Mariners Promote Luke Holmes To Coach Women's Hoops

When a program of such notoriety as VIU goes through a coaching change, the common choice is to promote an internal candidate to maintain continuity, and the reigning national champions have done just that.

A two-sport athlete in his youth, Luke Holmes has spent the past eight years as the top assistant on Tony Bryce's staff as the head of player development.

Holmes took an unorthodox path to his current position. While basketball was in his blood, he was no slouch on the soccer pitch either. He began his career as a varsity soccer player, playing for UNBC in his hometown of Prince George.

Across two seasons with the Timberwolves, Holmes only recorded one point, an assist, but shined as a strong defensive midfielder, winning UNBC's Coach's Award in 2014. (For current Mariners fans, think of Declan Brown as a comparison.)

Ahead of the 2015 season, Holmes transferred to VIU, where he took on an increased role under head coach Bill Merriman. His collegiate career culminated in 2017, where he and the Mariners won a CCAA national championship on home turf.

In 2018, he signed on as an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at VIU, returning to the sport that made him famous as a Condor. In his first two seasons, the Mariners won back-to-back PACWEST titles, nearly doubling their total at that point.

2022 began the golden age of VIU basketball. The Mariners, designated as the host team for that year's national championship, went a perfect 17-0 in the regular season, but were upset by the Okanagan Coyotes in the title game. Despite the setback, the Mariners advanced to the national title game on their home court, but were felled again, this time by NAIT.

In 2023, it finally came together. After winning the PACWEST title over the top-seeded Capilano Blues, the Mariners advanced to nationals in Hamilton. Once again, they advanced to the national title game, defeating Saint-Jean to win their first national title in 25 years.

Now, in 2026, the Mariners once again stand atop the country and are prepared to defend their title.

Mariners Hire Eric D'Andrea As Next Head Coach

The defending PACWEST champions are starting their offseason strong.

For the first time in fourteen years, there's a new sheriff in town, and it's a face Mariners fans should remember quite fondly.

Eric D'Andrea (pronounced dan-DRAY-uh) spent five years in the collegiate ranks, first with the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack in Kamloops. After one season, he transferred to VIU, where he would play for the rest of his college career.

His first season in Nanaimo started with a bang: After sneaking into nationals as the PACWEST runner-up, the Mariners won the national title over the ACAA's Holland Hurricanes.

Throughout much of his career as a two-way forward, the Mariners remained in consistent title contention, winning three consecutive PACWEST titles and advancing to the national championship twice in 2013 and 2015.

Since his playing career ended, D'Andrea has coached at Split Second Academy in the Lower Mainland. Many players at the academy have gone on to play at the collegiate level, including Langara Falcons forward Aaron Ungprasert and recent Capilano commit Jessica Williams. Even after accepting the position at VIU, he will remain with Split Second as an advisor.

In assembling his coaching staff, D'Andrea enlisted the help of his teammates in 2013, namely Jon Bethell and Connor Billett. Their championship pedigree will be a great fit for VIU's battle-tested lineup.

The Mariners will host an ID camp on May 2nd and begin the 2026-27 season later this October.

Women's Gold Match Recap: Swan Song

Two things were apparent before Saturday's tipoff.

There would be a winner, and there would be a loser.

What most people wouldn't notice at first is the impending departure of VIU's biggest faces, regardless of outcome.

If the Mariners wanted to send Tony Bryce, Kaia Simpson, Rachel Labrador, and Mackenzie Cox off as national champions, they'd have to face a gutsy Fanshawe team looking for their first national title.

VIU 72, Fanshawe 58

The first quarter started just like the games against St. Thomas and Saint-Jean. It began as a close affair with the Falcons taking a narrow lead after the first ten minutes.

What should've been a red flag for VIU was a sign of relief.

They've been in these close games before.

They've been in two in this tournament alone and won both of them.

They wanted the hat trick.

A three-pointer by Sidney Deleary put the Falcons up by five, but the Mariners got it back within a basket on an and-one layup from Sarah Cook. Though Fanshawe kept their lead for a majority of the quarter through well-timed layups and clutch free throws, they failed to recognize something that had slain other teams before.

The Mariners are inevitable.

An Emily Sprott layup gave the Mariners a 37-35 lead with just under two minutes left in the second quarter. Through a combination of free throws and a late layup from graduating point guard Mackenzie Cox, VIU took a seven-point lead into halftime.

The lead would not slip for the rest of the night.

The Mariners led by as much as 17 in the final quarter through timely shooting and relentless zone defense. Despite a valiant push from the underdog Falcons, their chance at history was denied.

For the second time in four seasons and the third time in program history, the VIU Mariners stand atop the Canadian basketball world.

Sarah Cook saved her best performance of the season for last, scoring a game-high 18 points and adding seven rebounds. Sammy Shields and Kaia Simpson both came off the bench and added 17 and 10 points respectively. Kiayra Hohlweg added eleven rebounds, while Mackenzie Cox swung the rock six times, tying for the game lead.

