Men's Basketball Huskies conclude regular season with sweep of Eagles
Fans at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre were treated to both sides of what has made the Keyano Huskies Men’s Basketball team so successful this season.
When shots weren’t dropping Friday, the Huskies locked in on defence and won by a 63-47 score. Less than 24 hours later, the Huskies shot nearly 50 percent from beyond the arc as they reached the 90-point mark for the seventh time this season in a 90-66 win.
We didn’t score as well as we wanted to and not until the second half tonight did, we really start to get going,” Head Coach Jeremy Wielenga said Saturday. “It happens sometimes and that’s why we just rely on our defence. It’s no different than last year at nationals.
“I think we had a four-point quarter, and you have to rely on defence. You can’t win at this time of year if you don’t play defence.”
Friday’s shooting performance from the field by the Huskies was statistically their worst of the regular season at 36.2 percent, with the Eagles matching the Huskies early on throughout the first half.
Things changed in the third quarter when the Huskies limited the visiting Eagles to just two made buckets in the decisive quarter. That took a 27-27 tie at the half into a 14-point advantage the Huskies wouldn’t relinquish, despite the best efforts of the Eagles in the fourth quarter.
Keenan Miller once again led the Huskies, scoring 20 points while Keenen Caribou and Nahshon Hurst each had 10.
Saturday, the Eagles came out hot with a three-point lead after the first quarter, but that only seemed to provoke the Huskies’ offence. Six three pointers in the second quarter alone as well as nine more in the second half put the game out of reach. Nine different Huskies made good on a shot from beyond the arc, led by five three pointers from Efosa Omorogbe.
“We know what Efe is going to bring,” Wielenga continued. “He’s had big-time moments and big-time shots for us. It’s that time of year so he’s ready to go.”
The performance was one point off his career-best total for a single game and helped energize the Huskies as both him and Caribou had double-digit games off the bench for the Huskies.
“Guys hit me when I was open; I just knocked them down,” Omorogbe said. “It was really good to get those open shots.
Omorogbe also reflected on Friday’s performance and the importance of taking care of both sides of the ball.
“I think we were playing good defence [Friday],” he said. “We missed a lot of easy ones. it doesn’t usually happen, but we hang our hats on defence and that’s what it was yesterday. We just had to get it done.”
Jama nets fifth three-point shot of season
Second-year guard Abdishakur Jama continued to play his way onto the court from the bench, knocking down his fifth three-point shot of the season as part of Friday’s win.
“It’s great for those young guys to get in and play and get some experience,” Wielenga added.
Huskies honour Abdullahi, Hurst
Saturday’s final home game also marked a chance to recognize graduating players Yasser Abdullahi and Nahshon Hurst.
“[They’re] two very quality people that I’m very happy for them and I know their basketball journey is done [after this season], but I’m very happy to have them in our program,” Wielenga said. “For them to be here and spend the time with them, I’m very appreciative and happy for them to get a win tonight and hopefully we can just keep extending the season for them.”
With both earning the start Saturday, Abdullahi scored 14 points while Hurst added 10 in the home win.
Huskies reset to face Kodiaks in quarter-final
The Huskies’ road to defending their conference championship will begin with a quarter-final matchup against the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks.
The tournament, hosted by the Briercrest College Clippers, begins Thursday, February 27 in Caronport, Sask. The Huskies and Kodiaks are scheduled to hit the court at 2:00pm MT.