Sports teams, especially in the varsity and junior leagues, where players get older, are looking for the right balance between older and younger players. If you have too many to complete at the same time, a major reconstruction is required in the following seasons.
Sports teams, especially in the varsity and junior leagues, where players get older, are looking for the right balance between older and younger players. If you have too many to complete at the same time, a major reconstruction is required in the following seasons.
The current edition of the University of Victoria Vikes men’s basketball team seems to have hit the “right mix”, says coach Craig Beaucamp, as the Vikes reached the Canada West semifinals for the first time since 2015 and faced off against the Regina Cougars tonight in Edmonton at 7 p.m. PT.
The completion of fifth-year star guard Scott Kellum of UVic was runner-up by Utah-born Tyus Jefferson of the Alberta Golden Bears as Canada West MVP while the intriguing six-foot eight Vikes guard Elias Ralph was named the conference’s top rookie for UVic fleet to become age-based roster bookends.
“Scott is everything you want in a veteran team leader and will be running for the first team all-Canadian, and Elias was fearless and quiet as a rookie with such a bright future ahead of him,” said Beaucamp. “We have such a mix of veterans and younger players with talent and that is reflected in our roster. We will look for our depth to carry us.
UVic, ranked No. 3 in Canada, was 17-1 in the regular season and defeated the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns 79-55 in the Canada West Playoff quarterfinals two weeks ago.
Regina, led by Canada West first-team All-Star and fifth-year guard Ben Hillis, was 12-4 in the regular season and beat the Trinity Western Spartans 105-81 in the quarterfinals for the semifinals stage for the first to reach time since 2005-06.
“Cougars have a five-out motion offense that makes it harder to scout,” Beaucamp said.
“At this time of year, at this stage of the playoffs, you know every team is capable.”
The other Canadian West semifinal game features the national number 2 ranked Alberta Golden Bears (16-0 in the regular season and 103-59 quarterfinals over the Winnipeg Wesmen) against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (11-5 in the regular season and 88-87 victory over the UBC Thunderbirds in an exciting quarter-final match-up).
The semifinal winners will advance to the conference finals and the losers in third place, both on Saturday night.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
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