MBB: Timberwolves Fall to Huskies on Senior Night

Athletics
February 11, 2017
Sam Zhang executes a bounce pass in his final game with the Timberwolves

PRINCE GEORGE - The Saskatchewan Huskies came into Prince George for a doubleheader with UNBC, and showed why they’re headed for the Canada West playoffs. The Huskies took out the Timberwolves 77-57 Saturday night, completing the weekend sweep to finish the regular season schedule.

The first half of play saw the offensive woes for UNBC continue, as shots from all areas of the court refused to fall for the Timberwolves. Through 20 minutes of play, they had made just seven of 33 shots, good for 21 per cent from the field. The length of the Huskies continued to play a role in disrupting many of the UNBC looks, and Saskatchewan led 37-16 at the midway point.

UNBC coach Todd Jordan said his team’s lack of size was on full display.

“Clearly we are a little deficient in terms of length, and athleticism," he said. "These good teams make you realize that at both ends of the floor.”

The Timberwolves offensive attack got on track in quarter three, making four three-pointers, and outscoring Saskatchewan 22-19 in the stanza.

A night after his team came out flat, Jordan was happier with the response from his squad.

“Confidence might have been a little low after our last few guys," he said. "But I am glad the guys came out in the second half with a spark and fire.”

Playing from behind, the Timberwolves looked to graduating senior Sam Zhang for a spark. The fifth-year forward made a pair of three-pointers early in the fourth to draw it to a 12-point game. He would fish with a career-high 18 points in his final time in a UNBC jersey.

Huskies’ forward Trevor Severinski was deadly all game, and was able to bury a pair of jumpers from beyond the arc to restore the Saskatchewan lead. He would finish the game with 20 points, and Saskatchewan would take it 77-57.

With the victory, Saskatchewan improves to 14-6, while UNBC slides to 4-16. The Timberwolves went without a win over their final dozen games, and Jordan says there were a number of reasons for the tough second half.

“We had a number of close games that got away from us early on in the season,” he said. “The momentum became a lot for our guys to handle. Our players need to work hard in the offseason so we can get better.”