Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

COVID-19

TRU WolfPack men’s basketball games postponed this weekend due to COVID-19; WolfPack women will play

Jan 7, 2022 | 9:39 AM

KAMLOOPS — Late this afternoon, CanadaWest announced the scheduled games between the Thompson Rivers University and the Trinity Western University Spartans have been postponed.

The reason? According to CanadaWest, it’s due to COVID–19 related protocols.

These games were set to be the first action for both teams in the second half of the season. The TRU men sit in fourth place in the West Division, with a four and four record. The games, which were set for Saturday and Sunday at the TCC, have not yet been rescheduled.

According to Men’s head coach Scott Clark the pandemic has been toughest on many of the young players he’s brought into the program.

“We have five guys in COVID-protocol right now,” Clark says. “My goal would be if we could play every game and see that out, even though it may be a rotational situation in terms of the line-up, I think that’s the goal. We talk about a lack of experience; there’s only one way you get experience, and that’s by playing.”

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While the men’s games will be played at a later date, the WolfPack women’s basketball games will proceed, as planned against the Spartans.

However, the start times have changed – Friday’s game will start at 7:00 pm, while Saturday’s contest will be played at 3:00 pm.

According to WolfPack assistant coach Emma Piggin, her squad will be in tough against the top-seeded team in the division.

“Trinity’s playing really well,” Piggin tells CFJC Sports. “They move the ball really well and they have great vision on the court. It’ll be a real test for our defence, making sure we’re in the right spots at the right time, that we have hands up in different lanes.”

The ‘Pack won just one of their first eight games to open the season after a last-minute coaching change saw former TRU Athletic Director Ken Olynyk take the reins of this young team.

Piggin, who spent five years with the WolfPack as a player, believes this team could contend if they stick it out and mature as a group.

“The potential here is out of this world. Every single player here has so much potential, and that’s the most exciting part of it all,” Piggin says. “Even since September, individually and as a team, they’ve improved so much, just on that learning curve. I’m really proud of them for that.”