8 orts Team still upbeat despite setbacks The womens basketball team is ready for the up- coming season in spite of injuries and illness By CARLY WIGNES the Langara women’s basketball team is confident heading into the season-openers this weekend on Van- couver Island. The Falcons were thirteen points be- hind the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves when the buzzer ended the final game of the women’s pre-season play, but Coach Mike Evans did not dismay. “T thought we competed really well,” said Evans. “They’re a very good team and we just came up short.” The team’s 11 players are stretched thin; one player sat out the game to nurse an injury, one was pressed with homework deadlines and another was sick. Starting forward Carling Muir said she was low on energy during the game because she has been battling the flu for several days. Setbacks aside, however, Muir is de- termined to start the season strong. “It’s going to be a challenge, but we're up for it,” she said. “It will come down to who wants it more.” Both Evans and Muir said Vancou- ver Island University is the team to beat this year. Evans said this week’s practices have been organized to prepare the team specifically for games against VIU and Camosun College, two teams the Falcons have not yet played this season. Muir said her team will need to focus on rebounding and defense in the lead up to the games this weekend. Denise Busayong, who plays guard, agreed, adding that she will personally be working on being more aggressive and getting the ball out on the wing. “They’re going to be tough,” said Bu- sayong of VIU. “They’re so much big- ger than us.” The game at VIU is at 6 p.m. on Fri- day, Nov. 11 and the game at Camosun is on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. Langa- ra students who will be on Vancouver Island for the long weekend are en- couraged to cheer their Falcons to suc- cess. D:: anarrow defeat last Friday, y | ry n DANIEL PALMER photos Clockwise from top: Saturday Nov. 5 Daniel Hobden (left) and Jeff Chu defend against a Seattle Mountaineer; Daniel Hobden at- tempts to block a shot; Guard Brody Greig leaps for the ball as he’s surrounded by the opposition; Brody Greig moves the ball past a Seattle Mountaineer. The Falcons ended up losing 102-88 after beating the University of Northern B.C. Timberwolves 85-74 Friday. Falcons look ahead to new season, hopeful for nationals The mens basketball team has battled more injuries than expected, but aims to compete in the provincial and national championships By DANIEL PALMER confident going into their first regular season games this week- end on Vancouver Island. The Falcons concluded exhibition play last weekend with a win against the University of Northern British Co- lumbia Timberwolves on Friday (85-74) and a loss to the more mature and sea- soned Seattle Mountaineers on Satur- day (102-88). “We just had a bad stretch there in the second quarter, I think. And then you just use so much energy fighting back from 20-plus down,” said head coach Jake McCallum in reference to Saturday’s loss. There were notable performances from forward Jitinder Lochan and guard Gurjote Jhaj, who put down 25 and 24 points respectively, but it was guard Jeff Chu who rallied hard to bring the Falcons within six in the fourth quarter against the Mountain- eers. Falcons fan and Langara student Kayla McCreery, 21, said Seattle was simply too difficult to overcome physi- cally. “They’re a paid men’s team, so obvi- ously they were going to be tough,” said McCreery, adding that the Falcons made a good effort in the second half of Saturday’s game. McCallum is looking forward to the start of the regular season but said the Falcons have sustained more injuries than expected in exhibition games. “Td like to focus on getting healthy, but that’s out of my hands. A few of my guys have rested all weekend, so that will do a lot of good for the ankles,” he said. The Falcons face Vancouver Island University and Camosun College this weekend with VIU being the stronger opponent, said McCallum. “We haven’t had all fourteen (play- ers) healthy yet this year, so I have an idea of where I think we should end up being, but you can’t always guarantee you're going to get there.” McCallum said his goal for the sea- son is no less than making national championships. “Td like to be definitely top three, it would be nice to be top two and get a first-round by at provincials. And then once you're into provincials, you win a couple of games and you’re in national championships.” ; Ihe men’s basketball team may be memmemteenannan nrsomcseseeiones | I down four guards but are feeling Early bird specials allow students to take advantage of snowfall Photo courtesy of GROUSE MOUNTAIN A Skiier takes in the view from Grouse Mountain. Purchasing lift tickets and passes doesn’t have to mean an empty wallet By JEN ST. DENIS lars at local ski hills if they plan ahead and keep their eyes open for deals. Whistler Blackcomb is offering a stu- dent seasons pass for $419 if they buy the pass before Nov. 14. After that the price jumps to $619. “They can ride the entire season with the exception of Dec. 27 to 30,” said Peter Lonergan, communications coordinator for Whistler Blackcomb. Whistler Blackcomb’s season starts S::= can save hundreds of dol- Thursday Nov. 24. The early bird deadline has already come and gone at Mount Seymour, but students can still pick up season passes for $579. “We are going to have a student night, which will have discounted lift tickets,” said marketing manager Julie Mulligan. The student nights will start in January and continue weekly for 10 weeks. Mount Seymour also offers discount- ed lift tickets. Students can pay $41 for lift tickets, compared to the $46 adult price. Mount Seymour is scheduled to open on Nov. 25, depending on snow levels. Grouse Mountain does not have a student rate, but $350 will buy you a pass that lets you ski one night a week. Pass holders can choose which night they want to ski. “That tends to be one of the more popular ones [with students] because everyone’s busy with school,” said Sar- ah Lusk, public relations manager at Grouse. The ski hill will open in late November. Cypress Mountain does not offer stu- dent pricing on passes or lift tickets, but according to their website, they have a night skiing pass. For $335, pass holders can ski any night of the week. Cypress opened on Nov. 8. If you don’t ski or ride, you can still head up to the mountains for some fun in the snow. All of the resorts offer combinations of other winter activities like skating, snowshoeing, tobogganing and tubing, and cross-country skiing.