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BU’s Jaynell Gillett and Regina’s Nicisha Johnson battle for the ball. (COLIN CORNEAU/BRANDON SUN)
Nicisha Johnson has no regrets about leaving the Brandon University Bobcats even though she is no longer a starter for a Canada West women’s basketball team.
Johnson played three years with the Bobcats before deciding to jump to the rival Regina Cougars last season, which she had to sit out. She returned to the hard-court this season with limited minutes, but believes the move has been worth it. After all, the third-ranked Cougars (18-3) offer her something the Bobcats (0-21) could not: A winning program and a chance to play at nationals, which the Cougars are hosting in March.
"Everything’s going our way right now," said Johnson, who helped Brandon total a 4-62 record in her three seasons with the Bobcats. "I’m happy about the move. The team’s good. We have good team chemistry."
This season, Johnson has averaged 7.8 minutes of court time, 3.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game for the Cougars. She beat all those numbers on Friday as she put up six points and nine rebounds in 14 minutes of work as the Cougars beat the host Bobcats 71-38 at the Healthy Living Centre.
Michelle Clark led Regina’s attack with 13 points and Lindsay Ledingham added 12.
Jaynell Gillett had eight points and 10 rebounds for BU, while Alanna Johnston added nine points. Her sister Aimee scored eight points.
Johnson wasn’t sure how the Brandon crowd would react to her return to the Wheat City, but she’s enjoying the trip.
"At first, it was like how are people going to take it that I peaced out and left, but it’s exciting," she said. "It’s nice to see the new gym. I feel like I helped design it in some of my classes and stuff like that. It was really exciting."
MEN’S BASKETBALL:
In the men’s game, Ilarion Bonhomme notched 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Bobcats (6-15) earned a 68-54 win over the Cougars (6-15). Jordan Reaves and Turell Scott both scored 13 points and a double-double of their own. Brandon native Sterling Nostedt scored six points for Regina.
The Bobcats conclude their season against the Cougars today (women at 5 p.m., men’s game at 7 p.m.).
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL:
The Bobcats men’s volleyball team drew first blood in its best-of-three Canada West quarter-final late Friday night with a 3-2 (25-22, 18-25, 20-25, 25-19, 17-15) win over the host Saskatchewan Huskies. Statistics were not immediately available from the source.
CAT SCRAPS: BU forward Chantel Gaslard made 11 free throws during halftime of the men’s game to raise $261 for breast cancer research in the opening night of Shoot for a Cure …BU student Mason Kaluzniak won his tuition for this semester when BU head coach Gil Cheung made a half-court shot during a promotion at halftime of the men’s game. Friday’s promotion allowed the student to pick anyone in the HLC to take the shot for him.
» cjaster@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition February 16, 2013
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