UFV Cascades men’s and women’s basketball teams nationally ranked to start the 2012-13 campaign
The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades men’s and women’s basketball teams are nationally ranked in the CIS top ten poll to tip-off the regular season campaign. The men, defending Canada West silver medalists and CIS “Final 4” finalists are ranked fourth to start the season. The same ranking the team had for the majority of the winter semester in 2011-12. UFV women’s team start the 2012 campaign ranked third in Canada, last year the Cascades finished 8th in the CIS top ten poll. Both schools spent the majority of the 2011-12 season nationally ranked. It is the first time both schools are in the top five in Canada. The Cascades start the 22 game regular season in Calgary, Alberta as they are the Mount Royal Cougars first ever CIS opponents this coming Saturday, November 3rd and Sunday, November 4th. Below are the team’s previews:
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
Women’s Basketball Preview
Key Additions: Jessica Collins (G), Shayna Litman (F)
Key Departures: Tessa Klassen (G)
CIS Ranking: 3rd
CW Ranking: 2nd
2011-12 Regular Season Record: 12-6
2011-12 Regular Season Standings: 2nd Place (Pacific Division)
2011-12 Playoff Record: 2-3 (2-2 Canada West) 0-1 (CIS East Regional)
2011-12 Playoff Result: 2-0 vs Calgary (CW Quarterfinal) L 72-56 (Regina CW semi) L 71-65 (Saskatchewan Bronze Medal)
Last CW Championship: N/R
Last CIS Appearance: N/R
Abbotsford, BC – The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades women’s basketball team enter the 2012-13 season with a talented veteran line up that has gained valuable experience the past two years competing at a high level in the very talented Canada West conference. The Cascades have been nationally ranked for most of the past two years and have participated in both CIS Regional tournaments having played in Fredericton, NB and Ottawa, Ontario against OUA schools.
The Cascades are led by Aieisha Luyken, Mission, BC who averaged 12.4 points per game while playing over 32 minutes per night for Coach Al Tuchscherer. Sarah Wierks, Chilliwack, BC who was named to the 2010-11 Al-Canadian rookie team, averaged 9.3 [points and 9.8 rebounds per game and has become a steady force in the middle of the Cascades line up. Sarah’s sister Nicole, is one of five players in their fourth year with UFV and will be looked to for the veteran leadership, on the floor, with the graduation of Tessa Klassen, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Nicole averaged 30 minutes per game while contributing 10 points and six boards per night. She was named the Canada West recipient of CIS Tracey MacLeod Award for her determination, perseverance and unwavering spirit battling career threatening injuries.
“The team is excited and is looking forward to the challenges of the CW season. This is the most veteran our team has been in several seasons and we are hoping the experiences of the past two seasons will serve us well. We are a team that needs to work hard every night to compete with the best teams and I think our group embraces that mentality,” commented UFV head coach Al Tuchscherer.
Cascades web site: http://www.ufv.ca/Athletics/VarsityTeams/Varsity_Basketball_Women.htm
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
(regular season record) / votes (first-place votes) / (previous rankings)
1. Windsor (0-0) / 514 points (41) / (-)
2. Regina (0-0) / 446 (2) / (-)
3. Fraser Valley (0-0) / 429 / (-)
4. Carleton (0-0) / 393 / (-)
5. Saint Mary’s (0-0) / 300 / (-)
6. Saskatchewan (0-0) / 230 / (-)
7. Victoria (0-0) / 195 / (-)
8. Acadia (0-0) / 191 / (-)
9. Wilfrid Laurier (0-0) / 188 / (-)
10. UBC (0-0) / 79 / (-)
(Top ten poll courtesy of CIS)
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
Men’s Basketball Preview
Key Additions: Manjodh Dulay (G), Hudson Simon(F), Kevon Parchment (G)
Key Departures: Sheldon Bjorgaard (G), Mike James (F)
CIS Ranking: 4th
CW Ranking: 5th
2011-12 Regular Season Record: 13-5
2011-12 Regular Season Standings: 2nd Place (Pacific Division)
2011-12 Playoff Record: 4-4 (3-2 in Canada West post season and 1-2 at CIS “Final 8” tournament)
2011-12 Playoff Result: 2-1 v Lethbridge in CW quarterfinal, W 63-62 Victoria (CW semi) and L 72-71 Alberta (CW Championship game)
Last CW Championship: N/R
Last CIS Appearance: 2011-12 “Final 8” in Halifax, NS
Abbotsford, BC…The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades men’s basketball team is looking forward to defending their second place finish in Canada West. The team went through several changes over the summer and emerged with a new head coach Adam Friesen, the former star basketball player at Trinity Western University looks forward the challenges of his first head coaching assignment. Adam was busy over the summer adding new depth to the core of players that broke 12 school records last year en route to the Canada West silver meal and the school’s first trip to the CIS national championship tournament. “I am looking forward to the challenge of keeping the winning tradition at UFV going. We have an exciting blend of veterans and very talented first year players,” commented Friesen.
The Cascades are led by their 2011-12 Male Athlete of the Year Kyle Grewal, Surrey, BC who averaged 14.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Grewal had a monster CIS championship tournament breaking UFV’s single game scoring mark with 35 points against St. Francis Xavier University, in the 89-86, bronze medal game loss. Grewal was named to the CIS “Final 8” all-tournament team. Coach Friesen is also looking to Sam Freeman, Coquitlam, BC and James York, Richland, Washington for on court leadership, both average 30 minutes per game and Freeman was named to the Cascades Honda Way tournament all-star team last October.
The top recruits Kevon Parchment, Toronto, Ontario and Hudson Simon, Toronto, Ontario will be looked upon to fill the void of the graduated and transferred players from last year’s squad. Manjodth Dulay and Luke Morris are two of the local high school all-stars from last winter who will make an immediate impact on the team’s attempt to go back to the CIS national championship tournament, to be held in Ottawa, Ontario, in mid-March, 2013.
Cascades web site: http://www.ufv.ca/Athletics/VarsityTeams/Varsity_Basketball_Men.htm
MEN’S BASKETBALL
(regular season record) / votes (first-place votes) / (previous rankings)
1. Carleton (0-0) / 526 points (43) / (-)
2. UBC (0-0) / 457 (1) / (-)
3. Acadia (0-0) / 338 / (-)
4. Fraser Valley (0-0) / 320 / (-)
5. Saskatchewan (0-0) / 314 / (-)
6. Lakehead (0-0) / 313 / (-)
7. McGill (0-0) / 309 / (-)
8. Cape Breton (0-0) / 150 / (-)
9. Windsor (0-0) / 131 / (-)
10. Alberta (0-0) / 87 / (-)
(Top Ten poll courtesy of CIS)
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