The final two remaining University of Victoria Vikes basketball players to dribble in sa国际传媒 West games in McKinnon Gym 鈥� Kristy Gallagher out of Parkland Secondary and Hayden Lejeune from Sardis 鈥� will graduate this season.
Because of red-shirt injury seasons, Gallagher and Lejeune finished their five seasons of eligibility in six years. They played as rookies in McKinnon鈥檚 final season in 2014-15.
Joining them in the graduating Class of 2020 will be the first generation of Vikes to have spent their entire careers in CARSA gym as Claremont grad Marissa Dheensaw, Oak Bay product Morgan Roskelley and Katie Langdon of Owen Sound, Ont., also close out their sa国际传媒 West regular-season home careers tonight and Saturday on Ken and Kathy Shields Court at CARSA against the University of Manitoba Bisons. There will a ceremony for the five graduating players to be held between the women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 games Saturday.
The six-foot-eight forward Lejeune, instrumental from inside as well as out with some clutch late treys in the sweep of Thompson Rivers last weekend, will look to again be a factor as the Vikes (12-4) face a very good Bisons squad (14-2).
鈥淗ayden has been steady and solid,鈥� said UVic head coach Craig Beaucamp.
鈥淲e found ways last week against Thompson Rivers (11-5) to get stops when we needed them and timely scores.鈥�
The Vikes took two tight games against the WolfPack and it doesn鈥檛 get any easier this weekend against a talented Manitoba side.
鈥淭he Bisons鈥� record speaks for itself,鈥� said Beaucamp.
The UVic women are 9-7 after halting a five-game losing streak with two wins last weekend over Thompson Rivers. The Bisons come in 7-9.
It will be a special weekend for the departing Vikes.
鈥淜atie [Langdon] played herself into a role over her career and Morgan [Roskelley] also displayed much patience to become a solid starter for us this season,鈥� said UVic head coach Dani Sinclair.
Sinclair paid homage to the 鈥渞esiliency and staying power鈥� of Gallagher and Dheensaw, both who lost seasons to significant injuries.
鈥淜risty has been a scoring machine for us and Marissa has played near flawless defence and has been an aggressive leader who can do so many things on the floor,鈥� said Sinclair.
The Vikes-Bisons men鈥檚 games are at 8 tonight and 7 p.m. Saturday; and the women鈥檚 tilts at 6 tonight and 5 p.m. Saturday.
The Vikes squads close out the sa国际传媒 West regular season next weekend in Langley against the Trinity Western Spartans.
