Coming out of high school in 2012, the UBC Okanagan Heat ³¾±ð²Ô’s basketball program had sizable expectations of guard Mitch Goodwin.
±õ³Ù’s safe to say, the KSS grad ³ó²¹²õ²Ô’t disappointed.
In the first game of his fifth and final Canada West season on Friday night in 91´ó»ÆѼ, Goodwin established the new all-time points record for the
Goodwin scored 18 points to lead the Heat past the Trinity Western Spartans 87-71, and in the process surpassed Matt ³Ò´Ç·É¾±²Ô²µâ€™s career-best mark of 1,028.
The 6-foot-2 Goodwin finished the weekend with 1,037 career points.
Coming into the Canada West season, Goodwin admits he ·É²¹²õ²Ô’t even aware he was close to setting the record.
Now that it's official, the 22-year-old Human Kinetics student said he's humbled by the milestone.
â€Àá³Ù »å¾±»å²Ô’t really hit me until the day ²¹´Ú³Ù±ð°ù,†Goodwin said. “±õ³Ù’s nice to see that the years of hard work have paid off. Coming in to play here after a successful college program, to see my name up there with some of the top players in school history, ¾±³Ù’s a pretty big ³ó´Ç²Ô´Ç³Ü°ù.â€
In 2012, Goodwin opted to stay home and play basketball at UBC Okanagan rather than accept an offer from Blair Academy in New Jersey, a decision he said he ³ó²¹²õ²Ô’t regretted for moment.
In addition to being around family and friends, and getting his education right at home, Goodwin said playing his entire university career for Heat head coach Pete Guarasci has been a big bonus.
â€Àá’v±ð had a chance to learn from one of the most experienced coaches out ³Ù³ó±ð°ù±ð,†Goodwin said. “P±ð³Ù±ð Guarasci has experience as a national team player and ³ó±ð’s played in Europe, so ³ó±ð’s been around and knows a lot about the game. A lot of what ±õ’v±ð been able to do is becuase of ³ó¾±³¾.â€
While Goodwin is both happy and humbled to own the ±á±ð²¹³Ù’s all-time scoring record, , he »å´Ç±ð²õ²Ô’t expect to hold it for long.
“±õ³Ù’s such a young program, a lot of great players will come through here so it ·É´Ç²Ô’t stand for long. It would be pretty cool to see someone on my team break it one day. (Teammate) Aldrich Berrios is one guy I could see doing ¾±³Ù…t³ó²¹³Ù would be ³¦´Ç´Ç±ô.â€
Speaking of Berrios, he held the hot hand for the Heat in ¹ó°ù¾±»å²¹²â’s win, connecting for 26 points, including hitting six treys. It was ±«µþ°ä°¿â€™s first opening night victory in four years.
On Saturday, the Spartans returned the favour with 79-74 win over UBCO. Berrios set the pace again with 17 points and seven boards. Buzz Truss added 12 points, while David Manshreck added 11.
The Heat (1-1) will be in Winnipeg Friday to take on the Bisons, before travelling to Brandon Saturday to battle the Bobcats.
Kanester eclipses °ù±ð³¦´Ç°ù»å…
As a team, the UBC Okanagan women »å¾±»å²Ô’t have an overly memorable opening weekend of the Canada West basketball season.
It »å¾±»å²Ô’t prevent Emily Kanester from writing her own piece of history.
On Saturday night in 91´ó»ÆѼ, the fifth-year guard from Vernon Secondary became the Heat ±è°ù´Ç²µ°ù²¹³¾â€™s all-time leading scorer, collecting 16 points in a 71-63 loss to Trinity Western.
Kanester now has 909 points during her UBCO career, surpassing the previous standard of 901 held by former five-year Heat player, Roz Huber.
“±õ³Ù’s pretty special, especially being my last ²â±ð²¹°ù,†Kanester said of setting the all-time mark. “±õ³Ù’s nice to get it done, too, so now I can really focus on helping us get some wins as a ³Ù±ð²¹³¾.â€
Heat head coach Claire Meadows said in addition to being a talented player, the record is a testament to °²¹²Ô±ð²õ³Ù±ð°ù’s character and work ethic.
“±õ³Ù’s an incredible ²¹³¦³¦´Ç³¾±è±ô¾±²õ³ó³¾±ð²Ô³Ù,†Meadows said. “E³¾¾±±ô²â is one of the most determined and hardworking people in our program. She works tirelessly, and is just relentless out on the floor. S³ó±ð’s really earned ¾±³Ù.â€
And as significant as milestones and records may be to Kanester, Meadows said the team always comes first for the fifth-year guard.
â€Àá know this achievement means a lot to Emily and she should be very proud, but at the same time she wants to win and cares about the ³Ù±ð²¹³¾,†Meadows said. “H±ð°ù outstanding quality is that she is a very competitive person, she wants win and is a true team ±è±ô²¹²â±ð°ù.â€
In ³§²¹³Ù³Ü°ù»å²¹²â’s loss, Claire Elliot added 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Heat.
On Friday, the Spartans prevailed 68-61. Kanester led UBCO with 14 points, while Elliot added 11 and Chloe Kennedy, 10.
On both nights, an unproductive fourth quarter was a big part of the ±á±ð²¹³Ù’s undoing as they were outscored by a combined 42-27 down the stretch.
â€Àá thought we played hard and had some great ±ç³Ü²¹°ù³Ù±ð°ù²õ,†said Meadows, “b³Ü³Ù we »å¾±»å²Ô’t play a full 40 minutes on either night. You ³¦²¹²Ô’t play three quarters against a good team and expect to win, so ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù’s something we need to figure ´Ç³Ü³Ù.â€
The Heat (0-2) will head to Manitoba this weekend to meet the U of M Bisons on Friday and the Brandon Bobcats on Saturday.