Two teams at polar opposite ends of the PACWEST standings met over the weekend. The Mariners travelled to New Westminster for a match against a Douglas Royals unit much stronger than their 1-5 record would suggest.
Friday - VIU 68, Douglas 71
When you think about it, VIU is a lot like the late 90's-early 2000s Red Wings.
Whenever they lose, no matter who it's to, it's considered an upset.
Among all of those, this one takes the cake.
Douglas wasn't happy with how their games against Okanagan last week went, and did the exact thing to the third-ranked team in the country, roaring back from a 14-point deficit to grind out their biggest win in half a decade.
VIU was victimized by a relentless Royals defense, shooting only 20.7% from beyond the arc. By the time Douglas took their first lead with 36 seconds left, the Mariners ran out of gas, whiffing on their final three shots.
Derrick Monroe was all over the court for the Royals, recording 12 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. His wingman, rookie Olan Smith, led Douglas in scoring with 17 points.
Ryan Bastian scored a game-high 20 points and pulled down nine boards, but the rest of the team struggled in comparison.
Though the Mariners aren't in danger of losing their first-place playoff spot this weekend, this kind of loss can easily lead to a downward spiral if not immediately fixed.
Saturday - VIU 101, Douglas 90
Methinks the Mariners want heads after Friday.
A 39-point second quarter, punctuated by a buzzer beater from Ryan Bastian, gave the Mariners enough of a cushion to feel like they could ease off the gas in the second half.
Failing to learn their lesson from the night before, the Mariners let the Royals crawl back into the game, nearly squandering a 25-point lead. Thankfully, timely shooting from Levi Van Egdom kept Douglas at bay and got the Mariners out of New Westminster with a win.
Winston Cole had his breakout game for the Mariners, scoring 24 points while recording a game-high four steals. Levi Van Egdom added 23 off the bench, while Ryan Bastian racked up seven rebounds and eight assists, both game highs.
Derrick Monroe continues to sparkle for the Royals, leading all scorers with 25. Lorenzo Bonamin and Jesse Connoly also had great performances, scoring 14 and 15 respectively.
The Mariners return home next week for a grudge match with the Capilano Blues, while the Royals follow them there for a matchup with Camosun.
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