Home cooking
Bisons up-end Regina in front of an approving audience
ROMER BAUTISTA STAFF
PHOTO BY BRAD GROOT
The Manitoba Bisons women’s basketball team used the support of a boisterous home crowd at the Investors Group Athletic Centre to sweep the Regina Cougars 2-0 in the bestof- three Canada West Great Plains division semi-final. The Bisons picked up a 69-52 win in game one Feb. 16, then followed that up the next evening with a 63-53 win in game two.
It was the terrific point-guard play by the tandem of Michelle Hynes and Tessa Klassen that led to the two victories.
On Friday night, it was Hynes who handled the bulk of the load, scoring 13 points and dishing out three assists without committing a single turnover. With Hynes handling the ball, the Bisons offence was running smoothly, penetrating and attacking the Cougars’ zone defence with great success.
With Hynes dealing with foul trouble all night in game two, however, it was the first-year Klassen who was thrust into the spotlight to take over the ball-handling duties. Klassen filled in beautifully, scoring 13 points, including a clutch three-pointer with just minutes to play. The made basket put the Bisons up 10, and the team never looked back.
As usual, the team’s veterans also played a huge part in the win. The trio of Rachel Hart, Sarah Holder, and Melanie Schlichter combined for 36 points in game one, then went for 31 in game two.
The three were also called upon to share the responsibility of handling Regina’s Chelsea Cassano, who entered the weekend series as the conference’s seventh-ranked scorer (14.8 ppg) and third leading rebounder (8.9 rpg). While Cassano got to work in game one with 17 points and 12 rebounds, the Bisons defence was able to hold her in check in game two, limiting the forward to a quiet 12 points and 10 rebounds.
With Cassano struggling in game two, the loss of the services of Gabrielle Gheyssen was amplified. Gheyssen, a first-year forward, was the Cougars’ second leading scorer. She missed the game with an ankle injury after a collision with Hynes on the last play of the third quarter in game one.
The win sets up an all-Manitoba series, as the Bisons will next face off with cross-town rivals the Winnipeg Wesmen in the Great Plains division final. The two teams will battle in a best-of-three series at the Duckworth Centre starting Feb. 22. Not only is city pride on the line, but so is a berth in the Canada West final four.
The two teams met four times during the season, with the Wesmen winning three times, including both times the game was held at the Duckworth centre.
The Bisons are aware that if they are to continue their playoff run they will need to contain yet another elite scorer. The Wesmen boast the Canada West’s leading point-getter, Uzo Asagwara. The Bisons should be very familiar with Asagwara by now, as she has torched the Bisons this year. She has averaged 30.3 points in their four meetings this year.
Game one’s tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Duckworth Centre at the University of Winnipeg on Feb. 22. Game two will be at the same time at the same place on Feb. 23, and, if necessary, game three will be held on Feb. 24.
