Saturday Hoops Rewind
The Royals, Mariners and Bearcats win
Week 12 of the women’s PACWEST basketball schedule wrapped up on Saturday with three important games when it comes to the standings.
Douglas Royals 63
Capilano Blues 62
What a game, what a finish in this one as the Royals earn the weekend split thanks to a buzzer beater by Laini Glover on Saturday night.
With seven seconds to go and the Royals trailing by one, a last second drive and shot by Avnoor Waraich was blocked before landing in Glover’s hands for the putback and winning basket. The shot made was Glover’s third of the night.
Overall, the Royals shot 35% led by Mackenzie Dalphond who was outstanding, scoring 16 points and grabbing 19 rebounds. Denise Medoza added 12 and Glover’s six on the night helped with production numbers. Impressively their defence collected 17 steals without Lauren Clements in the lineup who was sidelined in this one.
The Blues fought hard and thought they had this game in the bag and actually did before Glover’s putback at the final buzzer. They shot 34% from the field with Maddy Coffin’s 22 points leading the way. Barcha Hnizdilova was a spark with 17 points, and it was her block that almost won the game for the home side.
Next weekend the Royals (17-5) enjoy a bye and will no doubt be scoreboard watching as they sit in a first-place tie with the VIU Mariners, who have two games in hand. The Blues (14-6) will visit the CBC Bearcats (11-9).
VIU Mariners 77
Okanagan Coyotes 53
The Mariners blew open the game in the third quarter outscoring the Coyotes 22-10 on their way to a weekend sweep and 17th win of the season.
Overall, their offence shot 36% and knocked down 10-three pointers with Sarah Cook dropping a team high 17 points. Sammy Shields came off the bench in this one and finished with a very efficient 14 points on 6-8 shooting and connected on both her three-point attempts.
Their defence held the Coyotes shooters to 29% from the field. Jordan Kemper had a solid double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Antonella Luraghi finished with a team high 18 points.
Next weekend the Mariners (17-3) will head to Victoria to meet the Camosun Chargers (6-14) and the Coyotes (0-22) will be at home to welcome the Langara Falcons (7-13).
CBC Bearcats 60
Langara Falcons 54
The Bearcats made second half adjustments and exploded in the third quarter outscoring the visiting Falcons 20-8 to take the lead for good, finishing with a six-point win.
On the offensive side, the Bearcats shot 31% and got to the free throw line 25 times in the win. Kagari Tomita collected a team high 15 points and Kendal Dueck added 14 in the team’s 11th win of the year. With the victory the Bearcats split the weekend with the Falcons in a possible playoff preview. If the postseason started today, they would meet in a quarterfinal.
This game was clearly physical as the Falcons got to the free-throw line 34 times. Combining that with the Bearcats’ 25, the teams attempted 59 free-throws on Saturday.
From the field the Falcons were held to 27% shooting with Katelyn Lafleur leading the way with 14 points and Avaani Pagely added 10. With the loss, the Falcons remain two points up on the idle Camosun Chargers for fifth place in the standings.
Next weekend the Bearcats (11-9) stay at home to welcome the Capilano Blues (14-6) and the Falcons (7-13) head to the Okanagan to meet the Coyotes (0-22).