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Basketball Opens OUA Season vs Guelph Gryphons
Lakehead Basketball will begin the OUA regular season this weekend in the Thunderdome vs the Guelph Gryphons. In what is expected to be a very competitive Central division (Guelph, Brock, McMaster, Lakehead) for both the men and women, these match-ups bring additional importance to the regular season début.
Games are slated Friday and Saturday, women at 6pm, men at 8pm.
Historically, Lakehead’s games vs Guelph have been later in the campaign, with the ‘Wolves facing the Gryphons to close out three of the last four regular seasons. This time they’ll renew the rivalry in November.
Women (6-4 non-conf)
The Gryphons went 3-6 in non-conference play, but their schedule featured four of the Top 10 teams in the country, including CIS #1 ranked McMaster, who defeated Guelph 76-71 on Oct 17.
“We’re excited to open the season at the Thunderdome in front of the best fans in the country,” says coach Jon Kreiner.
“We play an inter-divisional opponent right off the hop so these are critical games. We’ve have the toughest division in the toughest conference in the country, which only heightens the importance of being ready to play,” declared Kreiner, whose team split last year’s doubleheader in Guelph.
“Guelph is a very tough team to play,” Kreiner continued, “They boast one of the best forwards in the country in Kate MacTavish and their point guard plays for our Junior National Team [Bridget Atkinson]. Surrounding them is a nice mix of shooters and slashers and they also had a fine recruiting year bringing in some good size in all positions. We will have our work cut out for us and are ready for the challenge.”
Men (8-2 non-conf)
The Guelph men’s team has gone 2-6 in non-conference games thus far, their highest ranked opponent the UBC Thunderbirds (CIS #10), who defeated the Gryphons 79-68 on Oct 1 in Vancouver.
Guelph is led by 5th year senior Jack Beatty and fellow guard John Wallace, but typically apply lots of pressure as a team on the glass and on the defensive end. In last year’s match-ups Lakehead lost 66-69 before rebounding for a 89-74 win the following night.
“We are facing a very physical, tough Guelph team,” comments coach Manny Furtado. “They compete and defend really hard. Our guys need to be prepared to play for a full 40 minutes to give ourselves a chance.”
Webcast will be available via OUA TV
Lakehead Basketball Weekend Schedule vs Guelph Gryphons
Friday, Nov 6
6:00pm – Women
8:00pm – Men
Saturday, Nov 7
6:00pm – Women
8:00pm – Men