Winters enjoys home Bobcat debut, win

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This article was published 21/10/2023 (946 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It wasn’t just 52 seconds to end a half. It wasn’t just a putback layup at the buzzer or an inconsequential three-pointer in the fourth. It wasn’t just an exhibition game at the Healthy Living Centre on Thursday.

The Brandon University Bobcats’ 105-77 win over the UNBC Timberwolves meant a whole lot more to Brandonite Max Winters, who scored five points in his first-ever home game as a Bobcat.

“It’s really cool. Coming to these games when I was younger, I hoped I’d be out there one day,” Winters said. “It just happened. “

“Them cheering when I’d take my warmup off, everyone going crazy when I hit that three, the young basketball player in me really is fulfilled.”

The former Neelin Spartan knows he has a long road ahead to see regular minutes in Canada West but is embracing every step of the journey. The leap from AAA high school ball to U Sports is massive, especially for a wiry, six-foot-seven forward who’s tough to consider a “big” in contrast to the guys he takes on in games or practices.

Winters realized quickly how much easier the game was in high school. He could run around and set screens untouched and reach over almost anyone for a rebound.

“Now in practice, Jack (McDonald) and Blake (Magnusson), they’re throwing me off. I’m fighting for my life trying to get to the top and set a screen,” Winters said.

“Boxing out, I’m taking an elbow to the ribs or I got a guy outweighing me on my back jump higher than me. It’s way faster too.”

Quite a few local players have been on this team over the years but seldom earn big minutes. It’s not easy to grow and evolve one’s game in a city no one has ever accurately described as a basketball hotbed.

Winters has a few things working for him, however, and fifth-year guard Jahmaal Gardner feels he has a lot of potential.

“He’s young, he’s looking to get better each and every day. We have guys here to push him,” Gardner said.

“The thing about Max and most of our bigs (is they) can shoot the three. It spaces out the floor as opposed to a big being one-dimensional.”

They certainly showed it on Thursday when 11 Bobcats hit shots from beyond the arc. Gardner made six of nine as he netted a game-high 29 points and BU made 18 of 42 triples.

It’s much of the same product the Bobcats put forth last year when they went 12-8 and reached the Canada West quarterfinals, losing a triple-overtime contest to the University of Winnipeg Wesmen. That was defensive player of the year Anthony Tsegakele’s final game in blue and gold as he signed a professional contract after the season.

Gardner noted that replacing the first-team all-star is a collective effort but one the veteran corps of Eli Ampofo, Dominique Dennis and Khari Ojeda-Harvey can handle.

BU’s offence, while prolific last year at 90 points per game, had to get less predictable. Head coach Gil Cheung emphasized speed last year, yelling “Go” the second a Bobcat grabbed a defensive rebound.

This year, Cheung’s a broken record stuck on the hit, “Keep it hot.”

“Like playing hot potato as a kid, keep it hot, keep it moving. We want to make sure everybody eats, right? Everybody has a big role on this team,” Cheung said, adding the three-point barrage displayed Thursday will continue.

“That’s what the guys want to play. It suits our personnel the best. That’s our identity, I think. It’s fun to watch, it’s not the best to coach sometimes but the guys have a ton of freedom.”

The Bobcats got a ton of terrific looks against the T-Wolves. They scored 99 of their 105 points from the three-point line, free-throw line or in the paint.

The steady 20-plus-point lead gave Cheung the flexibility to let some younger guys play out the final minutes. Winters seized his opportunity, hauled down five rebounds and when he caught the ball on the arc, he didn’t hesitate to splash a triple and send the crowd into a frenzy, and the Bobcats into Friday’s game in Winnipeg against the University of Manitoba Bisons — which ended after deadline — on a high note.

“The kid can play. Down the road, he will be able to play in this league,” Cheung said.

“He’s the best kid in the world, great family and it’s cool. He works his butt off and it’s so nice for him to have some success at home in his first game at home as well.

“He works at Sobeys, I see him there all the time. He’s pushing carts, he’s here, he’s a straight-A student and it’s great to see him get some rebounds and points tonight.”

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