Defence doesn’t rest
Horns top Vikes in Canada West play-in game
The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s basketball team’s defence didn’t rest and for at least another week, neither will they.
The Horns downed the Victoria Vikes 98-65 in Canada West playin post-season play Friday night at the 1st Choice Savings Centre.
Playing what will be their final home game of the season in front of a packed home court that braved the cold and snow, the Horns led by nine after the first quarter and 47-24 at the half to open a lead that wasn’t threatened the rest of the way.
Now the road and the quarterfinals beckon next weekend against an opponent to be determined.
“(It was) just the defensive effort that we’ve been lacking all season in terms of that consistent effort all the time,” said Pronghorns head coach Mike Hansen. “Whenever you have a great team win like that, as a coach it just makes you proud. I thought we got great contributions from everybody. For our last home game, I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.”
Playing his last home game as a Horn, graduating veteran Zac Overwater led Lethbridge with 20 points, while Keanu Funa came in and had a 14-point evening.
Chad Oviatt and Mike Pierzchala added 10 points each for the Pronghorns. Pierzchala also had 10 rebounds. Defence did the rest. “You could tell guys were being active defensively, they were being vocal and our rebounding was really solid,” said Hansen. “We were finishing plays off. You could just tell. When they lock in like that there just aren’t many teams in the country that can compete with us. We have to find a way to maintain that consistency throughout the rest of the playoffs. But when we play like that, we’re a tough team to beat.”
The Pronghorns now take that smothering play on the road next week.
“We really brought it defensively tonight and that’s what it’s going to come down to,” said Pronghorn Colton Gibb, who contributed nine points Friday. “We can score the ball with anyone, but our defence is where we make or break ourselves. So as I think is we go to the next round and as we go on the road, one thing that travels is defence. So if we can bring the same defensive energy then I think we’ll be OK.”
But before they hit the road, Hansen noted the hometown sendoff his charges got Friday night.
“I’ve lived here 28 years in southern Alberta. When we got rid of that old gym we lost a little bit of something special with the crowd sitting on top of us. It’s been a couple of lean years in terms of attendance and for the crowd to show up tonight and to send off our seniors this way, it was absolutely fantastic. It’s what makes southern Alberta special.”
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