The Brock Badgers men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball teams will each carry 3-1 league records into their home opening games Friday night at Bob Davis Gymnasium.<\/p>\n
The games kick off a double-double weekend, with the men and women playing a doubleheader against Lakehead at Brock Friday night before hosting the same Lakehead Thunderwolves teams Saturday at the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines. While the games at Bob Davis Friday night are sold out, there are still some tickets remaining for the games at the Meridian Centre, home of the OHL\u2019s Niagara Ice Dogs.<\/p>\n
It has been a remarkable start to the season for both Badgers basketball teams.<\/p>\n
After finishing last year with an 8-11 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) record, the women\u2019s team went 4-0 against CIS teams in the pre-season to get the No. 6 ranking in Canada heading into the regular season. They now sit at 3-1 in the OUA with their only loss coming by three points against McMaster, who went into the season ranked No. 1 in Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe team is still very young but we are getting production from everyone and our senior players have given us great leadership,\u201d said women\u2019s coach Si Khounviseth. \u201cIf we defend and shoot the ball consistently, we will be a tough team to beat on a nightly basis.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the team is excited to play both games this weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can feel the buzz on campus so it\u2019s an awesome feeling. I know our players will be feeding off the energy,\u201d Khounviseth said.<\/p>\n
The Brock men\u2019s team has also had a strong start, maintaining its No. 4 ranking in Canada through the first few weeks of the year. The Badgers won the first three games of the OUA season before losing to Queen\u2019s Nov. 21.<\/p>\n
Coach Charles Kissi said the team is happy to be part of a significant event in Brock\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re excited about the fact we\u2019re building this huge community through our game,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople are excited about watching us play.\u201d<\/p>\n
After failing to make the playoffs with a 4-18 record two years ago and a 7-12 mark last year, the Badgers are on track for a big improvement this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re 10-1 in CIS competition so far so I think we\u2019ve come a long way in two years,\u201d Kissi said. \u201cWe feel really good about that and the progress we\u2019ve made, but there\u2019s still a lot further to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
The doubleheader weekend gets started Friday night with the women playing at 6 p.m. and the men tipping off at 8 p.m. at Bob Davis Gymnasium.<\/p>\n