WolfPack hoopsters travel to Southern Alberta
Thompson Rivers University WolfPack will have their hands full as they venture into Southern Alberta for a pair of CIS basketball tilts this weekend (Jan 25 and 26).
Friday night, the WolfPack will meet up with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. The following night, they will visit Calgary to meet up with the U of C Dinos.
If there is any consolation as the WolfPack approach the weekend, it’s the fact that they will be taking on the Pronghorns first. Lethbridge sits in the basement of the Canada West men's league central division (0-16). The Pronghorn Women are also struggling (2-14).
Saturday night (Jan 26), will see TRU playing a Calgary men's team which has 13 wins in 16 starts. The Dinos are fourth in the CIS rankings (down from 2nd last week). They are led by the Bekkerings — 6-8 Ross and 6-6 Henry. The Taber Terrors are among the Canada West’s most dominating players. Henry (4th year, Social Sciences), is seventh in scoring. He’s averaging 18.8 points per game. Ross (3rd year Business) leads the Canada West in rebounding. He’s averaging 11.4 per game. Both Bekkerings are forwards. The WolfPack will also have to contend with Dino guard Jeff Price. The third year player is tops in free throws in the Canada West (49-56) and stands second in assists (4.94) average.
As the season winds down, WolfPack coach Nevin Gleddie says, "A key for us will be to stay motivated." One player who is taking his advice is 1st year Guard Geoff Matthews (Kamloops, BC). He had 11 points against Manitoba (Jan 18) and 13 points against Winnipeg (Jan 19). 2nd year guard Kamar Burke has led the ‘Pack in scoring the past two games with 13 and 30 points respectively. Burke is 5th in the Canada West in rebounding averaging 7.9 per game.
The Calgary women (11-5 going into the weekend and 6th in Canada) feature this weeks Canada West Female Athlete of the Week: Ashley Hill. The Calgary resident shot an incredible 60 per cent, including six-of-nine from behind the arc, as the Dinos snuck past the Regina Cougars 102-96 in overtime. In 41 minutes of court time, Hill scored 33 points, including the final two free throws in overtime to seal the six-point win for Calgary.
One night later in Brandon (0-16), she played 30 minutes and scored 24 more points in the Dinos’ 106-73 shellacking of the Bobcats. She finished the weekend with a career-best 57 points, 10 steals, and a .595 shooting percentage while playing 71 minutes. The Dinos feature four players in the top 10 in scoring in the Canada West. Tops is Courtney Coyle. The 4th year guard, out of Cranbrook, BC, averages 15.6 points per game.
Wolfpack womens head coach Scott Reeves is looking at the weekend realistically. “We are at the end of the season and a short bench is taking it's toll. We are going to have to do the little things like take of the ball, take high quality shots and don't get beat for easy lay-ups.” Already getting a look at what he’ll have for next year, Reeves has given a number of his younger players more playing time. 2nd year forward Kayla Forsyth (Vernon BC) had 12 points Saturday versus Winnipeg. 4th year guard Sarah Cameron (Langley BC) rates 5th in the Canada West in assists. She averages 3.94 per game.
Both TRU squads return home to face the University College of the Fraser Valley Saturday February 2nd at the Tournament Capital Center.