Basketball is a game of runs, as they say, and the Quest鈥檚 men鈥檚 team鈥檚 game at home against the Columbia Bible College Bearcats Friday proved this.
At one point early in the second quarter, the depleted Kermodes were down by 19 points to the last-place Bearcats. Slowly, the home side worked their way back into the game and cut the visitors鈥� lead to under 10 when forward Paul Getz hit a jumper from the corner.
By halftime Quest trailed 40-36 and took the lead in the third quarter. Often, teams trying to make up large deficits run out of steam, but Quest was able to hold their lead until the end of the game, which was all the more impressive because they had been playing with a short bench. In the end, the Kermodes won 74-67.
This season a few players have redshirted, which has not helped in some of the close games the team has lost.
鈥淲e are a team with only eight dedicated and hardworking individuals. Most other teams have 12 to 15. We are always the underdog, and our men always have to play significant minutes,鈥� coach Alex Van Samang said.聽
On Friday, the Kermodes were also without one of their leading scorers, Theo VandenEkart, who was on the bench with a hamstring injury. This left them with only two subs for the game against CBC鈥檚 full roster, and Quest had to play the last five minutes down one more player after forward Daniel Canzater fouled out after picking up his fifth foul.
Dallas Searles led Quest with 18 points, while Noah DeRappard-Yuswack and Chris McAlpine each had 14 and Canzater added a dozen.
With so few players in the lineup, everyone had to contribute, but McAlpine deserved some extra credit in the win. His outside shots in the second quarter helped get Quest back into the game, and he ended the night swatting a three-point attempt by CBC鈥檚 Elijah Calhoun off to the sidelines.
鈥淲e try to rotate our players as best as possible, which means playing our younger players Jonovan [Grant], McCoy [Lum] and Chris significant minutes. You would think there is a drop-off but these first and second years have stepped up tremendously,鈥� Van Samang said.
In the women鈥檚 game, CBC again jumped to an early lead, though the margin was tight, with the visitors leading 18-15 after the first quarter.
Quest took over in the second quarter, methodically running their offence to move in front. Midway, they went into the locker room with a 34-26 lead.
The Kermodes looked most effective when they spread the floor and moved the ball around, looking for the best shot and not simply the first shot.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to get them to play at a different pace that鈥檚 manageable,鈥� coach Dany Charlery said.
The third quarter was back and forth, though when first-year player Olivia Mjaaland sunk a three-pointer off an inbounds in the waning seconds, Quest still led by a comfortable eight points.
In the final quarter, the Kermodes led by double digits, but the Bearcats went on a mini-run late with a couple of three-pointers to cut the margin. When the final buzzer sounded, Quest won 59-51.
Jordan Wilkinson led Quest with 13 points, Mjaaland had 10 and Kimmy Aburegeba and Kyra Boulding each had nine.
Charlery said the team still needs to work on defence and leadership. On Friday, he continually rotated the lineup, which kept the team fresh and brought out some strong performances from role players.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have a big-time star,鈥� Charley said. 鈥淓very night, it鈥檚 going to be balanced scoring.鈥�
Both Quest teams had dropped games the previous night to visiting Langara. The women lost 70-61, with Tessa Needham and Boulding each scoring a dozen points.
The men lost their game 84-63. Searles scored 13, DeRappard-Yuswack had 12 and McAlpine and Canzater each had 10.
Both the men鈥檚 and the women鈥檚 team are 4-6 on the season and tied for fourth in PACWEST standings.
Quest will be hosting the league tournament once the season ends on Feb. 18.
鈥淭he PACWEST is an extremely competitive league. When playoffs come to Squamish, and we have a packed gym and great atmosphere in our house, we will see what happens,鈥� Van Samang said.
