UNBC Mens and Womens Basketball squads open season with wins

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“It is always important to get to a good start, and get a feel of the game,” said Shakirova. “Especially in the first game, you feel that energy, and look to try to maintain that the rest of the way.”

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UNBC WBB:

In the early part of the first quarter, both teams looked scattered, trading turnovers and fouls. However, it was the TWolves full court press that helped the visitors settle down and find their rhythm. A trio of turnovers in the TRU backcourt led to easy looks for UNBC, resulting in a Sveta Boykova three-pointer, an Alina Shakirova three-point play, and four Anastasia Soltes free throws. Halfway through the opening frame, the Timberwolves held a 16-7 advantage.

The WolfPack would settle down, as the teams traded buckets the rest of the quarter. UNBC held a 29-20 lead after ten minutes, fueled by Shakirova’s 11 points. Josie Mackie was the WolfPack high-scorer with five points.

In the second frame, TRU started to chip away at the Timberwolves advantage, led by Kyla Smith getting to the free-throw line and making good on a number of occasions. UNBC did well to push back, led by a pair of Shakirova layups to restore the lead to double digits.

However, the WolfPack didn’t back down. Elana Sireni and Kelsey Cruz each gathered offensive rebounds and converted putbacks, and a Smith trey cut the lead back to four points. However, it was again Shakirova responding, getting to the line and making a long three for the TWolves.

At halftime, UNBC held a 47-39 lead, fueled by Shakirova’s monster 26 point, five rebound effort. The WolfPack had well distributed scoring, led by Smith’s nine points. Sireni and Cruz each had seven at the break.

“Credit to TRU. They were really energetic. They were crashing the boards and doing a good job getting second chances,” said Shakirova, postgame. “We had problems. It was a battle. They were playing us really tough.”

Early in the third quarter, it was the Russian duo of Boykova and Shakirova who settled UNBC and down and provided the pushback to a WolfPack push. The TRU defense was stingy, pressuring the ball all over the court, but both teams had trouble getting on the scoreboard for much of the frame. Kelsey Cruz was a bright spot for Thompson Rivers, battling at both ends of the court, trying to will her team to victory on opening night. After three quarters, the Timberwolves clung to a 64-52 lead.

In the fourth quarter, freshman guard Sarah Kuklisin got the offense going with a great layup in traffic, followed by a fast break assist on a Soltes jumper. Sireni showed her compete level at the other end with some tremendous work on the glass, and well-earned free throws.

As the clock ticked down, the TWolves couldn’t separate from a game WolfPack team, but did enough to hold them off, earning an 80-71 win.

Shakirova was the story for UNBC, scoring 33 points, to go along with 10 rebounds. The Russian forward holds a share of the team’s single-game record with 36 points, along with longtime teammate Madison Landry.

Boykova made some Timberwolves history in her UNBC debut, grabbing 22 rebounds, including nine on the offensive end. The 22 boards surpassed Vasiliki Louka’s team record of 20 rebounds, set in 2019. Boykova added ten points and four assists.

“Sveta is sp crucial for us. She can clean up the boards and it is so important to how we want to play,” said Shakirova, of her fellow Russian. “ We cannot get out and run in transition without her work.”

Rebecca Landry was strong, dropping 16 points, to go along with four rebounds and three steals.

TRU was led by Sireni, who had 15 points and 13 boards in a gritty effort. Cruz chipped in with 13 points and five rebounds, while Smith added 11 points.

“It feels amazing. To play a game after so long off, and start with a win,” said Shakirova. “Hopefully it sets a mindset for the rest of the season. We can win games. That’s what we want to do.”

UNBC MBB:

It came down to the final seconds, as it often does when TRU and UNBC meet. This time, it was the Timberwolves taking a thrilling 69-67 victory over the WolfPack to open the Canada West season on Friday, October 29^th in Kamloops, BC.

The first quarter was a battle of attrition, as it always seems to be when these two teams clash. Each program playing its first Canada West game in nearly two years, the early-season jitters were palpable.

The WolfPack got out to an early lead, as the TWolves struggled to get much going against Scott Clark’s defensive scheme. However, freshman guard Jackson Netzel made a three-pointer at the buzzer to bring UNBC to within one, 16-15 at the end of the quarter.

In the second quarter, the Timberwolves got out to a quick start, with Fareed Shittu scoring five early points. The Pack responded well as Richie Mageto and Asher Mayan got easy baskets at the other end, and the game remained a near-deadlock.

Late in the half, it was the veteran backcourt combination of Tyrell Laing, Payton Tirrell, and Vova Pluzhnikov that started to put its stamp on the game, after being relatively quiet in the early going. Laing and Pluzhnikov made four consecutive three-pointers, with Tirrell assisting a trio of the attempts as UNBC took an eight-point lead.

“That was three fifth year guys. We have been here before. We knew we had to contribute, so those were timely shots that gave us a bit of cushion,” said Laing. “We know TRU is going to execute and make it a tough game, so that was big for us. Good poise from our group.”

At halftime, UNBC held a 37-27 lead, powered by 12 points from both Laing and Shittu. Tirrell was scoreless, but had three rebounds and five assists in 15 minutes. Mayan paced the Pack with nine points and five rebounds.

In the third quarter, the two teams traded buckets, as big men Spencer Ledoux and Brad King each finished inside opportunities on one other. The WolfPack chipped away at the UNBC lead, cutting it down to four points on a drive by Mayan with five minutes to go in the frame.

Again, however, it was the TWolves showing resolve with a good pushback, as freshmen Darren Hunter and Jackson Netzel each made big three-pointers to push the lead back to double digits late in the frame. UNBC held a slim 52-46 advantage at the end of the quarter.

“That was big for those guys to knock down shots. They were ready off the bench. This is a deep basketball team and they did their part,” said Laing, postgame. “They were able to hit shots and keep us afloat when the other team was going on a run.”

An early surge in the final frame propelled the Pack on an early 9-2 run, led by King and Mayan, as TRU took a 55-54 lead three minutes into the quarter. The lid on the basket made its presence felt for UNBC, particularly from long range, as the TWolves missed ten consecutive shots from long range.

“We have said from the start of the year, if we aren’t shooting it well, we need to find ways to win games,” said Laing. “That may be defense, it might be getting to the line. Just finding ways to withstand runs. We were able to show we can do that, even on those nights when it isn’t falling.”

In the final minutes, Laing continued to assert himself, making a big midrange jumper, and getting to the line for a pair of free-throws to put the Timberwolves up by four with two minutes to go.

Up two points with 20 seconds remaining, the TWolves took a costly shot clock violation, giving the WolfPack a chance in the final moments.

TRU would get the ball into the paint in the waning seconds, where Mayan would put up a contested layup that went in, but the officials ruled a shot clock violation on the Pack, giving the TWolves the 69-67 victory.

“That was a weird finish, but a gutsy defensive performance. Guys stepped up and rebounded it well all night,” said Laing, after the victory. “It was a rough shooting night for us, so we relied on the defensive intensity, and a real commitment, so it feels good to get the win.”

2019-2020 Canada West scoring champ Tyrell Laing would be the game’s high scorer for UNBC, dropping 20 points, three rebounds, and four assists. Shittu, who was massive around the rim, had 18 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. Pluzhnikov added eight points, eight rebounds, and three assists, while Jackson Netzel chipped in with eight points in eight minutes.

TRU was led by Mayan, who had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and King with 18 points and 10 boards.