THEVOICE | 8 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021 | eat. a EDITOR MANAV ARORA Sportsnews i Douglas Royals guard Filip Karanovic tries to dribble past Falcons’ defence on the Nov.5 game at Langara Gymnasium GRAHAM ABRAHAM PHOTO Mixed results for Falcons teams While the men recovered from a tough loss in their PACWEST opener to win their next two games, the women have some catching up to do = By GRAHAM ABRAHAM n their return to competition after the pandemic hiatus, the Langara men’s basketball team rallied from an opening-match loss to win their next two games on home court against Douglas College last week. Langara’s women, meanwhile, will try to recover from their three-game losing streak. Rallying from a season-opening defeat at the hands of Capilano University, Langara’s men defeated the Douglas College Royals 97-85 on Nov. 6, a day after winning an intense 89-84 battle. Men’s coach Paul Eberhardt said he thinks the men can challenge for one of the top two spots in the league. “We dominated the boards and as I tell the guys, if we do that we're gonna win most games,” Eberhardt said, though remained cautious. “We have so many new [players]. I just have to remind myself to be patient.” The women also got off to a tough start with a season-opening loss against | Capilano University, but were unable to recover, suffering a 71-62 loss to Douglas College on Nov. 5 and an even more lopsided 82-47 defeat the next day. Women’s coach Virginia Watson said she hopes the women can take the steps necessary to reach the play- offs and the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Champion- ships. Paul Eberhardt MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH “I do expect us to continue to improve throughout the year,” she said. “So whether or not we are nationals-ready yet, hopefully by the end of the year we will be.” In the men’s last game, Douglas took the lead with four minutes remaining in the last quarter until Jas Dhudwal made a free throw and tied at 81-81 With less than three minutes remaining in the game, Saleem Ali-Musa’s layup gave Langara a two- point advantage, a lead the home team was able to build upon to eventually win by 12 points. The day before, Falcons guards Royce Sargaent and AJ Chahal had 17 points apiece, and guard Nic Lafontaine hit four three-pointers. Royals guard Jarrett Jacobs scored a game-high 23 points. In the women’s last match, Doug- las College jumped to a 26-14 advantage in the opening quarter, and Langara’s women were never able to catch up. The day before, guard Rachel Labrador led Langara’s women with 13 points. Douglas was powered by Laini Glover’s commanding 31 points and 16 rebounds. In Langara’s PACWEST home opener last month, Capilano’s men dominated 107-93 while its women won 72-59 at the Langara gym on Oct. 29. The games marked the first PACWEST. action for the Falcons since the 2019-20 season, before competition was cancelled due to the pandemic. GAME SCHEDULE » VIU Mariners-Nov 12 900 Fifth St. VIU Gymnasium » Camosun Chargers- Nov 13 4371 Interurban Rd, Victoria Pacific Institute for Sport Excel- lence » OC Coyotes-Nov. 26 100 West 49 St. Langara College SOURCE:PACWESTBC.CA PACWE Insufficient golf teams for 2021- 22 disqualifies league from CCAA = ByGRAHAM ABRAHAM ast members of the Lang- P ara and PACWEST golf communities are disappointed in the indefinite cancellation of the PACWEST golf league. PACWEST announced that golf will not be a part of the upcom- T resumes season, cancels golf ing 2021-2022 competitve season. CCAA requires atleast three competitive programs to compete in PACWEST to qualify for the CCAA Golf Championships. With Vancouver Island University drop- ping their golf program, only Lang- ara College and Camosun College were left to play. “As with numerous programs across the country some of our member institutions were forced to pair-down their athletics program and unfortunately golf has become a casuality.” said PACWEST President Jake McCallum in a PACWEST press release last June. “We are hopeful that in time golf will return but for the foreseeable future it will not be a part of the PACWEST competitive season.” “Tf COVID never happened, I believe we would be having a golf season right now.” — RYAN WATTERS, PACWEST MEDIA Former Langara student and Falcons’ golf team member Cole Kendy, now the head of market- ing for Construct by Nuthatch, said he made lifelong friends during his experience with the Langara golf program. “I thought it really helped my game playing for that team and | grew so much,” said Kendy. “That’s something that a lot of us wouldn't have had if our seasons kept on getting cancelled, so I’m really thankful for the time I had there.” PACWEST communica- tions and media coordinator Ryan Watters said it wasn't a question of lack of interest from athletes, and he had seen no signs of declining recruitment pre-pandemic. “If COVID never happened, I believe we would be having a golf season right now,” said Watters. Former VIU golf coach and wealth manager Mike Hrabowych provided insight into his old program's decision. “From the VIU side of things, they stated reasons such as budget- ary concerns, COVID uncertainty, inequity in the league between guys and girls,” said Hrabowych. “They could have been answered or resolved, those issues and concerns they had, but the decision had already been made it seemed like.” Hrabowych said he feels especially bad for the student-athletes miss- ing out. “They're the ones who are taking the brunt of the pain, so I just feel terrible for them.”