Derek Rhodes
Image Credit: Thompson Rivers University
December 01, 2016 - 11:29 AM
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s basketball team will face one of the hottest clubs in Canada West this weekend.
The Pack (3-5) will take on the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves (4-4) in Prince George, BC on Friday and Saturday (Dec 2-3). It’s the teams’ final games before the Christmas break.
TRU head coach Scott Clark isn’t surprised with the Timberwolves---who’ve won their last four starts. “ They do a really good job. Todd Jordan (UNBC head coach) has done a really good job there for years. They play hard. They are very organized. Tough kids. Tough program.”
Clark feels the games this weekend should be competitive despite the fact the student/athletes could be looking past the weekend as they focus on exams and the holiday season. “ This last weekend is tough on the student athletes. Exams are coming up. They have been playing for a long time. I hope that we play good basketball. It usually winds up that it isn’t the prettiest basketball at this time of year. Our job is to prepare as best as we can. Hopefully we have some jump to us and hopefully we play well.”
Only one player this weekend is among the Canada West statistical leaders. Volodymyr Iegorov (5th year, forward, Donetsk, Ukraine) is the league’s third star of the week. He stands fourth in the Canada West in rebounds per game (9.1).
Iegorov and Joe Davis (2nd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) have been two veterans who have picked up their game offensively of late. Iegorov leads the team in scoring averaging over 17 points per game. Davis is averaging 11 points a game with Derek Rhodes (3rd year, guard, Antioch, CA, USA) averaging over 10.
A number of the WolfPack’s younger players have also started to make contributions as they adjust to life in the Canada West. “I think the young guys are quite talented. They are going to have good futures with the WolfPack. That being said, this time of year it is about your veteran guys. The young guys have practiced and played more basketball than they ever have in their lives. Mental and physical fatigue tend to catch up with them at this point. Those young guys are talented. I am quite happy with them.
I like where they are and I see them being major contributors as time goes on. That is how development happens. It is done in practice but they also need game time. They need to see ‘up close and personal’ what they are going to be up against.”
The Charles Jago Northern Sport Center is the favorite visiting gym of most of the WolfPack players. They like the atmosphere there. Clark praises UNBC for their ability to cultivate a basketball culture in Prince George. “ They draw quite well. There is a life to the crowd. They have a captive audience there. They have done a good job in their community and my hat goes off to them. That experience is what university athletics should be. Guys—whether it here at TRU or if they go on the road—they appreciate that.”
This weekend’s games will be webcast on a pay per view basis on Canada West TV.
The WolfPack do have some games during the holiday season: they will play some exhibition games in Lancaster, California on December 29-30th.
They return to league play on Friday, January 6, 2017 when they entertain the University of Victoria Vikes on the Warner Rentals Court at the Tournament Capital Centre. Tip-off is 8 pm. It’s the first of four straight home games for TRU where they will also entertain the University of Winnipeg Wesmen.
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