It is a cross-strait rivalry that needs no explanation, even if it didn’t feature two of the top-five ranked men’s university basketball teams in the country, which this season it does.
And on Thursday night, the U Sports national No. 2-ranked University of Victoria Vikes defeated the No. 5 UBC Thunderbirds 92-80 amid a charged atmosphere before a capacity crowd of 2,300 on Ken and Kathy Shields Court in CARSA gym.
UBC, however, hushed the crowd by running up an early 33-16 lead. The din returned as the Vikes roared back to take the lead 44-42 at the half.
Meanwhile, the UVic women fell to 0-5 in sa国际传媒 West play following a 70-51 loss to UBC (5-2) earlier Thursday. Abigail Becker led UVic with 14 points and five rebounds. Mona Berlitz led UBC with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
“We had our moments, now we have to learn how to extend them,” said UVic’s Becker, the third-year forward out of Ballenas Secondary in Parksville.
“Our ball handling and pressure needs to be better. But we’re a young group, and I see so much potential, especially among our rookies. The spirit remains high and we have each other’s backs.”
That will hold the team in good stead in its rebuild.
The rivalry will cross the strait for the return women’s and men’s games Saturday at War Memorial Gym in Vancouver.
It is a rivalry on many levels, including personally for Vikes women’s team head coach Carrie Watts. She played for UBC and graduated to the Canadian national team to play at the Pan Am Games and FIBA world championships, before becoming UBC assistant coach to head coach and Olympian Deb Huband from 2007 to 2021, when Watts became UVic head coach.
“This is a big rivalry and there are lots of motivators,” Watts said.
