When it comes to listing the keys for his team to advance in the postseason, the Vancouver Volcanoes’ Bryan Hunter sounds like every other basketball coach.
“Defense and rebounding,” Hunter said on the eve of his club’s opening game in the International Basketball League playoffs. “When we go back and look at the games we’ve won, those are the keys.”
But that is where Hunter parts ways with most basketball coaches. Because most coaches do not have two of the top four rebounders in their league.
Devin Uskoski, a Prairie High School graduate, led the semi-pro IBL this year with 12.0 rebounds a game. Bryson McKenzie was fourth with an average of 11.0, one year after leading the league.
Volcanoes next game
IBL playoffs: Vancouver Volcanoes vs. B.C. Titans, 8:30 p.m. today at Warner Pacific College in Portland, 2219 SE 68th Ave.
What's next: The winner will play at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Warner Pacific, trying to earn a spot in the championship round.
Tickets: $10 for all four games today; $3 for children 17 and younger or seniors 55 and older. For information, call 866-IBL-GAME.
On the Web:
www.iblhoopsonline.com
www.vancouvervolcanoes.com
Volcanoes next game
IBL playoffs: Vancouver Volcanoes vs. B.C. Titans, 8:30 p.m. today at Warner Pacific College in Portland, 2219 SE 68th Ave.
What’s next: The winner will play at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Warner Pacific, trying to earn a spot in the championship round.
Tickets: $10 for all four games today; $3 for children 17 and younger or seniors 55 and older. For information, call 866-IBL-GAME.
On the Web:
www.iblhoopsonline.com
www.vancouvervolcanoes.com
“They make it very easy for the rest of the team,” Hunter said. “I calculate that every rebound is worth two points to us.”
That can add up as the Volcanoes (15-6) face the B.C. Titans (15-7) at 8:30 tonight at Warner Pacific College in Portland. The winner will play again at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
A total of 10 teams are competing in the IBL tournament at the college in southeast Portland, led by the top-seeded Albany Legends (16-3) out of New York. The event began Thursday, with the Volcanoes holding a bye in the first round.
After Saturday’s play, two teams will remain. Those clubs will meet for the championship at a site and date to be determined, in either a one-game showdown or a best-of-three series.
But first things first.
For the Volcanoes, that means trying to beat a team that won three of their four meetings this year.
Two of those Titan victories came during the opening week of the season. Since then, Vancouver is 15-3.
B.C. has been even hotter, winning 10 consecutive games heading into the tournament, but that does not deter Hunter’s optimism.
“We’re feeling really good,” he said before Thursday’s practice session. “We had a good film session last night. It really exposed some weaknesses that we can exploit. If we step up our defense a little more, we can win the whole thing.”
The Volcanoes are led by Andre Murray, a former Portland State standout who is averaging 26.5 points a game.
But they will be without Alex Hartman, a small forward who was averaging 12..6 points. Hartman left the team this week after signing with a club in Malaysia.
Still, Hunter is confident.
“We have some veterans, some guys who have been around a long time,” Hunter said. “They know how to win games.”
