“Our goal this year is to win our conference and to earn the right to host Canada West Final Four, be Canada West Champions and make our way to nationals,” said head coach Deb Huband at the beginning of this season. Huband’s dream came true when the girls won the Canada West Championship in heroic fashion over the University of Saskatchewan.
Thanks to an incredible 18-game winning streak, the Thunderbirds made their fans proud by earning bronze at the CIS championships in Quebec City. Now it’s time to look back on the season and see who stepped up for this UBC squad.
The run
This 2014-2015 Thunderbird team was a talented bunch that attained an overall record of 30-5 and 17-3 in the crowded Canada West conference. UBC hit the ground running from tip-off in their first exhibition game against the University of Guelph, winning in overtime 75-69. The ‘Birds didn’t stop there; they continued to win seven in a row, which included gold at the Ryerson Darcel Wright Memorial Classic in Toronto.
After a stint of trading wins and losses with inter-conference foes, the Thunderbirds were able to close the season and continue into the CIS Final 8 with 18 consecutive wins until their heartbreaking defeat against McGill University, which saw the ‘Birds lose in a nail-biter that ended with the Redmen winning 57-59 in overtime.
The duo: Young and Sidhu
Kris Young’s impressive play didn’t go unnoticed this season. Her dominance earned her scoring leader at the CIS Final 8, CIS Tournament All-Star, second in all-time UBC scoring and the all-time UBC record for most points in a single game (40).
Huband utilized her star as much as she could; she knew if anyone could handle it, it was the fifth-year All-Canadian. Young averaged more than 30 minutes per game in 33 games played this season. Her efficiency on offence and hard work on defence set her up for an extraordinary stat sheet: she averaged 17.3 points per game (26.3 during the CIS Final 8), 6.6 rebounds per game and 2.9 assists per game.
“Overall we had a season that none of us will ever forget and I am extremely devastated that this season and my UBC career are over,” said Young. “It has been an amazing season and I am so proud of all my team has accomplished this year.”
Young’s successful season could not have happened without her partner in crime, Harlene Sidhu. The once-NCAA Division 1 player had a strong final season as a Thunderbird; she showed resilience and skill to a team that looked up to her success and her ability to be a leader on and off the court.
Sidhu kicked off the season by tearing apart the University of Guelph for 34 points and 16 rebounds in 31 minutes; she finished with an average of 14.5 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game and with an impressive .807 free throw percentage.
The Huskies rivalry
It seemed like Huskies vs. Thunderbirds was the defining matchup for any game that had fans on the edge of their seats this season. The rivalry began in the pre-season at the Ryerson Darcel Wright Memorial Classic; the game started evenly and was hard-fought on both sides, but the ‘Birds were too much for the University of Saskatchewan.
The rivalry continued at the War Memorial Gym on November 28, which saw the T-Birds win 60-50 -- Sidhu finished the game with 16 points, Young with 15 and Adrienne Parkin with 12. However, on that Saturday night the University of Saskatchewan proved to the ‘Birds that they meant business. The Huskies won by 13, highlighted by Dalyce Emmerson’s 18-point effort; the game ended 75-63.
But all of this was child’s play compared to the Canada West final hosted at UBC. This gold medal game was one for the history books. War Memorial Gym was swaying with echoing chants as the girls showed true perseverance in the fourth quarter, after the game had gone back and forth from tip-off. The final minutes saw both teams exchanging crucial threes when they needed them the most, but it was none other than the superstar herself, Kris Young, who sealed the deal with a tough layup with less than five seconds on the game clock; needless to say, Thunderbird fans went wild, making a night that no one on the court, or in the stands, would ever forget.
A strong future
As much as the seniors lit up the score board this season, the T-Birds would not have had such a successful campaign if it weren’t for the rest of this hardworking Thunderbird lineup.
Kara Spotton had a breakout year and was an offensive force to be reckoned with. Her game of the season came against the University of Alberta, which saw her rack up 21 points and six boards, leading to a UBC victory. Spotton ended the season averaging 8.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Cassandra Knievel also had an unbelievable year. Knievel was in charge of being the coach’s voice on the court at the shooting guard position; she was also a hard-working pest on defence, averaging a steal per game. Knievel finished the season averaging 7.3 points and 2.6 assists per game.
Without their seniors, this Thunderbird squad will be adjusting to a new-looking team next year, but don’t be surprised to see this group excel with fresh legs that have waited long enough for their time to shine.