Ashlyn Anderson had another strong performance for the Falcons, recording a 16-13 double-double. Edith Eseme added 14 points on 50% shooting, while Sidney Deleary and Layla Mackenzie combined for 23 points in the loss.

This marks the final collegiate game for Mackenzie Cox, Rachel Labrador, and Kaia Simpson as players. It also marks the last game for Mariners head coach Tony Bryce, who announced his retirement earlier in the season. Longtime assistant coach Luke Holmes will succeed him, while former VIU forward Mackenzie Hall will join him as his lead assistant.

Women's Semifinals Recap: Time Machine

These two teams met for national gold in Hamilton three years ago. The Mariners emerged victorious over Saint-Jean, winning their second national title in program history, and their first since 1998. Will history repeat itself today?

VIU 62, Saint-Jean 56

The past few seasons haven't been kind to VIU. In 2024, they had to settle for PACWEST bronze after a semifinal loss to Douglas. In 2025, they fell in the bronze semifinals.

This year, things are different.

Tony Bryce has said multiple times this season that he didn't want to rebuild: He wanted to reload. The Mariners kept that promise with a semifinal victory over the RSEQ champion Geants de Saint-Jean.

The first half couldn't be further from the game against St. Thomas if it tried. Both teams found their shooting form early as VIU led by as much as seven, but Saint-Jean caught fire late to get it back within a basket after the first quarter. The second quarter was more of the same, as the Mariners took a four-point lead into halftime despite a late three from Deborah Damoah.

VIU's stout defense faltered early in the third quarter, and the Geants took their first lead at the quarter's halfway mark. After a brief period of trading the lead, Saint-Jean started to pull away and got the lead up to five in the fourth, but an and-one layup from Sarah Cook followed almost immediately by another layup from Trista Thorn tied the game for VIU. Sammy Shields hit a three on VIU's ensuing possession to give the Mariners the lead for good. Though the Geants tied it later in the quarter, VIU took the lead right back and held on. 

For the fourth time in program history, and the third time in the past five seasons, the VIU Mariners will play for a national championship.

Sammy Shields led all scorers with 16 points off the bench. Trista Thorn and Kiayra Hohlweg were close behind with 14 and 12 respectively, with Thorn adding 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Deborah Damoah led the Saint-Jean effort with 14 points, while Madina-Aissata Cisse and Juliette Gargya had 13 and 12 respectively. Crucially, Saint-Jean's only bench points came from a three by Serine Addouche.

The Mariners will have one day of rest before the final game of the season. They will face the OCAA champion Fanshawe Falcons. Tip-off is at 4:30 PM PT.

Women's Quarterfinals Recap: Tommie Genesis

While their male compatriots battle the country's best on their home court, the ladies march into battle against the team that hosted the big dance last year, the ACAA champion St. Thomas Tommies.

VIU 56, St. Thomas 41

The Mariners had a lot fun holding teams to single digits in the first quarter this season.

Apparently it's not as fun when they're the ones stuck in the mud.

The lack of offense wasn't from lack of trying: Both VIU and St. Thomas shot a combined 5-35 in the first quarter and 2-14 from three.

Both teams heated up in the second quarter as St. Thomas maintained their lead, but it never got higher than four. A Sarah Cook jump shot at the buzzer got it within one going into the half.

Paige Leblanc made a pair of free throws to get the lead back up to three, but a pair of jump shots from Sarah Cook and Kaia Simpson gave VIU a lead they would never relinquish. The Mariners turned a one-point deficit into a thirteen point lead over the course of the quarter, getting contributions from all around their lineup.

VIU and St. Thomas were evenly matched in the fourth quarter, but the lead was too large for the Tommies to overcome. The Mariners ride into the national semifinals for the first time since 2023.

Kaia Simpson was named VIU's player of the game and did what she's done so often this season. She dropped a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double off the bench, leading the Mariners in both categories. VIU's only other double digit scorer, Sammy Shields, also came off the bench, scoring 11 points.

St. Thomas' player of the game, Paige LeBlanc, was the only Tommie to eclipse double digits in scoring with 13 points. The CCAA player of the year, Charlee Connors, was held to only 7 points, but pulled down 11 rebounds, the most by any player.

With TKU's loss to Dawson later in the day, the Mariners are the highest ranked team remaining. They face the second-highest ranked team, the Geants de Saint-Jean, in the semifinals on Thursday. The winner of that game will face either the OCAA champion Fanshawe Falcons or the host Dawson Blues. St. Thomas moves to the bronze bracket, where they will face the NAIT Ooks in the bronze quarterfinals.

Men's Gold Match Recap: The Shot Heard Round The World

Remember when we thought VIU vs. Langara was the game of the year? Those were good times.

VIU 78, Camosun 75

This is the kind of game that people talk about decades later.

The first quarter went as expected: It was a low-scoring affair between two strong defenses.

A 14-7 lead was VIU's to cherish after the first, but Camosun did what they've done so many times this season and rallied back to take a one-point lead at the half.

VIU took the lead back going into the fourth, but it wouldn't last long. A Cormick Brown three galvanized the crowd at PISE, tying the game at 54. Though the Chargers took the lead many times, they could never lead by more than one.

