Quest University鈥檚 鈥楰ermode Kave鈥� proved to be a house of horrors for the Capilano Blues on Halloween night.
The Kermodes men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams both picked up victories to kick off the 2014-15 Pacwest regular season and the men鈥檚 team forced Quest students to postpone Halloween partying for a little while after the game was sent to overtime.
The extra period was the difference and Quest was led by newcomer Theo VandenEkart, who scored a team high 27 points to go along with three steals, three assists and three rebounds in the 73-67 win.
Men鈥檚 team head coach Sean Shook said his team worked its way out of a slow start that saw them trail by five at the half.
鈥淭here were some first game jitters,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t took Theo a little while to become Jose [Colorado, former Quest guard] 2.0. There鈥檚 a lot of similarities between their games and with [point guard] Denzel Laguerta on an exchange in Germany, he鈥檚 been forced to play the one [point guard].鈥�
Shook said the other newcomers Dallas Searles and Liam Wear should fit in well.
鈥淒allas is finding his feet a bit,鈥� he said, noting he shot one of eight from the field. 鈥淗e brings an offensive game. He struggled a bit early today but he will step up offensively. They鈥檙e both older and mature guys that will fit into our system.鈥�
He admitted that losing 2013-14 players Jose Colorado, Cartiea French-Toney and Shedrick Nelson means others need to produce.
鈥淲e lost 55 points a game when we lost those guys and we鈥檙e more of a motion based offense now,鈥� he said. 鈥淕uys were struggling a little to make reads but it鈥檚 early and that will come.鈥�
Shook said guard Dylan Kular (15 points) made some big shots and Mike Zayas-Duran was strong on defense and filled the stat sheet with five points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists. Connor Heinrichs also picked up 11 points and a team high six rebounds in the win.
He said the team鈥檚 rebounding needs to improve and that the team needs to develop its offense as the season progresses.
鈥淩ebounding has been a bit of an issue early and we only scored 59 points today in regulation which is well below average,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut our defense held them to under 60, which is our goal. If we get that type of consistent defense, the offense will find a way.鈥�
Shook said another key factor was the rambunctious Quest crowd. Evidence of that was Capilano shooting seven of 18 from the free throw line.
鈥淚 coached Martin [Bogajev, Blues guard] on Team BC and he鈥檚 a good kid but very rarely in high school do you have to shoot free throws with a bunch of girls dancing around in costume on the baseline,鈥� he said.
Meanwhile, the Quest women rode a 26-8 second quarter to beat Capilano 77-70.
The team鈥檚 balanced scoring was on display, with Shayna Cameron (20), Katrin Sandbichler (15), Miriam Baumann (13) and Abbey Piazza (12) all reaching double digits.
Baumann added a team high 16 rebounds and five assists, while Sandbichler grabbed nine rebounds. Coach Dany Charlery said he liked his team鈥檚 performance.
鈥淲e found our composure in the second half and I was happy with the way we did what we needed to do to come out with the W,鈥� he said.
The Blues kept hanging around, coming to within five points with under a minute to go but Cameron iced the Blues with a dagger three-point shot to secure the win.
Fouls were an issue for Quest, as they were charged with 22 to Capilano鈥檚 12 but Charlery said his team made adjustments and limited the penalties.
The day was also a time to reflect on last year鈥檚 provincial championship team as the title banner was revealed following the women鈥檚 game. It鈥檚 the first banner in school history and Charlery said it鈥檚 a notable achievement for his team.
鈥淚t鈥檚 representative of what we accomplished and how far we鈥檝e come,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t shows how much hard work the girls have put into their careers at Quest 鈥� even before I got there. If we stay together as a team then those are the things we can accomplish.鈥�
The women鈥檚 team won鈥檛 have much time to admire the banner as Quest is only home for two more games in 2014 until returning home for seven straight games starting in February. Charlery said it鈥檚 a unique schedule but one that can pay off.
鈥淲e have to be good on the road and when we travel to other places we have to make it our home,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he good thing is we really don鈥檛 travel for the final month.鈥�
The teams next hit the road for games against the CBC Bearcats on Friday (Nov. 7) and the KPU Eagles on Saturday (Nov. 8). 聽
For more information on the teams, visit www.questkermodes.ca.聽
