Coach Dani Sinclair鈥檚 3-5 Vikes are looking to build off a pair of regular-season victories prior to the break and three more at the University of Toronto Invitational that began Dec. 27.
鈥淭he girls played well. I think it鈥檚 the best we鈥檝e played as a team all year, which is a pleasant surprise when you look at the fact that we hadn鈥檛 really practised as a full team together in over a month,鈥� said Sinclair.
Injuries had set back some players after the end of November.
鈥淲e had six or seven girls in practice through exams. It forced us to really work on some fundamentals and play some three-on-three, which is never bad,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was pleasantly surprised that we were able to put it together. I think this group has done a nice job of staying fit and focused and not being too concerned about where we sit right now, knowing it鈥檚 a long season.鈥�
A season that resumes tonight at 6 at the CARSA performance gym, as the winless Manitoba Bisons venture to town. The Vikes men follow at 8 p.m.
Sinclair鈥檚 Vikes won their last two regular-season games handily over Lethbridge and claimed the three victories in Toronto 鈥� 79-51 over Laurentian, 73-69 over Western and 70-55 over the hosts. Jenna Bugiardini recorded a pair of 20-point efforts in the first two tournament games and 12 more against Toronto. Nicole Karstein had 19, 13 and 23, respectively, in the three outings.
鈥淚t was nice to finally have some consistency through games. I鈥檝e been having trouble with that throughout my past few years,鈥� said Karstein, a fourth-year forward. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to finally see consistency from practice into games.
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited about this second half. I feel like we鈥檙e going to come out strong. Over the Christmas practices we鈥檝e come together as a team more, I鈥檝e found, and we鈥檙e playing together as a team and working together well, so I鈥檓 excited to see how it goes.鈥�
As is Sinclair, who was impressed with Karstein鈥檚 performances out east.
鈥淪he鈥檚 been awesome. Her and the two Jennas [Bugiardini and Krug] have shown leadership. It鈥檚 almost allowed her not to put pressure on herself, playing wise,鈥� Sinclair said of Karstein. 鈥淪he鈥檚 focused on the leadership and the playing end has come on
鈥淪he鈥檚 coming into her own as a player with 23 points and 20 rebounds against Toronto on the last day was pretty impressive. She was in foul trouble, too, so she didn鈥檛 even play as much as she could have.鈥�
The Vikes lost guard Avery Snider of Comox, who decided to return up Island, and have added Oak Bay product Andrea Psotka to the roster for the remainder of the season.
As for the men, the 5-3 Vikes (who had lost three straight heading into the break) entertain the 6-2 Bisons.
鈥淢anitoba is one of the best teams in the conference, I believe,鈥� Vikes coach Craig Beaucamp said of the visitors. 鈥淭hey are one of the deeper teams, especially in their guard play, and they have a solid front line. They are a group that has been together for a while and they are just coming off winning the Wesmen Classic over the break.鈥�
The Vikes played a few scrimmages and an exhibition game at home.
Manitoba鈥檚 Wyatt Anders leads the conference in rebounding with 12.6 a game and A.J. Basi is fifth in scoring with 19.4 points an outing. Victoria鈥檚 Grant Sitton is fourth in three-point percentage at 46.4 and veteran Mack Roth leads the Vikes鈥� scoring with 17.1 per game, tied for ninth, while Sitton is 17th at 16 points a game.
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