Winston Cole hit a jumper to increase VIU's lead to five with 77 seconds to go, but Thomas Beames retaliated to get it back within three. All Winston had to do was convert a layup, and VIU would surely win the title.

He missed.

Rebound, Tyler Synesael.

Camosun wastes no time on their ensuing possession. PACWEST MVP David Finch converts an and-one layup to tie the game with 38 seconds left.

If the Chargers win tonight, he's a legend in Victoria.

VIU had possession coming out of their last timeout, but Keyonte Beals missed a crucial layup.

Here we go again.

David Finch again.

Missed layup with 14 seconds left.

Destiny no longer in Camosun's hands.

Winston Cole holds onto the ball for what feels like an eternity. With two seconds left, he dishes the ball to a wide-open Kai Leighton.

Catch.

Shoot.

Swish.

The VIU Mariners are PACWEST champions on a last-second shot and rip out the hearts of the Camosun faithful.

Kai Leighton etches his name into VIU lore with a shot that felt like Roger Daltrey's primal yell at the end of "Won't Get Fooled Again." He finished the game with 21 points and was named Player of the Game and Tournament MVP. Keyonte Beals scored 20 points in the victory and Winston Cole added 13 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter alone. Both of them were named Tournament All-Stars. Ryan Bastian also added eight points, 12 rebounds, and four assists.

David Finch and Tyler Synesael each recorded a double-double in the loss: Finch had 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Synesael had 14 and 10. Finch and Thomas Beames were both named to the All-Star team.

Both teams will represent the PACWEST in two weeks at the CCAA national championship in Nanaimo. VIU enters as the conference champion, while Camosun takes the conference's wild card spot.

Women's Gold Match Recap: Determination

Who said anything about rebuilding?

VIU 61, Douglas 43

VIU led 41-6 after the second quarter, but let their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter. The Royals mounted a furious comeback in the fourth, but the lead was too large to overcome. The Mariners win their second straight PACWEST championship, and their sixth in the past seven seasons.

VIU's offense, as has been the case all season long, came by committee. Sarah Cook and Sammy Shields had 11 and 10 points respectively, while Trista Thorn grabbed six rebounds.

Denise Mendoza led all scorers with 13 points. Mackenzie Dalphond added eight points for Douglas while pulling down 10 rebounds.

Both teams will represent the PACWEST at this year's CCAA national championship. VIU will enter as the conference champion, while Douglas settles for a wild card berth.

Men's Semifinals Recap: Pendulum

VIU 94, Capilano 80

The streak lives!

For the 17th year in a row, the VIU Mariners are back in the conference title game after a convincing victory over the team that bested them last March.

A 25-18 first quarter gave VIU the confidence they needed. They never trailed after the first four minutes, controlling play every step of the way and neutralizing Capilano's ferocious frontcourt.

Ryan Bastian led all scorers with 20 points and 8 rebounds, also adding six assists and two steals. He was joined in double-digits by Winston Cole's 21 points, Keyonte Beals' 17, and Kai Leighton's 12. Kaleb Wilson only had two points, but they came in theatric fashion on a game-ending dunk.

Kash Lang led Capilano with 13 points. Zach Klim wasn't far behind with 12 points, but was only held to five rebounds. Anthony Tamburrino added 10 points off the bench.

VIU will face the top-seeded Camosun Chargers tomorrow night for a PACWEST title. No matter what happens, both teams will represent the PACWEST at the CCAA national championship in Nanaimo. Capilano pivots to their bronze matchup against Okanagan in what will be the final collegiate game for Kash Lang.

Women's Semifinals Recap: The Standard

VIU 70, CBC 59

There will be a new national champion in 2026.

VIU is heading back to the gold medal game after a physical victory over the CBC Bearcats.

At first, things looked grim. CBC took a 23-14 lead into the early stages of the second quarter, but the Mariners responded with a run of their own. VIU never trailed after the halfway mark of the second quarter, grinding out a physical win.

Kaia Simpson and Trista Thorn tied for VIU's lead in points with 14 each. Simpson pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Thorn added three assists.

Katelyn Mallette led all scorers with 20 points on a very efficient 10-14 clip. Though Kagari Tomita was held to just one basket, she led the game with eight assists.

VIU will face the Douglas Royals for a PACWEST title tomorrow night. Both teams will represent the PACWEST at this year's CCAA national championship in Montreal. Conversely, the CBC Bearcats will play for a bronze medal tomorrow against Capilano, then set their sights on next year's national championship, hosted by CBC in Abbotsford.

Men's Weekend Recap: See You Again

The top seed may still be in jeopardy, but that won't stop them from one last tune-up before the postseason.

Friday - VIU 91, Douglas 44

You'd think that the Mariners would have gotten over their stunning loss to Douglas last November.

They still haven't, and it showed.

Douglas took an early lead on a Griffin White three, but never saw the lead again. A 27-7 VIU run in the second quarter powered them to a blowout victory over the Royals.

