Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

WOLFPACK WEDNESDAY

WolfPack welcome Trinity Western Spartans to the TCC in rare Wednesday nighter

Feb 16, 2022 | 12:20 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a tough second half of the CanadaWest season for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Men’s Basketball team, battling injury and illness, and playing many games shorthanded.

CFJC Today visited practice on Tuesday and spoke with the team ahead of their final home game against Trinity Western University.

While the second half of the 2021-2022 season hasn’t gone as well as the TRU WolfPack Men’s Basketball team likely would have hoped, Head Coach Scott Clark knows it could always be worse.

“This time last year there were no games, and we were practicing socially distanced,” WolfPack Head Coach Scott Clark recalls.

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The winter semester has been difficult for Clark’s team. At times, TRU has taken to the floor with only eight available players, and sometimes without their head coach.

“I think this is my 27th season as a university coach – the first league contests I’ve ever missed were this year,” Clark says. “That’s due to getting the Omicron and having to spend time at home while the guys were on the road.”

On Wednesday, the WolfPack welcome the Trinity Western University to town – a team that was set to visit in early January. However, the Omicron variant of COVID–19 altered those plans, which is why the ‘Pack plays host to the Spartans tonight.

“We’re expecting a good opponent. They like to run, transition, get up and down the court very well,” 2nd-year guard Tyler Schilling says. “We have a game plan for them, and I think if we stick to that, we can hopefully get a win.”

The Spartans feature a pair of high-flying guards who, together, average more than 42 points per game. Coach Clark hopes to limit their looks and control the pace of play.

“We have to make sure their scores are tough, that they have to work for them and we don’t gift them anything,” Clark tells CFJC Today. “At the end of the day, we do what we do on the offensive end. If we do that, I like our chances and we live with the result.”

Tonight is the last chance for the ‘Pack to play in front of friends and family at the Tournament Capital Centre. Tyler Schilling, who’s a Barriere Secondary School grad, anticipates a big effort from his teammates.

“Coach always says just give your best effort every night, so we’ll just go out there – last home game – so, just going out and giving all we got, and hopefully we’ll end on a win.”

The good news for the WolfPack is that all 17 CanadaWest teams make the playoffs this year – those will take place March 3rd – 5th. Seeding will be determined by regular-season standings.