Over the Edge + January 19

11

Upcoming Home Games Huge for T-Wolves

Important playoff implications in matchup with undefeated Capilano

BROCK CAMPBELL
SPORTS EDITOR

The next home games for both Timberwolves basketball teams may be one of the biggest
challenges of the season and a good opportunity to move up league rankings. The Capilano
Blues who currently sit atop both men’s and women’s league standings with 7-0 records roll
into town January 21st to face the T-Wolves in a weekend double-header. The two games
against CAP kick off a four game home-stand for UNBC who play the Kwantlen Eagles the
following weekend. Both UNBC teams are currently third in their respective leagues and a
pair of wins over the Blues would likely solidify their positions amongst BCCAA elite teams
and all but guarantee a berth at provincials. Nonetheless, wins may not come easy against
CAP for both the men and women T-Wolves.

The Blues women’s team
has for lack of a better word
owned the competition
averaging ninety-eight
points a game and holding
opponents to fifty-six. CAP
has the top scoring duo
in the league with Sasha &
Polischuk, an NCAA transfer #e
who averages twenty-five j
points and six assists a
game, and Jessica Franz
who puts up twenty a night.
Despite CAP’s impressive
numbers and being the
only team that remains
undefeated in the league,
it should be noted that the
Blues have only played one
team with an above .500
record. The Blues have yet to
play Langara or VIU, the only
teams to have beaten the T-
Wolves thus far. Langara
won both games against
UNBC in week two and VIU
split its double-header with
the T-Wolves in week three. UNBC will be the first real challenge for the Blues this season.

At the time of writing UNBC
shared a 4-3 record with three
other teams, but sit in third
" with a higher points for and
against ratio. Wins over the
Blues, and barring any tragic
losses at the conclusion of
the season, would give the T-
| Wolves a stranglehold on third
» place heading into provincials
taking place at the beginning of
March.

The women T-Wolves who
are coming off a solid win
over UBC-Okanagan prior
to the Christmas break may
begin the second-half of the
season hampered by _ injury.
All-Star Kady Dandeneau, who
expected to return following
the holidays from her knee
injury, has decided to sit out
the remainder of the season.
Dandeneau tested her knee
during an exhibition tournament
in Phoenix and determined she
was not ready. More bad news
came out of Phoenix as the
| T-Wolves senior point-guard
Christine Kennedy — suffered
) an ankle injury making her
questionable for UNBC’s
upcoming games.

As for the men T-Wolves they
will be looking to recover from
their heartbreaking 86-85 loss
to UBC-O that took place at
home on November 27th.

ONLINE SOURCE

Just like their women’s team, the men Blues stand alone as the only undefeated team in the
league but have yet to play UNBC or VIU, the other top squads in the BCCAA. The Friday
night game against the T-Wolves will be the first true test for CAP and something has to give.
With a win the Blues will prove they are for real and deserve to be atop the standings or their
hopes of a perfect season may fizzle at the hands of the T-Wolves, bringing CAP back down
to earth.

One thing is for certain fans can expect a guard matchup for the ages. UNBC’s All-Canadian
Inderbir Gill will go head-to-head with CAP’s rookie phenom James Lum. Gill is once again
having an All-Star caliber
season leading the T-Wolves
with twenty-two points and six
assists a game, putting him
third in league scoring and
second in helpers. Lum on
the other hand is a shoe in for
BCCAA rookie of the year and
trails just behind Gill in points
and assists. He is a quick guard
who is drawing comparisons to
his head coach, Jordan Yu, a
Prince George product and
former UBC Thunderbird who
@ could score at will and was a
threat anywhere on the floor.

In discussing the T-Wolves
matchup with CAP, Coach
Todd Jordan noted Lum as
CAP’s biggest threat, “I know
that he’s (Lum) a fast guard
and very talented and we are
going to key on him and work
at stopping him.” Coach Jordan
also indicated the importance
of the double-header with the
Blues, “The two games against
CAP will have big implications for the bye in the playoffs.” The top two teams in the league
immediately advance to provincial semi-finals, and beating CAP would definitely strengthen
UNBC’s chance at a first or second seed.

ONLINE SOURCE

In key games like these often times the biggest difference is home-court advantage so make
sure to get out and blow the roof off the Northern Sports Centre January 21st and 22nd. The
women tip-off at six followed by the men scheduled for eight.

We're inviting
B.C. youth to a conference

in Vancouver from August 19-21, 2011
— all expenses paid!

If you're aged 18-30, live in BC, and want to
learn about transportation, sustainability and
planning, apply to attend by January 31, 2011.

See translink.ca/bcyouthsummit for full details!

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