By Nathan Hutton (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: October 30, 2013
This year’s Honda Way Classic saw the Cascades in action against some of the highest tier of local PACWEST teams, as well as some stiff CIS competition from BC and Ontario.
Friday fun
The first game of the tournament was a contest between the Cascades women and the visiting UBCO Heat. It turned out to be the fourth straight win for the women’s team as they easily controlled their opponent on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball, holding the Heat to only 16 first-half points while controlling the offensive end of the court. The women shot 45 per cent from behind the arc in the first half, and the second half went much the same way. The final score was 72-56, with fourth-year Courtney Bartel leading the way for the Cascades, earning herself player of the game honours with 12 points, two rebounds, a steal, and an assist. Compared to the weekend split the Cascades gave up last February against the Heat, this performance revealed a stronger, more confident UFV squad.
The Cascades men faced a competitive PACWEST squad from Capilano University that did not give the Cascades an inch all game. The game began with UFV appearing to have a strength and speed advantage over the less experienced Blues team. Capilano struggled to start the game, well missing their first five shots, including two air balls. The Cascades countered with good ball hustle and overall strength on rebounds. When the buzzer signified the end of the first quarter, UFV had a strong 17-7 lead.
When the second quarter began the Capilano Blues showed new life, inspired by their back-up 5’6” point guard Pagbilao Gino, whose play was reminiscent of a young Muggsy Bogues. He used his small stature to evade the Cascades defense and create some impressive opportunities on offense. Through the strong play of Gino, Dubois Daniel, and Tony Rowe, the Blues were spurred into an eight-point run to close the score to 19-15 before UFV forward Jasper Moedt checked back into the game and gave the Cascades some much-needed interior defense. At halftime the Blues had closed the gap to eight points.
The third quarter was the weakest of the four for the Cascades, as they only managed to add eight points. The Blues once again turned up their intensity, this time on the defensive end of the floor, leading to many easy fast-break buckets. It was at this point in the game that Rowe, Capilano’s player of the game, shone brightest, coming up with steal after steal after steal, enabling the Blues to strip the UFV lead down to one point. It was apparent fans were in for a good finish with the Cascades hanging on 40-39.
The fourth quarter was filled with back-and-forth battles as each side exposed the weakness of the other. UFV came up with some untimely fouls leading to the departure of both Jasper Moedt and Amreet Gill, the two tallest players on the team. However in the end it was the leadership of the Cascades‘ Klaus Figueredo that led to the Cascades win, a final score of 61-57.
Saturday salsa
The second day of the Classic began with a low-calibre shootout between the UFV women and the Brock University Badgers. Both teams struggled mightily to score in a contest that UFV narrowly took 49-47 after trailing into the fourth quarter. The Cascades seemed to have the game in hand at halftime, but Brock badgered their way to a game-high 19 points in the third quarter to set UFV on their heels. The Cascades’ second half shooting percentage was a season-low 15 per cent – just enough to squeeze out a win.
The men, by contrast, finally succumbed to a stubborn Langara University Falcons squad that was helped by a UFV fourth-quarter cold streak. Kevon Parchment stole the show on the Cascades’ side with 27 points, but a 5-34 effort from three-land kept the Falcons around long enough to take advantage.
The Cascades will hope to fare better in their November 1 home opener against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.
