The Prince George Citizen

Louka lands top player honour

T-wolves sign high school star Landry

- Citizen staff

Vasiliki Louka’s star shone brilliantl­y last weekend on the Northern Sport Centre basketball court.

So brightly, in fact, the grand poohbahs who run the U Sports Canada West conference decided Louka deserved official recognitio­n.

On Wednesday, the fifth-year UNBC Timberwolv­es post was named the conference player of the week. Louka was a decisive force in leading the T-wolves to a pair of weekend wins over the visiting Winnipeg Wesmen.

The Wesmen were unable to contain the six-foot-four native of Athens, Greece, who has helped vault her team into a three-way tie for first place in the conference – a perfect 4-0 to start the season and their best start in seven seasons in the league.

In a 75-68 win over Winnipeg on Friday, Louka had 22 points and also contribute­d 14 rebounds, three assists and one steal in 36 minutes of playing time. In the rematch Saturday, a 90-75 UNBC triumph, Louka put up 26 points, 14 rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes of game action.

Louka leads Canada West in total rebounds (58) and rebounds per game (14.5) and is fourth in scoring with 91 points in four games, a 22.8 average. She ranks third in the league in shooting from the field (36-for-65, 55.4 per cent average) and is also third for her 19 free throws (on 25 attempts).

Her brother, Vaggelis Loukas, is a forward for the UNBC men’s basketball team, which is off to a 3-1 start.

Both T-wolves teams have byes this weekend and will host the Trinity Western Spartans, Nov. 16-17.

• The UNBC women’s team announced Wednesday the signing of shooting guard/small forward Rebecca Landry, a Duchess Park Grade 12 student, for the 2019-20 season.

The younger sister of UNBC forward Madison Landry was the North Central zone MVP last season for the Condors and will resume her high school career with the Condors senior team in December. She’s part of the Junior Timberwolv­es club team.

“I am very excited,” said the five-foot-10 Landry, in a team release. “I have been around the program and these players for a long time, so I think this is going to be a really cool experience. This is a perfect situation. I am happy how it all turned out, because this is something I have wanted for a really long time.

“I am really happy with how the team has been doing the past few years. They have been beating some big schools, and now we are getting into that realm of being a well-known basketball school. Making playoffs is something I am looking forward to.”

Landry led the Condors to the zone title and a fifth-place provincial finish in the double-A championsh­ip.

“Going to the rim is one of my strengths. I like playing defence, and I am pretty vocal, which is usually what coaches are looking for. I always give 100 per cent, and I am always trying to get better, every single practice.

“I used to play against a lot of the girls who are on the (UNBC) team right now. I like the support of my family, and the chance to play with my sister is really cool. We have never played together, so I am excited to see how we are going to connect on the court.”

 ?? CITIZEN FILE PHOTO ?? Vasiliki Louka of the UNBC Timberwolv­es women’s basketball team works in the offensive end against the University of Regina Cougars during a Canada West game last season at the Northern Sport Centre.
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO Vasiliki Louka of the UNBC Timberwolv­es women’s basketball team works in the offensive end against the University of Regina Cougars during a Canada West game last season at the Northern Sport Centre.
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