Despite a couple of game efforts, the UBC Okanagan Heat came up empty-handed in both tries against Fraser Valley in Canada West women’s basketball action over the weekend in Abootsford.
The two losses push the Heat (4-10) to the edge of playoff elimination in the Explorer Division.
On Friday, with the Heat trailing by three and vying to tie it up late, Sarah Allison’s trey attempt banged off the rim and stayed out, giving the Cascades a 70-67 victory.
“That was too bad we didn’t grab that one,” said Heat coach Heather Semeniuk.
Allison finished the night as the Heat’s second leading point getter with 15. Third-year guard Jessica Jazdarehee led the team with her second double-double this season as she poured in 17 points and brought down 10 boards.
Second-year guard Olivia Johnson drew praise from Semeniuk for her outstanding effort at both ends of the floor.
“She was definitely the player of the game,” Semeniuk added.
On Saturday, the Cascades prevailed 77-65. Allison and Jazdarehee were solid again for UBCO but were overshadowed by UFV’s twin towers—Sarah Wierks and Katie Brink—who combined for 49 points, while Wierks added 19 rebounds. Jazdarehee paced with Heat with 19 points, while Allison had 15.
UBC Okanagan will need to win at least five of its last six and get a lot of help from teams around the league to have a shot making at the playoffs.
The Heat will host the the TRU Wolfpack this Friday and Saturday at the UBCO gym.
Heat men
The UBC Okanagan men put up a fight but couldn’t find a way derail the runaway Fraser Valley Cascades.
UFV took both games in Abbotsford over the weekend to push their season record to 14-0 and have now won 26 straight.
On Friday, the Heat fell behind by 22 points, then made a game of it before ultimately falling 73-67. Aldrich Berrios notched a game-high 17 points for UBC Okanagan, while David Manshreck scored 16.
On Saturday, with Manshreck sidelined by injury, Fraser Valley cruised to a 79-65 victory.
Rookie Buzz Truss led the Heat with a career-best 18 points and added five rebounds. Mitch Goodwin added 15 as the Heat slip to 2-12 on the season and are all but out of the playoff chase.
The Heat are back in action Friday at home when they host Thompson Rivers.
