The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades women's basketball team gave a regular season farewell to four important players and must now quickly look ahead to hosting a massive playoff games on Saturday (Feb. 22) afternoon.
The club closed out the season against arch-rival Trinity Western University and posted a 74-44 win on Friday (Feb. 14) and a 54-40 victory on Saturday (Feb. 15).
Saturday marked the final regular season home game for graduating seniors Nikki Cabuco, Maddy Gobeil, Google Sidhu and Deanna Tuchscherer and the team honoured them with a ceremony and video tribute.
WBB | 🏔️ W’s on Senior night > #weclimbweconquer #rallyforthevalley pic.twitter.com/LYHPnNNu8l
— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) February 16, 2025
Gobeil has been the team's leading scorer the past three seasons, a two-time Canada West first team all-star, a U Sports all-canadian and former UFV women's athlete of the year. Tuchscherer led the team in scoring in 2021-22 and was both a CW rookie of the year and a Canada West all-star three times. Cabuco won the U Sports Sylvia Sweeny award and has developed into a reliable three-point threat during her time at UFV. Sidhu, a W.J. Mouat grad, has been a key defensive player for the Cascades during her time with the school.
Gobeil scored 16 points on Friday, while Julia Tuchscherer added 18 and seven rebounds. UFV opened up a 16-8 lead after one and never trailed in the game. They also shot 43.5 per cent from the field.
Saturday was a tighter game, with both teams struggling to make shots but Gobeil led all players with 16 points. J. Tuchscherer contributed with seven points and 10 rebounds. UFV shot 38 per cent from the field, while TWU made just 32.1 per cent of their shots.
Gobeil said it was nice to walk away with a win.
"It's kind of a surreal feeling, having been here for six years, and playing our last regular season games. I said the other day, and I didn't want to jinx it, but every senior's game we've had since I have been here we have gotten a win on Saturday. I think that was just something that was important to us," Gobeil explained on the feeling of Saturday's game.
The Cascades finished the season at 15-5 and ranked second in the Pacific Division, which means that it isn't technically going to be the last game on home court for the quartet of grads. The UFV Athletic Centre will host the CW play-in game between the Calgary Dinos and Manitoba Bisons on Friday (Feb. 21) at 6 p.m. The winner of that game takes on the Cascades on Saturday (Feb. 22) at 3 p.m. in the quarterfinal round. The winner of Saturday's game heads to the final four.
Meanwhile, the men dropped a pair of games to the Spartans but still qualified for the playoffs as the fifth place team in the Pacific Division.
UFV lost a heart breaker 97-94 in overtime on Friday and then fell 86-77 on Saturday. They finished the season at 9-11 and now travel to the University of Victoria for the playoffs. They take on the Lethbridge Pronghorns (11-9) in the CW play-in on Friday at 5 p.m. The winner of that game takes on the Victoria Vikes in the quarterfinal round.
The Cascades honoured graduating players Chris Jackson, Takeshi Croke and Jake Willemsen in a pregame ceremony on Saturday for their final regular season games. Croke capped off a great season this year with 10 assists to finish the season tops for assists in CW. He also established a new single-season record for the Cascades for assists per game by finishing at 5.4
"It's a well-deserved moment. He's such a team first guy, and he does a great job of getting the right guys the right touches in the right spots. Kudos to him," stated men's head coach Joe Enevoldson.
"I think you're talking about three cornerstones of our togetherness and culture, and they all bring different things. They are our leadership group, and they bring those attributes that strengthen our program. To lose all three at once is going to be tough to replace, but it goes to show the amazing people that we have had in our program," Enevoldson explained on his three graduating players.
For more, visit gocascades.ca.
