UFV Cascades defeat the University of Victoria Vikes, 79-70, at McKinnon Gym, in Victoria, BC. The Cascades record improves to 7-4 with this key victory over the Vikes, ranked sixth in Canada. The Cascades ranked 10th in Canada hand Victoria their second loss of the year. They are now 9-2.
The UFV Cascades came out strong defensively, holding the Victoria Vikes to 16 first quarter points. While trailing by four points after the first quarter, UFV found its range in the second quarter led by Sheldon Bjorgaard, Abbotsford, BC and Jordan Blackman, Abbotsford, BC who hit key baskets to bring the Cascades all the way back from a nine point deficit midway through the second stanza.
The Cascades ran off 11 straight points to take a 27-25 lead on a perfect corner three point shot by Joel Friesen, Abbotsford, BC. Jasper Moedt, Abbotsford, BC led UFV with seven first half points. Blackman and Friesen each added six points. Kyle Grewal, Surrey, BC led all Cascades with four total boards. Tied at 34 each, at the intermission, the Cascades balanced scoring and excellent team play have quieted the Victoria crowd as UFV looks to win their seventh of the campaign.
The Cascades again held their own at the start of the third quarter matching the Vikes basket for basket as both teams started to open up and score at will. The Cascades establish themselves under the basket pulling down key rebounds that led to baskets that gave UFV the lead with under one minute remaining in the quarter. Up 54-52 after three quarters, the Cascades continue to receive scoring from nine different players, led by Friesen’s 13 points.
The Cascades started off the final quarter scoring the first four points and taking a six point lead their largest of the game. Midway through the quarter UFV built up a 10 point lead and kept the pressure on the Vikes. UFV continued to play great defense and shut down the high scoring Vikes.
“Thought we played together for a long stretch of this game, very close to 40 hard played minutes. We needed to do that versus a highly ranked Victoria team. We know they will come back and play even better tomorrow, and now the challenege is on us to do the same. We were outrebounded on the evening, and that is one main area for us to improve tomorrow,” said UFV Head Coach Barnaby Craddock.
UFV was led by Grewal’s 18 point performance and six rebounds. Friesen added 17 points three boards and two assists. Sam Freeman, Abbotsford, BC scored 15 points in the victory and recorded three assists. All nine Cascades dressed scored at least two points, in the team’s most well balanced scoring game of the season.
The Cascades play against tomorrow night at McKinnon Gym, against the Vikes before returning to Abbotsford.
UFV 12 22 20 25 = 79 (7-4)
UVIC 16 18 18 18 = 70 (9-2)
Top Scorers: UFV: K Grewal 18 points/ UVIC: M Berg 19 points
Team Rebounds: UFV: 8+20=28/ UVIC 16+18=34
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