Fraser Valley – WVB: Cascades start 2024 with three-set victory over Cougars
The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades started off the new year with a decisive three-set victory over the University of Regina Cougars on Friday afternoon. The Cascades notched 10 aces and hit a combined .259, as they improved to 10-3 on the season, while the Cougars dropped to 0-13 in Canada West play.
As it happened:
The Cascades started strong in their first set of 2024, jumping out to a 16-12 lead after a Natalie Crews ace. The Cougars fought back with Bailey Balaberda picking up three kills and an ace over the next five points to pull Regina level at 17. However, Natalie Lemoine-Sells found a kill, and followed it up with an ace for UFV to set up a Crews block to finish off the set.
The Cascades wouldn’t take the foot off the gas in the second, as they took a 16-10 lead early on before two kills each from Lemoine-Sells and Gabrielle Attieh down the stretch sealed it 25-15.
After a 9-1 UFV run to start the third, UFV cruised to finish the match 25-16.
The Cascades and Cougars meet up once again on Saturday in Regina. The match is set for 4 p.m. PT and is available to stream live on Canada West TV.
WBB: Gobeil scores game-high as quick start propels Cascades to first victory of 2024
The USPORTS No. 8 ranked University of the Fraser Valley Cascades started 2024 off hot, as they picked up an 80-36 Victory over the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack on Friday night in Kamloops.
With the win the Cascades move to 8-1 on the season, while the WolfPack drop to 2-5 so far in Canada West action.
The Cascades opened the game on a 19-2 run through 5:32 of the first quarter, thanks in part to six points from Kamloops native Maddy Gobeil, and UFV would take a 20-point advantage into the second frame. The WolfPack found their scoring touch in the second, as Grace Hanson put up a team-high six first half points, but UFV kept pace with Julia Tuchscherer notching 10 in the first two quarters to make it a 47-21 lead going into the break.
Gobeil and the Cascades continued to ramp up the pressure in the second half, outscoring the hosts 33-15 over the final two frames to close out the win.
UFV dominated below the rim, putting up 52 points in the paint compared to just 14 from TRU. Defensively, takeaways were the story in this one, as the Cascades came away with 26 steals to the WolfPack’s 11.
“Our defence set the tone in the first few minutes and put a lot of pressure on their ball carriers,” explained UFV head coach Al Tuchscherer. “They ended up turning it over a little bit, and that got us going for sure.”
“We want to have a good start, but more importantly we want to be crisp for forty minutes.”
Gobeil shined, putting up a game-high 17 points, while adding seven steals and five rebounds. Julia Tuchscherer chipped in 13 points and six boards.
Hanson led the way for the WolfPack with 10 points and three rebounds, while Priyanca Sundher and Tia Rowell added seven points and six points respectively.
The two teams face off once again on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT in Kamloops. The game can be seen live on Canada West TV.
MBB: Late run downs Cascades in Kamloops
The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades fell 83-67 to the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack on Friday in Kamloops. The loss drops the Cascades to 3-6 on the season, while the WolfPack improve to 2-5.
Both teams struggled to establish a lead in the first, but with 36 seconds remaining in the frame, UFV’s Ismael Hernandez picked up a steal and threw down a two-handed dunk. Hernandez started the second with three more points to give the Cascades a five-point advantage. However, TRU responded quickly with Daniel Bost and Denys Bachurin hitting a number of shots, as the WolfPack closed out the half on a 19-6 run to have a 41-33 lead at the break.
The Cascades battled in the third, and managed to cut the deficit to seven points on a Matthias Klim lay-up early in the fourth, but the WolfPack took control from there. A Bachurin bucket started off a 15-0 run for the hosts. A pair of Evan Smith triples finished off the stretch with under six minutes remaining, and put the game out of reach.
“Ultimately as a team we have to value ball possession,” said UFV head coach Joe Enevoldson. “They hit shots, we struggled to defend, and they played harder than us.”
The Cascades posted 24 turnovers in the contest compared to just 12 from the WolfPack. That translated to 26 points off turnovers for TRU while UFV only managed 14.
“I thought Matthias [Klim] played pretty well tonight, one of his better performances of the year — offered good rim protection hit shots, and played with some passion which was great to see. Ismael [Hernandez] was also a bright spot tonight. He’s going to get better and better.”
Klim posted a game-high three blocks to go with 10 points and six rebounds for the Cascades, while Hernandez had 12 points, two blocks and three steals. Dylan Kinley added 14 points in the contest.
Bachurin posted a game-best 23 points for TRU, while Bost added 16 points on 4-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Jason Okoro chipped in 14 points in the victory.
The two teams renew acquaintances on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Kamloops. You can stream the action live on Canada West TV.
