T-wolves stake claims for playoffs
The UNBC Timberwolves solidified their hold on a Canada West men’s basketball playoff spot, defeating the UBC Okanagan Heat 87-81 to complete a two-game weekend sweep Saturday at the Northern Sport Centre.
Anthony Hokanson led the UNBC cause with 20 points and six rebounds. Marcus MacKay and Vova Pluzhnikov each hit for 18 points for the T-wolves, who improved their season record to 6-8.
“A good start is huge. You have to help the team start well,” Pluzhnikov told UNBC sports information officer Rich Abney. “I am trying to be as aggressive as possible, and raise the bar for the whole team.”
The T-wolves led 20-13 after 10 minutes and 50-13 at halftime. They needed that comfort zone to withstand a surge by the Heat in the second half in which the visitors outscored UNBC 44-37. UNBC led by 11 heading into the fourth quarter but the Heat (2-10) got to within a point in the final minute.
A series of free throws down the stretch decided it. Triston Matthews of the Heat made it a one-point game with 23 seconds left and the Heat was forced to foul but MacKay sunk both his foul shots. The Heat went to the line right after that when Jacob Stokker was fouled attempting a three-point shot with 11 seconds left but missed his free throw attempts. Then it was Hokanson’s turn to get fouled and he nailed one, followed by a two-for-two effort from MacKay to end the game.
“I was hitting the tough ones, but missing the easy ones,” said Stokker, who picked up 20 points. “Those free throws should have been easy buckets, and that’s the game right there.”
Now with six regular-season games left, the T-wolves will head to Brandon to play the Bobcats in the first of a twogame weekend set on Friday
“It’s huge. If we win a couple more games, we control our destiny,” said Pluzhnikov. “We have to keep working on our game, because we could even end up number five or number six. We just have to continue winning games.”
In the women’s game earlier Saturday at the NSC, UNBC jumped to an 18-point lead over the winless UBCO Heat in the first quarter but that dwindled down to a one-point margin with a minute left.
That was Maria Mongomo’s cue to put her game into hyperdrive. The third-year forward from Spain hit a three-pointer to restore a four-point gap and the T-wolves never looked back, winning 8775 to complete their two-game sweep.
The Heat outscored UNBC 26-14 in the second quarter and drew to within six points at halftime, down 41-35, and it remained a six-point game at threequarter time.
But it was too much of Mongomo in the fourth quarter for the Heat to withstand. She hit two more three-pointers in the final 1:33 to seal the win. Mongomo finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals. The fact the outcome was in doubt until the late stages forced Mongomo to tap into her reserve supply of fuel.
“I love difficult games. I absolutely love it. I enjoy that energy and nervousness,” said Mongomo, who shot a teamhigh 27 points in Friday’s 87-48 win.
Vasiliki Louka contributed 20 points and 16 rebounds in the rematch. Madison Landry, a second-year forward from Duchess Park, had a 19-point game. Shenelle Tamminen collected 14 points and eight rebounds for the Heat. Vanessa Botteselle and Emma Jonas each finished with 13 points.
The weekend wins left the T-wolves women with a 6-8 record, 10th in Canada West. The Heat remains winless at 0-12.