The UFV men’s and women’s basketball teams are heating up at the perfect time.
The women extended their winning streak to four games with a pair of wins over the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack on Friday and Saturday.
The women emerged from the first half on Friday up 31-30, and the game turned into a defensive battle in the second.
TRU built a big lead into the fourth quarter, but went cold in the final frame, allowing the Cascades to battle back. UFV trailed 56-55 with 3:16 left, and Katie Brink made a pair of free throws that ended up being the final points scored in the game, as the Cascades hung on for the 57-56 win.
The final minute saw the Cascades force the Wolfpack to commit a shot clock violation, but Kayli Sartori was charged with an offensive foul. TRU failed to score on their next possession, and the Cascades took the ball with 39 seconds left, but also failed to score. The Wolfpack launched a three with seconds on the clock, but it missed and the Cascades picked up the win.
Brink led the way for the Cascades with a season-high 18 points, while Sartori recorded 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Taylor Claggett added nine points and 10 boards.
Saturday’s game saw the Cascades explode in the third quarter by outscoring TRU 25-13, en route to the 60-46 win. Fifth-year senior Shayna Cameron racked up 18 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals to lead the way.
The pair of wins improve the women to a record of 11 wins and seven losses, and they can clinch a playoff berth with a win this weekend.
“We’ve been talking about being in playoff mode for a few weeks here now and had our backs against the wall, and I think it’s focused us, more than anything,” Cascades head coach Al Tuchscherer said, about the wins.
The men followed suit, also posting a pair of wins over TRU.
They jumped out to a 29-26 lead in the first half, but that lead evaporated in the third quarter. The teams traded leads in the fourth, with UFV ahead 64-60 with 6:41 to go. Just two minutes later, the Wolfpack went up 69-66, but UFV pulled ahead 79-71 with one minute to go.
However, TRU failed to give up, and gave the Cascades a scare, heading to the free throw line down 82-79, with 12 seconds left. The Wolfpack player then missed both free throws, and Kevon Parchment pulled down the rebounds to give the Cascades the win.
Parchment was huge in the win, with 33 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. Vijay Dhillon added 17 points and Nate Brown had 13, while guard Manny Dulay had a solid game with eight points and six assists.
Saturday saw the Cascades open up a 10-point lead in the first quarter, but the Wolfpack battled back, only to have the Cascades take over again in the third. TRU kept coming in the fourth, but UFV eventually shut them down to pick up the 67-62 win.
Parchment posted 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals, while Dhillon finished with 17 points and Dulay scored 11. Navjot Bains grabbed 10 boards.
The men clinched a playoff berth over the weekend, and now have a record of 12 wins and six losses.
Both teams head to Calgary to face the Mount Royal University Cougars to conclude the regular season.Games are on Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit ufvcascades.ca.