If only the third quarter lasted the entire game for Quest on Friday鈥�.
Facing the visiting VIU Mariners, both the women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 teams fell behind in the first half, then came out from the break having regrouped.
The women were especially cold early, with only six and seven points respectively in the first and second quarters.
They had trouble penetrating the key on offence and were dogged by turnovers. After two, they trailed 29-13.
Quest came out of the locker room at the half stronger, managing to cut down on turnovers while jumping on loose balls more aggressively.
鈥淲e won the third quarter, it was just about energy,鈥� head coach Dany Charlery said.
The team was able to cut the margin to 10 points as the third quarter wound down, and then to nine a few minutes later when forward Emily Lachenmayer grabbed her own rebound and converted the putback, but that was as close as the team got. In the end, Quest lost 67-43, despite the much stronger second-half performance.
First-year player Olivia Mjaaland led the Kermodes with 10 points, while Jordin Wilkinson added nine. Eliska Vavrova hit double figures in rebounds with 10.
After the game, head coach Dany Charlery said the team鈥檚 27 errors were costly and pointed to the team鈥檚 lapses in focus and discipline, though he said he was confident the Kermodes have the leadership to stay competitive.
鈥淲e have enough maturity to lead us,鈥� he said.
In the men鈥檚 game, VIU jumped out early but Quest was able to get the lead before the end of the first quarter. However, by halftime, the team faced a 33-30 deficit.
In the third quarter though, the Kermodes dominated play and jumped out front. Paul Getz was able to convert his own rebound into a bucket and was fouled on the play. With the free throw, he tied the game at 35-35.
The Kermodes hung around for much of the fourth quarter but in the end, with a short bench, the team simply ran out of gas, losing 79-68.
鈥淓xcept for the last four minutes, we played a great game,鈥� new head coach Alex Van Samang said.
Unfortunately, Quest ran into a buzz saw in guard Usama Zaid, who led the Mariners with 49 points.
Already this young season, the Kermodes have had injuries to deplete their ranks, and on Friday, they were without post player Daniel Canzater for much of the game, though he did return in the second half.
鈥淲e鈥檙e playing six guys, seven guys that are healthy,鈥� Van Samang said.听
Veterans Dallas Searles and Theo VanderEkart led Quest, each with 19 points, with Noah DeRappard-Yuswack and Getz also scored in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
On Saturday afternoon, the teams hosted the Camosun Chargers. This time the men bounced back to win 92-83.听
Searles had 29 points, while DeRappard-Yuswack had 21 and VanderEkart had 20.
The women came up short against the Chargers, losing 70-59. Point guard Tessa Needham finished with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists to lead Quest.听
The weekend leaves both team in the middle of the PACWEST pack, each with two wins and two losses.
The Kermodes are home again for games this weekend. This Friday, they take on the Capilano Blues. The women start at 6 p.m., with the men following at 8 p.m.
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On Saturday, they face the Douglas College Royals, with the women tipping off at 5 p.m. and the men starting at 7 p.m. The games will be the last ones before the Christmas break.
