Horn men eyeing a banner season
Another Canada West season tips off for the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s basketball team tonight.
It comes in the form of a two-game homestand as the Horns welcome the MacEwan Griffins to the 1st Choice Savings Centre tonight at 8 and 7 p.m. Saturday.
Following a 12-8 regular season in 2017-18, tough slogging throughout the second half, an injury to their leading scorer and their first trip to the Canada West semifinals in 18 years, the Horns head into the season intent on bringing a banner to their 1st Choice Savings Centre home.
Still, following the back half of last season in which the Pronghorns toughed it out without Dejon Burdeaux before pushing the Alberta Golden Bears to a pair of close games in the Canada West semifinals, Horns head coach Mike Hansen, reflected on the previous season before looking ahead.
“If we hadn’t lost Dejon (to a hamstring injury) in the second half last year, I honestly feel like we finish first,” said Pronghorns head coach Mike Hansen. “We had the toughest schedule in the Canada West last year and we were right there. We beat two, top-five ranked teams and took Alberta, another top-five team in the country, to one point (in the semifinals). What that really taught us was that we could win without Dejon. With the pieces we’ve got in (Mike) Pierzchala and the Australians, our goal is to secure home court for playoffs so that we can put ourselves in the best position to get back to nationals.”
In addition to the return of Pierzchala and the new recruits from Down Under — Marko Vekic and Zachary Coleman-Bock — it seems the other pieces are also falling nicely into place.
“This is my first five-year group,” said Hansen. “So whenever you have that kind of consistency in your lineup it builds a lot of chemistry within the team. I’ve noticed a big difference this year in getting Pierzchala back into the lineup in with (Kyle) Peterson back home now for a year from his mission. He has his legs under him and settled. (Awak) Piom had a great year last year making the All-Rookie team and he’s finding his groove. Then you have young guys like Brett Warren and (Zac) Overwater and Josh (Sparkes) in their fifth year. I see a lot of great chemistry out on the floor early.
“We're a little nicked up right now and that has kind of affected our play a little bit. But I really like how this team jells.”
Sparkes returns as one of two fifth-year Pronghorns alongside Didsbury’s Overwater, who played high school ball with the LCI Rams.
As the product of Medicine Hat heads into his final year with the program, Sparkes doesn’t need a whole lot of convincing about this year’s objective
“It was a successful season last year, but not as successful as we wanted,” said Sparkes. “There is always room to improve and we want to be better. We want to go for it all and win the Canada West. We’re ready to go.
“It’s a crazy feeling to think it’s my last year here. I’ve been here a long time. But I love this team and I’m excited to see what we can do this year.”
The veteran Horn likes what he sees around him.
“It’s a very exciting year for us because we definitely do have a veteran core returning,” said Sparkes. “We have a couple of fifth-years and a bunch of fourth-years. Especially some of our younger guys like Awak. He’s only coming into his second year, but he’s played a lot of games for us and he has some experience and we love what he brings to the table. We had a lot of pieces coming in with Eric (Pierce) and a couple big guys. Chad (Oviatt) is a really good rebounder for us. I think we have a really good core.”
LCI graduate Colton Gibb returns for his third season with the Horns.
“It’s an exciting year,” he said. “Last year we had a good season, but we didn’t get the goal. So we want to put up banners. Ultimately, that’s the goal here. I think we have been building for a couple of years and we’ve gotten to the point where we are in contention. So now we just have to go out and finish.”
After a preseason of road games, the Pronghorns get a season-opener that doubles as a home opener.
“Certainly a different vibe in practice (Monday),” said Hansen. “The intensity level was up. Guys understand that it’s Canada West play now and that every game counts. So I think the guys are just eager to get out it. We had an early start this year in August and I think it’s just been a long, long wait. We’re chomping at the bit to get going and we haven’t played it home yet. So this is exciting for us.”
Follow @DWoodardHerald on Twitter