Four players reached double digits for VIU: Kye Kotapski-Tinga had 21 points off the bench, Winston Cole had 19, Rylan Adams tied his career high with 13, and Levi Van Egdom had 12. Though Kaleb Wilson didn't get double digits in points, he still earned Player of the Game honours with a game-high 16 rebounds.

Lorenzo Bonamin was the only Royal to reach double digits with 14 points, adding nine rebounds in the loss. Griffin White and Derrick Monroe were close behind with nine and six points respectively.

Saturday - VIU 103, Douglas 66

While closer than Friday's game, the outcome was never really in doubt. Even as the Royals took a 15-8 lead halfway through the first quarter, VIU remembered they had playoff position to play for and hit the gas. The second quarter, which saw the Mariners double the Royals in points, was punctuated by a buzzer beater from Winston Cole, who finished with 32 points. VIU held serve the rest of the way to pick up their nineteenth win of the season.

In addition to Cole's 32-piece, Keyonte Beals added 24 points on 75% shooting while adding a game-high four steals. Kai Leighton added five points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in his final regular season game.

Lorenzo Bonamin had another double-digit effort, scoring 16 points and pulling down six rebounds. This time, he had a much stronger supporting cast: Derrick Monroe dropped 15 points, and Hunter Thomson capped his collegiate career with 11 points.

VIU enters the PACWEST championships as the #2 seed. They will face either Capilano or Okanagan in the semifinals. Regardless of what happens in the PACWEST championships, they will return home in March as the host team for the CCAA men's basketball national championship.

Women's Weekend Recap: Knockout Punch

It's rare that the top seed is still up for grabs this late in the season, but the Mariners have shown that they can step up when the lights shine brightest. Against a team eager to play spoiler, they'll have to shine brighter than ever.

Friday - VIU 62, Douglas 49

Well, that was anticlimactic.

In front of a raucous home crowd, the Mariners played like their season was on the line. Douglas' mighty offense was held to only 28 points through the first three quarters and limited to just one made three all game. Though the Royals tried to come back in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Mariners 21-10 in the final frame, the deficit was too large to overcome.

With such a dominant win in the rearview, the Mariners secure their third straight regular season PACWEST championship and their fourth in the last five seasons.

Trista Thorn and Kaia Simpson tied for the game lead with 13 points and a block each. Kiayra Hohlweg grabbed eight rebounds and dished four assists, both team highs.

Laini Glover led the Royals with 11 points while adding six rebounds. Mackenzie Dalphond pulled down 14 rebounds and came one point shy of a double-double, while Dana Sander scored five points, including Douglas' only made three.

Saturday - VIU 71, Douglas 59

With playoff seeding already decided, the Mariners used this game as an opportunity to honor their three graduating players: Rachel Labrador, Mackenzie Cox, and Kaia Simpson.

Compared to last night, the Royals played with much more intensity, leading multiple times throughout the first quarter, but couldn't withstand VIU's constant midrange onslaught. Though the Mariners only had one made three-pointer deep into the third quarter, their defense held the fort and completed an undefeated home season.

Trista Thorn echoed her earlier performance against Langara, scoring 25 points while adding seven rebounds, two blocks, two assists, and a steal. Mackenzie Cox was the only other Mariner to reach double digits, scoring 10 points and adding four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Despite a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double from Mackenzie Dalphond, Douglas' offense went quiet. Amar Thiara and Elena Skalik each had nine points, but no other Royal got higher than Laini Glover with seven.

The Mariners enter the PACWEST championship as the #1 seed. They will face either CBC or Langara in the semifinals. Conversely, Douglas earns the other first-round bye as the #2 seed, awaiting either Capilano or Camosun.

Men's Weekend Recap: Changing of the Guard

While the ladies have to wait another week to duel for the top seed, the men can wrap it up this weekend.

Friday - VIU 85, Camosun 98

The Mariners started the first quarter hot, taking an 11-point lead after the first five minutes. The Chargers responded with an 11-0 run to take a one-point lead into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, nearly the exact same thing happened. VIU again took a sizable lead, but the Chargers fought back with an 8-2 run. Both teams traded the lead back and forth in the late stages of the quarter before Kye Kotapski-Tinga tipped in a shot at the buzzer to give VIU a 45-43 lead at the half. It marks the first time this season that the Mariners have lead Camosun after the first two quarters.

The stalemate continued deep into the third quarter before both teams decided to, for lack of a better term, lock in. Neither team missed a single shot in a two-minute span, but that did little to break the tie.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Chargers finally pulled away, taking a 15-point lead. Though the Mariners shut down the Chargers offensively, their own offense went cold as they suffered their first loss since November, though 85 points being their definition of "cold" speaks volumes.

David Finch led all scorers with 25 points, sprinkling in five rebounds and four assists for good measure despite fouling out. Four other Chargers reached double figures, including Thomas Beames, who scored 12 points while converting all of his free throws, and Owen Jones, who added 11 points off the bench.

VIU's leading scorer was Winston Cole, who scored 16 points and shot 12-16 from the charity stripe. Keyonte Beals added 15 points on 6-10 shooting, but fouled out in the fourth quarter. Kai Leighton led the team in rebounds with seven.

Saturday - VIU 72, Camosun 75

What a game.

