The University of the Fraser Cascades men’s basketball team played the role of pesky underdog to a tee in Winnipeg on Wednesday (Feb. 21).
They hung around, kept the game close and then shocked the higher-seeded Regina Cougars in the fourth to win 74-62 in the Canada West play-in game.
UFV outscored Regina 25-10 in the final frame to advance to the quarterfinal round and a date with the Winnipeg Wesman on Thursday (Feb. 22).
Some nice ball movement and offensive rebounds by @UFVCascades leads to a Dario Lopez lay-up. Cascades up early in the second against @ReginaCougars in the @CanadaWest play-in from Winnipeg pic.twitter.com/hdVgcLwV3f
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) February 22, 2024
Cascades guard Dylan Kinley was the star against the Cougars, collecting 20 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Dario Lopez contributed with 18 points and eight boards, and Jake Willemsen made some big shots off the bench to record nine points and four rebounds.
UFV head coach Joe Enevoldson stated that his team has been in a lot of close games this season and that experience helped them pull out the win. He also praised the play of Kinley and Lopez.
Lopez with a nice spin inside, Cascades up by eight pic.twitter.com/O8rUxZAOVV
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) February 22, 2024
“That’s been our one-two punch all year long,” he said. “We expect them to play at a really high level and we need them to.”
He said the play of Willemsen was a big boost and the Cascades needs those efforts from other players to succeed.
Kinley with a beautiful pass to Willemsen, Cascades up 60-55 with 6:44 left pic.twitter.com/KWdo53MqAU
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) February 22, 2024
The win sets up a quarterfinals match against the Wesmen. The two teams did not meet his season, but Winnipeg received a first-round bye and finished the regular season in third place with a record of 15-5.
Enevoldson said the team will watch some tape on Winnipeg and prepare for the challenge of facing a top-1o team on what is basically home court.
Thoughts from @CoachJoeEne22 after the playoff win – pic.twitter.com/zP9qTnSKnr
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) February 22, 2024
“We’re playing with house money at this point,” he said. “Let’s just try and keep getting better every five minutes.”
Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. Abbotsford time and the game can be seen on Canada West TV.
MBB | Moving on ✅
— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) February 22, 2024
The Cascades pick up the win and move on to the Canada West Quarterfinals tomorrow against Winnipeg!#weclimbweconquer #rallyforthevalley pic.twitter.com/cqGjkp22U8