The University of the Fraser Valley men’s basketball team carved out a little bit of history on Saturday evening, setting a new Canada West record for fewest points allowed in a game.
The UBC-Okanagan Heat were the unfortunate victims as the Cascades put on a masterful defensive performance, winning 79-32.
The Heat’s points scored by quarter were 10, 10, 9 and 3, as they hit just 22.4 per cent of their attempts from the floor (13-for-58), 5.6 per cent from beyond the three-point arc (1-for-18) and 38.5 per cent from the free throw line (5-for-13) for the game.
“Our energy was just great from the opening tip,” enthused UFV head coach Adam Friesen.
“The energy, the effort and the teamwork – all the things we work on and preach – were there for 40 minutes.”
The Heat had given the Cascades a far stiffer test in the first game of the weekend, taking a three-point lead into halftime on Friday. But UFV hit their stride in the fourth quarter, out-scoring UBC-O 24-8 in the frame en route to a 69-55 victory. Centre Jasper Moedt set the tone, racking up 29 points and 14 rebounds, while Manny Dulay’s 17-point outing was highlighted by five three-pointers.
Moedt led the way again in Saturday’s blowout win, anchoring the lights-out defensive performance and registering his second straight double-double with 14 points and 11 boards. Klaus Figueredo (14 points), Dulay (13) and Amrit Gill (10) also scored in double figures.
The Cascades (11-5) hold a two-game lead on Thompson Rivers in the race for second place in the Pacific Division of Canada West, and they’re on a program-record eight-game win streak. UBC-O is last in the Pacific at 3-13.
Friesen termed Moedt’s recent play “just incredible,” noting that the Yale Secondary product has been asked to take on a larger scoring load this season and has responded tremendously well.
“He took some time to adjust, but everyone knew what he was capable of,” Friesen said.
“He’s always been a great defender, great leader. But part of what we wanted to do was have a low-post presence, and he was going to be it. He’s really performed well, and with his low-post presence, we’re a tough team to guard.”
CASCADES WOMEN SWEEP
The UFV women’s hoopsters matched the men by sweeping their UBC-O counterparts on the weekend.
Friday’s opener was a blowout, as the Cascades opened a 33-15 halftime lead en route to a 66-31 triumph. Sarah Wierks (15 points), Nataliia Gavryliuk (13) and Shayna Litman (10) paced a balanced attack, and UFV limited the Heat to 23.4 per cent shooting from the field.
Saturday’s rematch was a closer affair – every time the Cascades appeared poised to pull away, UBC-O would mount another mini-run to stay close. UFV prevailed regardless, 65-52, to improve to 12-4 and maintain a one-game lead over UBC and UVic for first place in the Pacific Division. Wierks (16 points, 10 rebounds), Litman (13 points) and Aieisha Luyken (12 points, five assists) led the charge.
“Not our best night tonight. I thought our approach was sloppy and that continued for most of the game,” UFV coach Al Tuchscherer stated in a press release. “UBCO played with a lot of desire tonight and we really didn’t execute our game plan at all. I think we were fortunate to leave the game with the win. We will have to be much better moving forward.”
UFV TO HOST COUGARS, BOBCATS
The UFV basketball teams are at home next weekend, hosting the Regina Cougars on Friday (women 6 p.m., men 8 p.m.) and the Brandon Bobcats on Saturday (women 5 p.m., men 7 p.m.).
The women’s game vs. Regina is a marquee match-up, as both teams are ranked nationally. The Cougars (14-2 and tied for first in the Prairie Division) are No. 4 in the CIS poll, while the Cascades are No. 9.
