Timberwolves Take Their Lumps

By Kelly Sharp

Douglas Royals Andrew Sturgeon blocks #15 Jay Gladish of UNBC

School was in for the UNBC men’s basketball team. The top ranked collegiate team in the country- the Douglas College Royals, provided the lesson in a 102-59 rout of the T-wolves in Prince George. Experience (six Royals are fourth year players) and size advantage was too much for the rookie - laden UNBC lineup. Douglas opened with an 8-0 run en route to a 14 point first quarter cushion. The Royals led by 26 points at the half.

“I knew it would be an up and down season,” Northern Timberwolves coach Zane Robison said. The day before Douglas College needed a fourth quarter push to put away UNBC 97-85.

Veteran Jay Gladish scored 14 points to lead the home team in the one-sided affair. The Prince Rupert guard tandem of Chris Veale and Justin Adams combined for 38 for the visitors. The New Westminster based Royals improved to a league leading 8-1 while UNBC fell to 3-6 in the BC Colleges Athletic Association.

“I believe we still have a good chance,” Robison said about reaching the playoffs. The T-wolves are one of four teams in the BCCAA below five hundred; six of nine teams in the league qualify for the post-season tournament.

With 7 first-year players on the 12 man roster UNBC has taken its lumps this collegiate basketball season. The T-wolves coach recruited a team with plenty of potential and the all important character to handle the frustrations.

“I was very selective this year, I took guys with good GPA’s, work hard and are coachable,” Robison said.

 “I believe we will be good.”

The experienced UNBC women’s basketball team is good. A pair of weekend victories over Douglas College 65-43 and 55-41 boosted the first-place Northern Timberwolves to 8-1.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us