The first quarter was what we've come to expect between these two teams: Slow, yet exciting. Think of it like molasses laced with caffeine. A low-scoring first frame ended with the Mariners trailing by one.

The battle continued deep into the second and ended with VIU up by two after a Kai Leighton buzzer beater. The lead wouldn't last for long, but they took it back in the third, entering the final frame up by one.

In the fourth quarter, neither team pulled any punches. VIU held a slight advantage for parts, but with just under three and a half minutes to go, it remained tied.

An and-one jump shot from Tyler Synesael gave the Chargers the lead with 26 seconds left, but the Mariners cut it to one on their next possession, then intentionally fouled Synesael again.

He missed both shots.

The Mariners countered his mistake with one of their own, chucking the ball out of bounds.

Timeout Camosun.

Another intentional foul with 11.1 to go.

David Finch doesn't think twice.

One last chance for VIU.

Two missed shots.

Game over.

Camosun's first consecutive victories over VIU since 2006.

David Finch had another stellar game, scoring 19 points and pulling down six rebounds. Tyler Synesael did him one better with seven rebounds, while Cormick Brown and Cole Belton combined for 29 points.

Compared to last night, Keyonte Beals had a much stronger showing. He scored 25 points, the most by any player and added four assists, six rebounds, and a steal, all with only one foul to his name. Kai Leighton finished close behind, dropping an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double and shooting 50% from deep.

With their destiny no longer in their hands, the Mariners return home for a matchup with the Douglas Royals next week.

Women's Weekend Recap: Ram Jam

This installment of the Island Rivalry has heavy playoff implications for both teams: VIU looks to gain ground on Douglas, while Camosun seeks a higher seed.

Friday - VIU 60, Camosun 51

The ghosts of losses past looked to haunt VIU, but their defense held Camosun to just nine points in the first quarter before hitting the gas in the second, taking a 33-19 lead into the half. Despite a late push from Camosun in the fourth, the lead was too large to overcome. The Mariners cruised to yet another victory over Camosun and gain crucial ground in the race for the top seed.

Offense was hard to come by for both teams, but that didn't stop three Mariners from finishing in double digits. Kiayra Hohlweg led VIU with 12 points while Trista Thorn added 11. In her first games since late January, Rachel Labrador came off the bench and dropped 10 points.

Kanda Diop led the game in scoring with a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double, but her supporting cast was shallow in comparison. Brooklyn Walbaum was the closest with eight points while Jayci Chase pulled down 11 rebounds.

Saturday - VIU 76, Camosun 59

The first quarter was a dogfight. For every basket one team made, the other countered in equal measure. VIU ended the first quarter on a 20-4 run that took them deep into the second, but a late Camosun rally put it back within single digits at the half.

Thankfully, the Mariners woke up and remembered they have playoff seeding to play for. A 10-point third quarter swing proved to be the difference maker as the Mariners coasted to their 20th victory of the season.

Emily Sprott and Sammy Shields tied for the team lead in points with 12 each. Trista Thorn led VIU's starters with nine points while grabbing six rebounds, a total she shared with Shields and Allison Bentley. Trista Thorn recorded a season-high three blocks in the victory.

Brooklyn Walbaum led the game with 14 points. Jayci Chase wasn't far behind with 12 points, adding 11 rebounds for a double-double.

With their road schedule complete, the Mariners return home for a date with destiny. They host the Douglas Royals with the top seed on the line.

Women's Weekend Recap: Execution

After a long road trip, the Mariners return home for what should be a simple matchup against Okanagan.

Friday - VIU 73, Okanagan 55

The Coyotes are stronger than their record suggests, but the Mariners played all four quarters with Bill Parcells' famous quote in mind.

You are what your record says you are.

In addition to their resounding win, Capilano defeated Douglas earlier in the day, moving the Mariners to a tie for the conference lead.

Four players led the way for VIU: Trista Thorn and Kiayra Hohlweg each scored 14 points, while Sarah Cook and Annabelle Neufeld each had 10. Cook added eleven rebounds for her first double-double of the season.

Okanagan's leading scorer was Jordan Kemper. She was the only player with more than 20 points, scoring 21 points while adding six rebounds. Rebecca Boyes added 10 points, while Antonella Luraghi and Mafae Amarilla added eight each.

Saturday - VIU 77, Okanagan 53

The Coyotes started a rare Saturday morning game hot. A jump shot by Ayla Mulleny put Okanagan up 10-4 three minutes into the game as they looked to do the improbable.

Then, like a lit candle in a wind tunnel, it was gone.

The Mariners hit the gas halfway through the first quarter, briefly taking the lead before losing it again, then taking it right back with a pair of free throws from Sarah Cook. From there, the Coyotes would never lead again, letting the Mariners roll to a weekend sweep and a tie atop the conference with Douglas.

Sarah Cook led all scorers with 17 points, converting all eight of her free throws. Sammy Shields did just about everything off the bench, finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and seven steals on the eve of her birthday.

Jordan Kemper posted yet another double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes. Antonella Luraghi had a double-double of her own, leading the Coyotes with 18 points while also adding an unfortunate 11 turnovers.

