UBCO knocks Brandon out of hoops playoffs
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The challenge the Brandon University Bobcats were worried about proved exactly what took them down on Friday.
They knew the UBC Okanagan Heat rebounded tough, but gave up 20 offensive rebounds and 16 second-chance points in an 86-70 loss in the first round of the Canada West women’s basketball playoffs at the University of Regina on Friday.
The Heat also hit 11 of 26 three-pointers as the Bobcats collapsed into the paint and left shooters wide open.
The Brandon University Bobcats lost 86-70 to the UBC Okanagan Heat in the first round of the Canada West women’s basketball playoffs in Regina on Friday. (Photo courtesy Arthur Images)
“Our group knew making shots, like any game, is super important. If we could have eliminated that, if they make three, four less of those, if we close out better and understand personnel better, the game looks a little bit different,” said Bobcats head coach Ilarion Bonhomme.
“Any time a team shoots 42 per cent, it’s tough, especially when we were 4-for-17 from three.
“When we’re playing really good, we’re hitting shots and it opens up our spacing, then we have driving lanes and stuff like that.”
Both teams struggled to shoot the ball early, but BU was the first to recognize that and hammer it into the paint for higher-percentage looks. Macaya Copeland hit a few early to draw the Heat defence in, opening up a Piper Ingalls three-pointer to lead 12-7 six minutes in.
But Brandon’s offence slowed down from there, while UBCO crashed the glass hard and grabbed a few big rebounds, leading to second chances on a 7-1 run to lead 14-13 through 10 minutes.
Brandon’s offence remained sluggish in the second quarter, saved by a shot-clock-beating trey by Copeland on one possession but otherwise went cold while giving up 12 straight points to trail 27-20 before Ingalls hit a deep two midway through the frame.
That got the Bobcats going as they cut it to a one-possession but let the deficit slip to 42-33 at halftime.
“Shots weren’t going and getting into the game,” Bonhomme said.
“We have 10 players who have never played in a Canada West playoff game, so just a bit of settling into the game.”
Brandon University’s Piper Ingalls takes on a pair of UBC Okanagan defenders during their game on Friday. (Photo courtesy Arthur Images)
Brandon matched UBCO shot-for-shot most of the third quarter. It spread the ball around and knocked down enough open looks to stay within 10 points most of the way.
However, it gave up a three, then Taya Clark turned it over for a breakaway layup, then Copeland gave it away for Lily Pink to cap the 7-0 run up a whopping 17 points.
Ella Averill ended the run but Brandon still trailed 64-49 with 10 minutes left in its season.
Those 10 minutes will serve as motivation for the off-season. Brandon got to the playoffs, but realized how far it still has to come to be competitive in the big games.
The relentless effort it takes on defence to stop a .500 Heat team’s first, second and sometimes third chances is something this group proved capable of for about 34 minutes, but four back-breaking stretches sent UBCO into today’s quarterfinal against Regina and Brandon on a bus trip home.
“We were playing a really good team in UBCO, a group who’s been here before. There were stretches in the game where they kind of showed they’ve been in these moments, from not just a playing side but a coaching side,” Bonhomme said.
“For us, trying to build this thing up, we took a step up from where we were last year but we still got a lot of growing and developing to do before we take that next step.”
Still, Brandon (7-13) won more games than in the past five regular seasons combined, and showed the future is still bright.
Ingalls netted a game-high 26 points in the last game of her career, while Copeland and Averill added 21 and 16, respectively.
Abbey Shand drives to the hoop during Brandon's 86-70 loss to UBC Okanagan on Friday. (Photo courtesy Arthur Images)
Kanani Coon led UBCO with 22 points.
Brandon shot 44.4 per cent from the field, but took 20 fewer shots than UBCO due to the rebounding struggles and 19 turnovers.
“I’m proud of the growth of the group and really appreciate all the support from the community,” Bonhomme said.
“The assistant coaches and support staff who don’t get enough credit with this thing, shoutout to them. Shoutout our athletic director (Russ Paddock) for giving our whole team grace and helping us as we try to build this thing up.”
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com