not the final home games for Jordan Jensen -Whyte and Will Ondrik, but they will be feted on Senior Night, Saturday. 8 pm / 7 pm Pacific
Lethbridge has this week as a bye
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Scores from the East –
In the OUA … Brock 66 Waterloo 63, Ryerson 79 York 53
Upcoming – The Big news is the Saturday ‘repechage’ with #1 Carleton hosting #3 Ottawa in the Capital Hoops Classic
Quebec Thursday … at Concordia Laval , at #8 McGill Bishops
Atlantic – Memorial at #10 Dalhousie , UNB at UPEI, St. FX at Saint Marys, Cape Breton at Acadia
also in the OUA – York at Toronto, at #5 Ryerson Queens, Lakehead at Laurentian, Western at Algoma, Guelph at Nipissing,
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Overtime – Here are excerpts from a great article on 5th year star, Volodymyr Iegorov,
Volodymyr Iegorov, 5th year import at TRU – photo TRU Athletics
who came from donetsk, in the war-torn Ukraine to finish school with 2 years at Thompson Rivers, by TRU Sports Information Officer, Scott Stewart. (Coach Scott) “Clark says that Iegorov has been a ‘breath of fresh’ air in the way he conducts himself and he has been a treat to coach. Contrary to what some might believe, Iegorov says taking a Masters in Business in his second language (English) wasn’t difficult. ‘It was good I came two months before school started so I had time to adjust. My teammates helped me so I didn’t feel so far away from home as well. I still feel that way.’ ”
Iegorov – ‘We have a young team and we lost our veterans. I am getting more rebounds than last year. And my responsibility has increased. I just try to work hard.’
“That work ethic is something that has impressed many people, not only Clark, who says Iegorov has embraced being a good community citizen. ‘One of the first things I did with Vlad was I took him to Salmon Arm to help run a basketball camp. He came with me and was really good with the kids. He is a bright guy and his adaptability is remarkable. He comes from a different country and two days later some guy is taking him to Salmon Arm to run a camp in another language.’
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