The Mariners head down the Malahat next week for Round 2 of the Island Rivalry, then return home for a do-or-die matchup with the Douglas Royals.

Men's Weekend Recap: You Having Fun Yet?

Both teams could have reason to celebrate soon. Okanagan is just one win away from a playoff spot, and the Mariners have a chance to lock up the top seed later this month.

Friday - VIU 89, Okanagan 70

These two teams are on polar opposite ends of the offensive spectrum in how they get their points, and the played as such.

A spectacular second quarter for Okanagan put the Coyotes up by two going into the half, but they would never lead again. VIU's high-octane perimeter offense kicked into overdrive, flummoxing Okanagan's post-heavy offense en route to a decisive victory.

Keyonte Beals wasn't afraid to shoot the ball, scoring 19 points while taking as many shots. Winston Cole and Kye Kotapski-Tinga were right behind him with 18 each while Kai Leighton added 16 for good measure.

Okanagan's stars showed up in equal measure. Noah Steingart and Oaklen Kowal tied for the team lead with 18 points while Phil Holmes Jr. recorded yet another double-double, dropping 17 points and 15 rebounds while playing all but one minute in the game.

Saturday - VIU 106, Okanagan 78

With Douglas' loss on Friday and Okanagan's playoff status secured, the Coyotes intended to use Saturday's game as a test ahead of their trip to Victoria in two months.

If Saturday's game is anything to go by, the Coyotes still have much to learn.

The Mariners took a 32-9 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. While Okanagan matched VIU the rest of the way, the lead was too large, pushing the Mariners to their ninth straight.

Two major things stood out for VIU today: Shooting and offensive rebounds. In addition to hitting 22 three-pointers to Okanagan's eight, the Mariners bested the Coyotes 20-10 on the offensive glass and 45-30 in total, marking the first time this season they held the advantage in offensive rebounds.

Four players reached double figures for VIU: Ekman Sohal and Levi Van Egdom tied for the team lead in points with 23, while Keyonte Beals and Winston Cole had 18 and 13 respectively. Sohal and Beals each recorded a double-double: Sohal had 23 points (15 in the first quarter alone) and 10 rebounds, while Beals had 18 and 11. The only Mariner to not crack the scoresheet was Kaleb Wilson, but he compensated with three blocks.

Phil Holmes Jr. continues to star in the Okanagan frontcourt, recording 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Oaklen Kowal dropped 14 points off the bench, while Noah Steingart added 10.

The Mariners head down the Malahat next week for a heavyweight bout with Camosun before returning home on February 20th to face Douglas.

Men's Weekend Recap: Exorcism

This weekend marks the first time the Mariners have visited North Vancouver since last year's gold match. If the Blues want to pick up another victory against VIU, they'll have to do it without star point guard Peter Li.

Friday - VIU 94, Capilano 80

The Mariners started out the game by hitting three of their first four shots from beyond the arc, but the Blues came back just as fast to take the lead, going up by as much as eight. An and-one layup from Kye Kotapski-Tinga stopped the bleeding momentarily, but they ended the first quarter still down by eight.

The Mariners have faced these kinds of deficits before. They trailed by double digits against both Langara and Camosun earlier in the season and came back to win both times. Sure enough, they turned a ten-point deficit into a four-point lead in just over four minutes, going into the half up 48-42.

Sukhraj Garcha cut the lead to three early in the third quarter, but an Ekman Sohal corner three gave the Mariners a bit of breathing room. VIU's propensity for turnovers was partially undone by Capilano's surprising inability to finish in the paint. The Blues responded appropriately by shifting their attack to the perimeter, tying the game with a Kash Lang shot. That would be as close as Capilano got to the lead, as the Mariners held serve the rest of the way to secure their sixth straight victory.

This game was mostly a duel between two strong guards. Kash Lang led the Blues with 27 points while Kye Kotapski-Tinga led the game with 28 points off the bench. Keyonte Beals chipped in with 23 of his own, while Kai Leighton, Ekman Sohal, and Winston Cole all eclipsed double digits for VIU.

Sukhraj Garcha continues a strong campaign for the Blues, dropping 16 points and seven rebounds to go with two assists and two steals.

Saturday - VIU 100, Capilano 67

Capilano's injury woes apparently spread to their coaching staff. TJ Klim missed the game for an undisclosed reason, forcing assistant Ross Tomlinson into the spotlight.

With all due respect to the Blues' coaching staff, it went as well as one would expect against the top team in the province.

Though the Blues led by one after the first quarter, they would never lead again. The Mariners rode a fourteen-point third quarter swing to steamroll a shorthanded Capilano unit and secure their nineteenth consecutive playoff birth.

VIU's lopsided victory is made even more impressive by the fact that none of their players hit the 20-point plateau. Their leading scorer was Markus Modrovic, who came off the bench and dropped 18 points and eight rebounds while sprinkling in a steal, an assist, and a block. Winston Cole and Keyonte Beals combined for 32 points, while Kaleb Wilson recorded eight rebounds in the victory.

