In her 24th season of coaching the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, and before that as a national team player who captained Canada to fourth place at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Debbie Huband has picked up a great deal of knowledge about basketball.
She needed every bit of it as the University of Victoria Vikes took UBC to double overtime before falling 93-85 to the Thunderbirds in Canada West women’s play at War Memorial Gym in Vancouver on Saturday.
Veteran mentor Huband has her Thunderbirds off to 6-0 start in conference.
Dani Sinclair’s Vikes are ranked No. 10 in the U Sports national top-10 poll, but were swept by the Thunderbirds in their weekend series, which began with an 81-62 UBC victory on Friday at UVic on the Ken and Kathy Shields Court in the CARSA Gym.
The Vikes had won four consecutive games before the weekend, but fell to 4-4 in conference. Host UVic is guaranteed a berth in the 2017 U Sports national championship tournament at CARSA in March.
Amira Giannattasio led UVic on Saturday, with 26 points, while Jenna Bugiardini scored 20, Jenna Krug 16 and Marissa Dheensaw nine.
UVic, which trailed 47-24 at the half, fell behind by 28 points before furiously rallying to tie the game 69-69 by the end of regulation.
The first five-minute overtime period finished 77-77.
Meanwhile, the Vikes and Thunderbirds continue their Canada West men’s basketball rivalry with a matinee today at War Memorial.
UBC is undefeated at 5-0 in conference play and ranked No. 2 in the country. The Vikes are 2-5.
Six-foot-nine Victoria product Conor Morgan of UBC is a handful and a remarkably fluid player for his size.
The Mount Douglas Secondary graduate, who is second in Canada West scoring, had 23 points on Friday in the 82-69 victory over UVic at CARSA.
The Thunderbirds underachieved and failed in their quest to win the national title at home last spring as host, and feel they have something to prove.
”We’ve grown up together and there is a really good climate on this team . . . and we hope to win the national championship,” said Morgan, who played U-18 for Canada.
“We are playing well.”
The kinesiology major said he would consider a professional career in Europe, if the opportunity arises. The big Islander certainly seems to have all the tools.
UVic forward Grant Sitton said the zone defence helped a bit to blunt Morgan and the potent UBC offence.
But in the end, the Thunderbirds had more experience.
“UBC has a lot of veterans while I’m the only graduating player on our team,” Sitton said.
“It’s a process. We are blending as a unit. I think we have it. It is going to click soon.”
The Vikes, who reached the national Final Four in both 2014 and 2015 before missing the playoffs last season, were previously dominant in this rivalry and swept both games in 2015.
The Thunderbirds swept both games last season and are looking to finish off the same today.
