Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorn Athletics
LETHBRIDGE, Alta – Topping 30 points in each of the first three quarters, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's basketball team cruised to their third consecutive victory with a convincing 115-87 win over the Trinity Western Spartans.
With the win the Pronghorns improve to 10-7 and have clinched a spot in the Canada West playoffs. The loss keeps Trinity Western winless at 0-17.
All 11 of the Pronghorns who stepped on the floor tonight registered at lease one basket but Mike Pierzchala led the home side with a double-double, collecting 16 points and 11 rebounds. Eric Pierce collected 15 points, while Zac Overwater and Kyle Peterson each had 14 points as the Pronghorns used their entire bench with the game well in hand early.
A bright spot for the Spartans on this night was the play of Vartan Tanielian, as he came within one three pointer of tying the Canada West single game mark of three-pointers made of 11, finishing with a game high 32 points. Tanielian hit an impressive 10 of 18 from behind the arc.
Ethan DaSilva played all 40 minutes for the shorthanded Spartans and collected a double-double of his own with 17 points and 13 assists, coming three rebounds shy of a triple-double.
Out of the gate, Mike Pierzchala and Colton Gibb hit shots from long range to put the Pronghorns up an early six points but both teams struggled to find their touch from the floor and the Pronghorns held an 11-2 lead at the five minute mark of the opening quarter.
While the opening five minutes was lackluster in terms of scoring, the back half of the quarter was anything but, with both teams seeming to score at will in the second part of the quarter. Finishing shooting over 47% in the quarter the Pronghorns held a 30-15 lead. After struggling to find their stride in the early going, Trinity Western finished the first 10 minutes hitting on 40% from the field.
The Pronghorns continued to pour it on offensively in the second quarter, putting up another 32 points and built a 62-38 lead at the half.
Shaking off a slow start shooting, the Pronghorns hit on over 55% in the half, including an impressive 11-for-23 from behind the arc. The Spartans too found their range hitting seven long balls in the half and a respectable 43.8% from the field.
With eight different Pronghorns hitting threes in the half, the Pronghorns offense was well balanced but senior Zac Overwater paced the home side with 10 points and was one rebound short of a first half double-double. Both Brett Warren and Keanu Funa each picked up nine points. Warren picked up all nine points on a perfect three-for-three from long range.
For the Spartans, Vartan Tanielian held the hot hand, scoring a game high 17 first half points, including hitting five from long range, while Isaiah Reimer chipped in with seven points.
A 17-4 run to start the third quarter, the Pronghorns took an insurmountable 77-42 lead before the midway mark of the third quarter. For the third consecutive quarter the Pronghorns topped the 30 point mark and led 93-61 heading into the final frame.
Continuing with an efficient offensive night, the Pronghorns cracked the century mark with just over eight minutes remaining in the fourth and despite the sloppy play down the stretch, cruised to the 28 point victory.
On the night, the Pronghorns finished 50.6% from the floor and hit 15 shots from behind the arc, while the Spartans improved on their first half shooting mark and finished the night 47.7% after hitting for more than 51% in the second half.
The Pronghorns held a distinct advantage on the glass, outrebounding the Spartans 50-31, including 14-1 in offensive rebounds.
The Pronghorns and Spartans will wrap up their weekend set tomorrow night, tip-off is slated at the 1st Choice Savings Centre at 7:00 p.m.
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Photo by: MPP Photography