Zach Klim and Kash Lang were Capilano's only double-digit scorers, recording 19 and 16 points respectively. Klim also added three assists, four rebounds, and two blocks.

After three weeks away from home, the Mariners return in February for their penultimate homestand of the season against the up-and-coming Okanagan Coyotes.

Women's Weekend Recap: Pecking Order

The Mariners can't afford to lose like they did last week. All three of their losses this season have come on the road, and against the top defensive team in the province with second place on the line, it's as intense as a regular season game can be.

Friday - VIU 57, Capilano 45

The Mariners raced out to a 19-point lead halfway through the second quarter, but the Blues fought back to cut the deficit to single digits.

A 33-16 halftime lead was VIU's to cherish, but the job was far from done. A three early in the third quarter galvanized the Capilano crowd, but the Mariners held strong, despite Capilano outplaying them. The top defensive team in the country looked as such, cutting the lead to eight late in the quarter.

With one frame left, their once mighty lead had dwindled to only eight. Their midrange-centric offense proved ineffective against Capilano's mighty forwards, forcing them to resort to three-pointers.

The lead dwindled to six.

Then to three.

The Mariners were dead in the water.

Until they weren't.

VIU rekindled their offensive flame as a late three from Sarah Cook punctuated a VIU victory, securing tiebreaker over Capilano.

Sarah Cook was the only Mariner in double digits, scoring 15 points. Allison Bentley recorded five points and three steals in her first start of the season, while Kaia Simpson grabbed ten rebounds coming off the bench.

Capilano's main culprit was their poor shooting, especially in the first half. As a team, the Blues shot 9-53 from the field.

Yes, you read that right.

Most of their points came from the free throw line, where they shot 23-27. Alexa Kusel led the way for Capilano with 11 points. Lucia Lopez led the game with eight rebounds.

Saturday - VIU 63, Capilano 61

After Friday's affair, things couldn't get much uglier.

Capilano raced out to an early lead but the Mariners rediscovered their clutch gene in the second quarter to enter halftime up 41-34.

They lost it just as quickly, ceding the lead to Capilano in the third quarter before taking it back on a late layup from Mackenzie Cox.

Both teams traded shots for most of the fourth quarter, but the Mariners started to pull away at the end. Capilano never let them rest, always keeping it within a basket or less.

Two clutch free throws from Cox put the Mariners up by two with eighty-three seconds left, and they had a chance to ice it with eight seconds left, but Kiayra Hohlweg had a layup blocked by Barcha Hnizdilova. She passed it to Mia Parkin, who hoisted a shot at the buzzer that clanged off the front of the rim. Given that she shot with four seconds left, I'm confused as to why Capilano didn't try to force overtime or find a better shot.

Furthermore, with Okanagan's loss to CBC the day prior, the Mariners secured their nineteenth consecutive playoff berth; the longest active streak in the PACWEST dating back to the Bill McWhinnie era.

Trista Thorn posted her first double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and adding ten rebounds.

Barcha Hnizdilova led all players in points and rebounds with 18 and 11 respectively, also securing a double-double despite the loss. Maddy Coffin came one point shy of the achievement, scoring nine points to go with her ten boards.

The playoff-bound Mariners return home next week to face the Okanagan Coyotes in their penultimate home set of the season.

Men's Weekend Recap: Show Me Ya Moves!

This weekend tilt marks the first time these two teams have met since VIU's home opener, which still stands as the only overtime game this season. Can the Falcons go the distance again?

Friday - VIU 107, Langara 97

For some reason, the livestream stopped in the middle of warmups. If it brings any consolation, Markus Modrovic returned to the lineup, which Mariners fans won't complain about. They kept the lineup changes coming with another big move: Kye Kotapski-Tinga, VIU's leading scorer for much of the first semester, was moved to the bench to make room for Keyonte Beals as the starting shooting guard.

Langara also added a new face to their lineup: Vincent Guerina made his Falcons debut after spending 2023-24 with the Douglas Royals.

Both teams traded threes in the middle of the first quarter, but the Mariners started to pull away after six straight points from Kye Kotapski-Tinga.

A three point lead isn't much, especially for two strong shooting teams like VIU and Langara, meaning the defense would have to be the difference maker for both teams. The second quarter was more of the same: Langara's offense is good, but VIU goes blow for blow with them and increases their lead. Keyonte Beals and Kye Kotapski-Tinga combined for 30 points before the end of the second quarter.

The third quarter was all VIU, punctuated by a Kai Leighton three at the buzzer. The fourth quarter saw Langara score seven straight points and even get the lead down to four points, but another Kai Leighton three looked to seal the deal. The Falcons still wouldn't go away, keeping it within three for uncomfortably long stretches.

The Mariners struggled to get their offensive mojo back as visions of their 14-point meltdown against Douglas danced through their collective minds. Thankfully, Kai Leighton put the team on his back as the Mariners barely got out of Vancouver with a win.

VIU had three players reach the 20-point plateau: Keyonte Beals had 25, Kye Kotapski-Tinga had 22, and Kai Leighton had 20. Leighton's performance was noteworthy, as 13 of those points came in the fourth quarter alone. Ryan Bastian and Winston Cole added 17 and 15 points on top of that.

