Opening their Canada West regular season at CARSA, both teams played with the long awaited support from their home crowd
Photo by Amelia Watson.
Vikes basketball is back at CARSA, as both the men and women’s team opened their regular Canada West season on Oct. 29, in a doubleheader against the University of Fraser Valley (UFV) Cascades.
With over 600 fans in attendance, the Vikes men’s team delivered a commanding win and the women fell just short on Thursday night.
The women’s squad took an early 27–23 lead after the first quarter, led by sharp shooting from fourth-year forward Makena Anderson and second-year point guard Avery Geddes. The Vikes held the game going into halftime, up 42–41, but in the third period, the Cascades swung the momentum, outshooting the Vikes 19–10. The Vikes took their first hard-fought loss of the season with UFV up 80–72 at the final whistle.
Geddes anchored UVic’s offense with a team-high 20 points and six assists in 39 minutes of time on the court, while Anderson posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double alongside six steals.
“I was honestly waiting to play at home and for the league games to start,” said Geddes, adding that the home gym is “such a fun environment to play in.”
Following the women’s game, the Vikes men took the court, dominating the game from the moment they hit the floor. Building a 57–42 advantage by halftime, transfer guard Cole Bekkering tallied up 18 points for the Vikes, while fifth-year guard Renoldo Robinson delivered a full stat line of 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists in 23 minutes.
The depth of this Vikes team was on full display throughout the night, with 62 of the total points coming from the bench — including 14 points from second-year point guard Toren Franklin, and 13 from fourth-year guard Ryan Gallagher. The Vikes closed the season opener with a 108–83 win. The team gathered at centre court after the buzzer, waving to the Vikes community, showing gratitude to their fans, and welcoming them back to the CARSA gym.
For Robinson, playing in his fifth and final season with the program, this home court win was particularly meaningful.
“Its been a long preseason … in my last year I’m just trying to take everything in,” he said. “Every year it’s a new team and new players, but it’s the same environment … [and] spirit.”
The season-opening excitement for these teams extends beyond the lines of the court, with Vikes men’s basketball volunteer Jacob Gittens cheering loud and proud from the stands. Gittens spends team practices scorekeeping, filling water bottles, and wiping down the court. Opening night marked his second year supporting the Vikes.
“This is a great team full of excellent [people],” Gittens said. “They’ve accepted me fully into their team … I feel really thankful for it.”
Vikes basketball will return to CARSA, facing the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves on Nov. 6 and 7. For tickets and info, visit https://govikesgo.com/.
