Langara Falcon's go 1 and 1

In basketball, as in life, passion isn’t always enough to win.

After a heartbreaking 65-52 loss Friday night in Surrey, the Langara Falcons women’s basketball team got a much needed, if ugly, win Saturday in Abbotsford against the Columbia Bible College Bearcats.

Having lost to the Kwantlen Eagles in an exhibition game earlier in the season, the women Falcons started Friday’s game a team with something to prove.  The intensity of players like forward Charlotte Lau, who scored 10 points, initially paid off giving the Falcons a 20-9 first-quarter lead.

Late in the second quarter the Eagles took control, constantly putting the Falcons on the defensive. By the end of the first half the score was 29-28 for the Eagles.  In the second half the Falcons had moments of fighting back. Guard Jennifer Carpio pushed hard and scored 10 points, but it wasn’t enough.  The Eagles won 65-52.

Despite the loss, Falcon’s coach Mike Evans was pragmatic..

“We didn’t guard their best players as we should have … they played well so we have to give it to them,” said Evans.

A surprise guest raised the team’s spirit in spite of the loss.  Former Falcon MVP and cancer survivor Carling Muir came out to support her old team, bringing smiles to both coaches and players. 

Muir said she thought this year’s team is at a disadvantage because of their height, or lack of it.  The Falcons don’t have any players over six-feet tall while the Eagles, and most other PacWest teams, have at least four women over that height. That said, Muir blamed the loss on small mental errors. “We missed some easy shots. We can beat them,” said Muir.

In Saturday’s game against the Bearcats, Langara again came out strong.  Forward Rhea Silvestri lead the team with 11 points en route to a 33-21first half score. 

In the second half the Falcons faltered, letting a few easy shots add to the Eagles tally. The Falcons were out scored in the half by the Eagles, but still hung on for a 60-54 win.

Silvestri was glad the team was able to wind up ahead. “It felt good to get that win. We still have lots of work to do, but we needed that.  Now let’s go forward,” said Silvestri.

Forward Jolissa Crossley was happy with the win, but frustrated that the team’s abilities were not reflected in their play.

“We need to regroup. We are great players individually, but we need to come together as a team,” said Crossley. 

The Falcons next play Douglas College Friday night.

thuncher@shaw.ca