Langara's offense continues to turn heads: Patrick Robinson's 24 points led the Falcons with James Zongo riding shotgun with 21. Luka Subotic and Vincent Guerina both looked comfortable running the point, combining for 14 points and ten assists. Aaron Ungprasert had a rather pedestrian performance compared to his November heroics, posting nine points, five rebounds, and a block before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Saturday - VIU 92, Langara 69

Much like their last meeting, Friday's fireworks gave way to Saturday's box-standard VIU win. Langara's lone first half highlight was a buzzer beating layup from Brahm Nair.

From there, the Mariners never looked back. Though the Falcons kept up offensively, the lead was too large to overcome as VIU won their fifth straight game in convincing fashion.

Winston Cole had 16 points at the half and finished with 17 on the day. Keyonte Beals led all scorers with 19 points while Levi Van Egdom recorded 10 points, his first time reaching that mark since November 15th. Ryan Bastian recorded a career-high 19 rebounds in the win while adding three points.

Langara's offense ran through the usual suspects. Aaron Ungprasert led the Falcons with 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Edrielle Asirit, Patrick Robinson, and Nixon Owusu combined for 35 points.

The Mariners return to the Lower Mainland next week to face their old friend Peter Li and the Capilano Blues.

Women's Weekend Recap: Falc Smash

The Mariners have a lot to thank Langara for after defeating the Royals last week. So much so, in fact, that they flew to Vancouver to personally thank the Falcons themselves.

Friday - VIU 49, Langara 66

Imaan Lali's PACWEST debut certainly could've gone a lot better.

The first quarter looked grim for VIU. They trailed by as much as thirteen, but a late layup from Kiayra Hohlweg cut the deficit to eleven. They went the whole quarter without hitting a single three, only converting four of their seventeen shots.

Sammy Shields hit a three early in the second quarter, but couldn't muster much else against Langara's full court press. Neither team shot the ball particularly well for most of the quarter, but the Mariners started to heat up in the second half. It wasn't enough to tie the game or take the lead, but being down by three after the first half is easier to stomach than being down by thirteen.

Both teams went over half the third quarter without scoring points, but a Nadia Singh midrange put the Falcons up five. A 14-4 run by Langara added insult to a slew of VIU miscues, including a technical foul and eight unforced turnovers.

Down by nine going into the fourth, the Mariners ran out of gas and suffered their third loss of the season in a game they desperately needed to win.

Reegan Bond led all scorers with 13 points, while adding nine rebounds and an assist. Avaani Pagely and Nadia Singh added 12 points each, while Katelyn Lafleur led the game in steals with three.

VIU's leading scorer was Kaia Simpson, who finished with eight points. This game marks the first time that VIU hasn't had a single double-digit scorer this season.

Saturday - VIU 49, Langara 46

This game had no right being as close as it was. Due to IT difficulties on Langara's campus, the game wasn't even streamed.

The Mariners grabbed their first lead of the weekend early in the first quarter, but the Falcons tied it up at the half thanks to strong defense and VIU leaving their shooting form in Nanaimo.

Langara began to pull away in the third quarter, but VIU rubberbanded to take a one point lead with one quarter to play. Though they started strong, the Falcons slowly chipped away at the lead. A late missed shot and foul sent Kiayra Hohlweg to the line with three seconds left with the Mariners up by three, where she could put the game in the box.

She missed both shots.

Out of the timeout, Nyssa Sunner had a chance to force overtime, but missed as time expired, vindicating Hohlweg's earlier mistake as the Mariners escape Vancouver with a split.

Hohlweg continues a trend of posting double-doubles in close games, dropping 13 points and 11 rebounds in the victory. Trista Thorn wasn't far behind with 11 points and seven rebounds, but no other Mariner eclipsed double digits.

Langara's offense was similarly frontloaded. Nadia Singh and Katelyn Lafleur combined for 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Reegan Bond added eight off the bench.

If VIU wants to repeat as PACWEST champions, they need to get their act together and fast. Langara showed that the Mariners are unprepared for full court pressure, which teams will undoubtedly zero in on when the playoffs roll around.

The Mariners still have two games in hand over Douglas, but they still have to win their remaining games. Capilano awaits them next week.

Re: Laura Gover

This is going to be hard to properly articulate.

Earlier this week, the community of Vancouver Island University was shaken. Dr. Laura Gover, a professor at both VIU and Camosun College, is no longer with us. She was 41.

Students and faculty alike had nothing but kind things to say about her.

Hundreds of faculty lost a colleague and friend.

Thousands of students, if not more, lost a teacher.

Two girls lost their mother.

A mother lost her daughter.

I hate having to discuss things like this on here, and it feels especially undeserved given that I never directly knew Laura, but a human life is a human life, and none deserve to be taken the way hers was.

From the moment I found out about Laura's death, I knew I wanted to leave something for her, just as many others did. Taped to her door is a poem from Mary Elizabeth Frye, which I will share with you:

Do not stand at my grave and weep 
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Rest well, Laura. We love you.