The University of the Fraser Valley men’s basketball team absorbed a pointed lesson on the importance of defensive rebounding, courtesy Bradford Parker and the Windsor Lancers.
In exhibition action on Thursday evening at UFV’s Envision Athletic Centre, the Cascades took a 56-55 lead into the final 30 seconds of regulation.
But as had been the pattern all night, the visitors from Ontario flexed their muscle on the offensive glass in the pivotal moment.
After missing their initial shot, the Lancers had three more cracks at tip-ins or layups around the hoop. After the first two putback attempts rimmed out, Parker tipped the ball home to give Windsor a 57-56 lead with 9.2 seconds left.
On the Cascades’ final possession, Kevon Parchment drove into the paint through contact, the ball popped loose, the whistle didn’t blow, and the clock ran out during the ensuing scramble for the loose ball.
“You know, maybe if we win that game, we don’t necessarily understand we have improvements to make,” Cascades coach Adam Friesen reasoned afterward.
“Sometimes losses can really help you, and the message of rebounding and showing up and being more physical in the paint is hitting home now that we’ve lost a game on a last-second rebound.”
Offence was slow in materializing in this game – both teams shot less than 30 per cent from the field in the first half, which concluded with Windsor holding a 27-22 lead.
The Cascades hit their stride in the third quarter, matching their prior output with 22 points in the frame, as point guard Manny Dulay started to heat up.
UFV led by as many as seven points late in the third, but the Lancers battled back to tie it up at 47-47 midway through the fourth. The Cascades surged ahead once again 54-50, but Windsor scored the next five points before Parchment hit a pull-up jumper in the key to give UFV its last lead at 56-55.
Parker’s game-winning basket was his first of the game – he finished 1-for-9 from the field, along with a pair of free throws, for four points.
“I missed a lot of shots today, we all did,” he said with a wry grin. “But the thing about it is, we kept fighting and hung in there on defence. Defence is the key to why we won this game.
“It was a thrilling win. Hopefully we can get some more on this West Coast trip.”
Parchment paced the Cascades with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Nate Brown notched 15 points and seven boards. UFV’s Dulay and Dominique Brooks each posted nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field.
Windsor’s Rotimi Osuntola Jr. matched Parchment for game-high scoring honours with 16 points, throwing down a pair of highlight-reel dunks along the way. Fifth-year centre Evan Matthews chipped in with 11 points for the visitors.
UFV limited the Lancers to 29.3 per cent shooting from the field while shooting 40.7 per cent themselves, but lost the turnover battle (18-12) and allowed Windsor to haul down 15 offensive rebounds.
“Defensively, really good job – offensively, we still have a ways to go,” Friesen summarized. “But it’s early in the season, and the mistakes we’re making aren’t abnormal for this time of year. We just have to decide how hard we’re going to work fixing them.”
The Cascades’ preseason basketball showcase continues on Friday as the women’s team takes on the Queen’s Golden Gaels at 3 p.m. and the men face Trinity Western at 7 p.m. (North Gym).
Comments are closed.