WINNIPEG — The Manitoba Bisons men's basketball team played their last home game of the season on Saturday against the Saskatchewan Huskies. Coming from a five-point loss the night before, the Bisons were looking to overcome and win on Saturday.
It was clear from the start that, in his last home game playing for the team, Keiran Zziwa, guard for the Bisons, wasn't here to mess around, scoring two quick three-pointers early in the first quarter.
The Huskies managed to gain a lead, but the Bisons bided their time. First, the Bisons passed the ball to Zimbakov, then Zziwa, then to Kraus, back to Zimbakov, and finally, when the Huskies couldn't keep up, back to Zziwa for a wide open three-pointer to tie the game up, truly showing off the chemistry the team developed this season. Still, the Huskies managed to create a lead, ending the first quarter 24-13.
"We were much more assertive in some ways. We just couldn't find ways to score," said Kirby Schepp, head coach for the Bisons. "They made some good looks and took a lot of shots."
Unfortunately for the Bisons, turnovers would plague them in the second quarter. Time and time again, they lost the ball in transition or through passes. These mistakes allowed the Huskies to gain a twenty-point lead on the home team, a tough place to be not even halfway through the game.
Despite the point difference, the Bisons didn't give up. Another Bisons player playing their final home game on the team, James Wagner went up and dunked over three Huskies players. Almost immediately after, Elijah Lostracco would score the Bisons an and one. The Huskies would finish the second quarter in the lead, 46-28.
"There were a lot of guys who I played with throughout my whole career, you know, even five years back," said James Wagner. "That really means a lot to me, and I'm really happy with the progress we've made throughout the season."
The Bisons continued to make good-looking plays, like a layup from Mason Kraus that would be rebounded by Tito Obasoto and promptly dropped into the net. But it seemingly wasn't enough, with the Huskies refusing to give up their lead.
The Bisons tried everything they could, but the early lead in the first quarter would prove to be too much for the team to overcome. The Huskies took the game, 83-68.
Manitoba concludes their regular season on the road at Brandon next weekend, while Saskatchewan returns home to host the Winnipeg Wesmen.
