Kazumba a spark plug for BU

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This article was published 10/11/2016 (3348 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Girece Kazumba has only played two Canada West conference games but the impact the six-foot-three guard has made coming off the bench for the Brandon University Bobcats men’s basketball team has been palpable.

“He spaces the floor for us and the best thing about Girece is he’s got a great attitude,” BU head coach Gil Cheung said after Wednesday’s practice. “He brings energy and whatever happens at the end of the day it’s not about him. It’s about him contributing and finding any way possible to get a W.”

BU dropped both of its games against the University of Alberta Golden Bears last weekend in Edmonton but in the second contest the Toronto native came off the bench and provided an immediate spark.

In just 11 minutes of action, Kazumba finished with 10 points, three assists — both team highs — and collected three rebounds in an 83-67 loss.

He’s been dubbed the Bobcats’ spark plug.

“I’m the spark and energy guy,” Kazumba said. “We’ll be down, I’ll come down and hit a big three and get the team all hyped up. Every time I hit a three my team just gets excited.

“I want to get them motivated.”

Two seasons ago, Kazumba helped the Vermilion College Ironmen, a Division III junior college in Minnesota, to a 26-6 record and a conference title. He didn’t play last season but adjusting to playing hoops at the U Sports level hasn’t been as tough as he envisioned.

“I thought it would be bigger but it’s just fun,” Kazumba said. “The big thing around here is that (opponents) really execute their plays and they’re really physical. You come off a screen and you’re going to get hit and it’s not a light hit, it’s a real good hit.”

After an 0-2 start, the Bobcats are determined to hit back and defend their home court when the UBC Okanagan Heat (1-1) visit the Healthy Living Centre for games Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m.

The two teams haven’t played since BU beat the Heat 74-66 at the HLC on Jan. 11, 2014. Brandon owns a 3-0 record all-time against UBC Okanagan but failed to register a victory in 11 home games last season.

Cheung knows the Heat present a stiff challenge for his team.

“They’ve got two of the more dynamic scorers in the conference in Aldrich Berios and Mitchell Goodwin,” he said. “They’re tough, a smaller team but they’re active and can all space the floor and make shots. They came off a good split last weekend at home and our job is to take care off our home court.”

BU struggled to score inside against the Golden Bears, something Cheung said must change. Having John Paul and Earl Thompson Jr., neither of whom practised last week, healthy and pounding the ball in the paint for easy buckets is key, as is playing stout defence.

“I think we have to make sure we value possessions,” Cheung said. “We’ve got to try and get the ball inside a little bit but at the same time we’ve got to be able to defend them on the perimeter. We have to have an advantage on the glass and in the turnover battle and try to be active on the defensive end: deflections, being in passing lanes and being disruptive.”

The BU women (0-2) also open up their home schedule with games against the Heat (0-2) Friday at 6 p.m., and Saturday at 5 p.m. Brandon has just one win in three head-to-head showdowns with UBC Okanagan, a 70-63 decision in January 2014.

The Bobcat volleyball teams have a bye this week and will host the University of Calgary Dinos on Nov. 17 and 18.

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