Vancouver Island University's basketball teams started the season with strong statements, sweeping all their games, most by blowout scores.
The VIU Mariners men's and women's teams began their Pacific Western Athletic Association campaigns with two victories each against the Okanagan Coyotes on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18-19, at the VIU gym. The men opened their season with a 100-58 thrashing of the Coyotes, and followed up with a 94-74 win. The women were tested in a 62-50 win in their opener, but dominated the rematch 92-52.
Matt Kuzminski, coach of the Mariners men, said the M's are still trying to build the individual and team standards to play at full intensity for a full weekend.
"The nature of our team over the course of the years is we've obviously been good and we win a lot of those games, but can you have the maturity and leadership to string those games back to back together," he said. "That's where we've got to get to."
Peter Li, VIU veteran guard, said the M's have a full roster of good players, so it's about coming in and giving their best at all times.
"We always talk about being process-oriented, where it's not about the score we pay to, it's about every play," he said. "It doesn't matter if we're up by 20 or 30, we're always trying to get better because we have a bigger goal at the end of the day."
He said this year's team has already formed a "brotherhood" and said team-building has been a strength so far. The coach added that the M's play unselfishly and are making the extra pass.
"Some of the things we're going to do really well this year is push the ball in transition, spread [opponents] out. We have really good shooting. We have guys who can drive and penetrate," Kuzminski said. "So I think we have the ability to play an exciting brand of basketball, but in order to do that, I think we have to have that consistent fire and intensity that will show up on both sides of the ball."
In the season opener, Li led the way with 23 points and 10 rebounds, Kaeleb Johnson had 22 points and Kameron Bender scored 15. The next day it was Bender with a team-best 26 points and Li with 20.
In women's action, Harriette Mackenzie – former nationals MVP making her return to the program – and Makayla Kimble each scored 14 points in the season opener and Kaia Simpson pulled down 12 rebounds. The next day, Simpson scored 16 points and Mackenzie added 12.
GAME ON … The Mariners are home again this coming Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26, to play the Columbia Bible College Bearcats. On Friday, the women play at 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8 p.m., and on Saturday, the women tip off at 1 p.m. and the men at 3 p.m.
