Sixteen was indeed sweet for the University of Victoria Vikes in Canada West men’s basketball play Saturday in Prince George.
The Vikes won their 16th consecutive game with an 89-69 victory over the University of Northern B.C. Timberwolves (6-12) to conclude the regular season 17-1 in the Canada West conference.
It’s just like old times with the resurgent Vikes, ranked No. 5 in Canada, back in the U Sports national top-10 poll after a few seasons of failing to crack into what used to be a regular home for the team.
Fifth-year guard and career Vikes all-time top-10 scorer Scott Kellum went out in style in his final regular-season game in blue and gold with 22 points and seven rebounds. The native of Issaquah, Washington, launched well from the outside and made all three of his trey attempts to add to his team career record of three-pointers.
Trent Monkman had 15 points for UVic and Diego Maffia and Sergio Pereira nine points each.
The Vikes were a robust 61.3 percent from the floor and 31 percent from beyond the three-point arc.
All 11 players dressed for the game touched the floor for UVic.
The Canada West playoffs begin Thursday with Calgary and Lethbridge hosting the opening rounds.
In women’s Canada West play in Prince George, the UVic Vikes (11-7) closed out their regular-season with a 75-68 victory over UNBC (9-9) backed by forwards Ashlyn Day’s 18 points, fifth-year shooting-guard Calli McMillan’s 16 and rookie forward and former Alberta provincial team player Mimi Sigue’s 14 points and seven rebounds. Fifth-year forward Aleah Ashlee closed out the regular-season portion of her UVic career with nine points.
The Vikes were tidily efficient on offence by shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point land.
The Canada West playoffs begin Thursday.
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