Box Score Story by Sheri Lamb
Winnipeg, MB - One streak was bound to end as the Victoria Vikes paid a visit to their Canada West Pioneer Division rival Winnipeg Wesmen on Friday, Jan. 22.
And it was the Vikes (7-6) who saw their meagre one-game win streak come to an end at the Duckworth Centre as the Wesmen (6-5) opened up a nine-point advantage after the first quarter and maintained the lead the rest of the way to extend their own win streak to three games. The Wesmen won 78-70 for their fifth win in their last seven games.
The Vikes pulled within three late in the fourth quarter but couldn't pul even, but gave Wesmen coach Mike Raimbault a few nervous moments in the late going.
"You never want to see a lead slip away, but they're a really good team and they didn't quit and they executed and they made us pay anytime there was an opening in the fourth quarter," said Raimbault. "Hopefully it was lots of lessons learned and we expect another close one tomorrow."
The Wesmen out rebounded the Vikes 26-19 in the first half which helped in the home side building a 38-23 lead at the half. Winnipeg was lead offensively by fourth-year guard James Farley with 11 points, while fifth-year guard/forward Mack Roth contributed nine points for the Vikes. Jordan Charles had seven points and five rebounds for the Vikes in the half. Jelane Pryce and William Sesay led the Wesmen with seven rebounds each.
"The think I liked was our energy as a collective group of guys," said Raimbault. "Our effort and our energy was sustained over the entire 20 minutes. Guys were making connected-effort plays and playing well together."
After the Wesmen extended their lead to 50-28 early in the third quarter the Vikes closed the gap in the late going with a 15-4 run and trailed 54-43 heading to the fourth quarter. Vikes second-year forward Justin Kinnear scored back-to-back baskets to end the third after not playing in the first 20 minutes.
Wesmen second-year guard Denzel Lynch-Blair left the game early in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be an injury to his right leg. Lynch-Blair had 15 points prior to the injury. Luckily for the Wesmen, Lynch-Blair returned to the game. Coach Raimbault said Lynch-Blair had a foot issue which has bothered him for some time. Lynch-Blair finished with 19 points, five assists and three rebounds.
Fifth-year forward Pryce led the Wesmen with 24 points and nine boards, while freshman guard Sesay had seven points and 12 boards. Grant Sitton, a fourth-year forward for the Vikes, had 11 rebounds, 12 points, while Roth finished with 15 points and Jordan Charles had 16 points, six boards.
The teams return to the hard court Saturday, Jan. 23, 4 p.m. at the Duckworth Centre for the second game of the weekend doubleheader.
