Bobcats prep to beat the Heat

The Brandon University Bobcats didn’t go crazy when they secured their long-awaited playoff berth.

For one, they clinched their spot after a loss, since they got some help from the Alberta Pandas. But they were subdued because they expected the level of success they’ve achieved.

The Bobcats (7-13) make their return to the 12-team playoffs after eight abysmal seasons, taking on the UBC Okanagan Heat (10-10) on Friday at the University of Regina at 2 p.m.

“Due to … all the hard work they put in over the season, they weren’t as surprised as you would have expected,” said Bobcats head coach Ilarion Bonhomme.

“They put themselves in a really good position with some early wins.”

Offensively, the Bobcats have become a true three-pronged attack, with just three players averaging more than seven points per game.

But all three are in the top 10 in Canada West, starting with Macaya Copeland in third at 16.6 points per game, with Piper Ingalls fifth at 15.9 and Ella Averill 10th at 14.8.

BU was fifth in points per game at 69.8, behind just the four Prairie Division powerhouses — Saskatchewan, Alberta, Regina, and Calgary. The Heat were in the middle of the pack at 62.4 while giving up 60.3.

Brandon allowed a league-worst 81.7 ppg.

“Offence isn’t our problem. I’m more worried about the defence,” Bonhomme said.

“Come playoff time, physicality is up, and the margin for error is so much smaller. Possessions matter so much, so we’re focused on those kinds of things.”

The Heat are coming off five consecutive weekend splits. Interestingly, they won the first half of each weekend, shooting over 40 per cent from the field across those five victories, and under 30 per cent in the losses.

UBCO’s offence is as balanced as they come, without a true star. Kanani Coon leads the team at 13 ppg, with seven teammates averaging at least five but none in double-digits.

For Bonhomme, the key to stopping them isn’t necessarily taking away the first look but preventing a second one. He found it interesting how aggressively they chase offensive rebounds.

“They’re unique in the sense that all five crash,” Bonhomme said.

“Traditionally, you say ‘forwards gotta rebound,’ but everybody gotta chip in. We’re not leaking out. The main objective is to get the ball, and we can figure out offence after.”

The winner draws the Regina Cougars on Saturday at 6 p.m.

The Bobcats haven’t thought about them one bit in their weekend prep.

“We are 100 per cent focused on UBCO,” Bonhomme said. “If we’re fortunate enough to get Regina, we’ll talk about them right after the game. There’s some familiarity there, so we’re in a better position than if it was flipped.”

FREE THROWS: The BU men’s basketball team begins its post-season today at UBC against Manitoba at 7 p.m. CT … The Bobcat volleyball teams wrap up the regular season this Friday and Saturday at the Winnipeg Wesmen.

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com