Panthers basketball weekend
Rebounding woes are a cause for concern for the 91探花 Women鈥檚 Basketball Panthers, who look to return to the win column this weekend against the Cape Breton University Capers.
After coming away empty handed against St. Mary鈥檚 on Nov. 15, the Panthers are focusing their attention on rebounding after allowing 20 offensive boards in a 79-64 loss.
The struggles on the glass resulted in 15 second-chance points, ultimately deciding their fate.
鈥淲e got beat up on the offensive boards,鈥� said head coach Greg Gould. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have to do a better job in our defensive rebounding.鈥�
The next assignment won鈥檛 be any easier, with forward Alison Keough manning the middle for the Capers (2-2). Keough is sixth in the country in scoring, averaging 19.8 points per game, while hauling in eight rebounds.
鈥淪he (Keough) can attack you from the high post, and she can hurt as a low post player,鈥� said Gould. 鈥淓verybody else on the team knows how important she is. They really do a good job of getting her the basketball.鈥�
In order to come out on top this weekend, the Panthers (2-1) will depend heavily on their starters, Anne Kiberd, who鈥檚 second in the country in scoring (22.7 points per game) and point guard Katie Donahoe (12.7 points per game). Both players are expected to lead the way.
Gould said he鈥檚 hoping to find more balance in the team鈥檚 offence, despite some big game performances in the first three contests.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had big games from different people, but ultimately, you would like to see a little more balance in your scoring. It鈥檚 just a matter of putting it together at the same time.鈥�
For Gould鈥檚 squad, defensive rebounding and limiting turnovers will be key in determining the outcome of the game.
鈥淚f our team defence is solid and we take care of the defensive rebounding, we鈥檒l be in pretty good shape.鈥�
The two teams will square off at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre on Friday (Subway Night) and again on Saturday at 6 pm. The final home games of the semester can be seen on AUStv and Bell TV1.
Men look to stay undefeated
Despite a 3-0 record, the 91探花 Men鈥檚 Basketball Panthers have plenty to prove this weekend in their quest for an AUS title.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always looking at the next game, but you鈥檙e also always thinking big picture,鈥� said head coach Tim Kendrick. 鈥淥ur guys know that the big picture is to get to the Scotiabank Centre in March.鈥�
Standing in their path are the 2-2 Cape Breton University Capers, who travel to 91探花 this weekend, led by AUS first team all-star Meshack Lufile.
The powerful centre is averaging 15.8 points per game, while grabbing 7.5 rebounds a night and is expected to be the focal point in a Capers offence surrounded by athletic shooters.
鈥淲e鈥檒l know where he is on the floor and we鈥檒l know where the ball is in respect to him.鈥�
In years past, a player like Lufile would strike fear in Kendrick and his coaching staff, but the addition of tough, gritty forwards like Dut Dut and Tevin Sutton-Stephenson help lessen the blow.
鈥淟ufile presents some problems for us. He鈥檚 a very good player,鈥� Kendrick said.
On the other side, the Capers will have their hands full with Panthers鈥� Tyler Scott, who leads the country in scoring, averaging 30.3 points per game while shooting 47 per cent.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 the best player in the country,鈥� Kendrick said of his young guard. 鈥淭o have him with us is great.鈥�
Scott is joined by a deep supporting cast, including Lorenzo Parker (13.7 points per game) and the high-flying Brad States, who鈥檚 getting it done on both sides of the court, averaging 18.3 points per game while grabbing 7.7 rebounds with 2.7 steals a night.
With plenty of talent featured on both sides, Kendrick said style of play will determine the outcome.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to want to shorten the game to a half court-type game and we want to get out and make the game a 94-foot affair.鈥�
The two teams battle it out at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre on Friday (Subway Night) and Saturday at 8 p.m. The final home games of the semester can be seen on AUStv and Bell TV1.
Contributed by Thomas Becker
