Grant Sitton has seen the north and south of it, quite literally, in university basketball. He reversed the natural flow south in hoops among elite players by coming to play in sa国际传媒.
And in his two previous seasons with the University of Victoria Vikes, after transferring from Clackamas Community College, the native of Brush Prairie, Washington, has seen the north and south of it in other ways as well. In his first season with the Vikes, Sitton was on a powerhouse UVic team that made it to the national semifinals. Last season, however, UVic missed the playoffs.
鈥淭hat first season here of winning was a lot of fun. Last season left a sour taste,鈥� said Sitton, of what motivates him down the stretch drive.
UVic meets the Lethbridge Pronghorns (8-6 in conference) tonight at 8 p.m. on Ken and Kathy Shields Court in the CARSA Performance Gym.
The Vikes are 3-1 in conference since the Christmas break to climb to 5-7 and into a three-way tie for 11th place in sa国际传媒 West. The top-12 teams make the playoffs.
鈥淓very weekend is a playoff weekend for us,鈥� said Sitton.
There is no doubt who leads this Vikes team as the only fifth-year senior. Sitton is a slim, six-foot-nine swing player, who doesn鈥檛 take up much room inside, but instead attacks like a stiletto from the perimeter and is averaging a team-high 17.3 points per game.
鈥淚t鈥檚 unusual [to be the lone graduating player] because most teams will have two or three fifth-year players,鈥� added Sitton, a health and recreation major, who is contemplating playing pro in Europe next season.
鈥淪o a lot of new guys have had to play big roles for us this season.鈥�
Sitton pointed to rookie guard and fellow-American Scott Kellum, who had 37 total points and the most floor time in last weekend鈥檚 two-game Vikes sweep of UBC-Okanagan in Kelowna.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a real sense of camaraderie and guys are rounding into their roles. The chemistry is starting to show. We had a tough start but we stayed positive, and that鈥檚 the reason we are now turning it around,鈥� said Sitton.
The UVic Vikes women鈥檚 basketball team, meanwhile, is 4-0 in conference since the Christmas break and 8-4 heading into tonight鈥檚 game at 6 at CARSA against Lethbridge (4-10).
A big boost for the Vikes has been the return to health of Kristy Gallagher, the third-year guard out of Parkland Secondary, who missed most of the first part of the season following knee surgery in August. A dangerous outside shooter, Gallagher has begun finding her range since returning to the roster just before Christmas and is averaging 10.2 points-per-game in her five appearances.
鈥淗er shooting stroke looks good and she has been a great addition,鈥� said Vikes coach Dani Sinclair.
鈥淜risty did her rehab properly and now her rhythm is back.鈥�
The Vikes are guaranteed a berth in the women鈥檚 national championship tournament in March as hosts.
鈥淭here is more of a sense of urgency now . . . it is getting very real,鈥� said Sinclair.
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