Each week we will analyze the Top 10 Performers across the country giving you insightful look at top players putting in work in the CIS. We kick off week one also better known as the “Canada West Edition” with a Top 10 edition that is guard heavy with solid all-around performances across the opening weekend.
Chris McLaughlin – (F 6’10″, 235 lbs, 4th year) Victoria Vikes
McLaughlin kicked-off the Canada West regular season with two double-doubles and a weekend sweep of the Regina Cougars. The Oakville, Ontario native caused havoc on the offensive glass out-muscling the Cougars to the tone off 11 offensive rebounds both games. The big man’s shooting touch was in full display from the charity stripe as he went 16-for-18 from the free-throw line.
Oct 31 vs. Regina Cougars Cascades, W, 72-63: 21 points (8/17 FG, 5/6 FT), 12 rebounds, 3 assists
Nov 1. vs. Regina Cougars Cascades, W, 78-63: 21 points (5/11 FG, 0/2 3PT, 11/12 FT) 11 rebounds, 2 blocks
Stephan Walton (PG 5’10”, 170 lbs, 5th year) – Manitoba Bisons
Near perfect weekend for Stephan Walton. The Decatur, Georgia point guard put-up the second-highest point total of the weekend, he went off for game-high 25 points and six rebounds to complete the home-series sweep of Trinity Western. Standing at only 5’10’ Walton demonstrated tremendous speed and ability to control the Bisons who are off to a promising start.
Oct 31. vs. Trinity Western Spartans, W, 84-56: 11 points (4/5 FG, 3/3 3FG,) 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Nov 1. vs. Trinity Western Spartans, W, 96-78: 25 points (9/11 FG, 3/4 3FG, 4/4 FT) 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Joel Friesen (PG 6’5″, 185 lbs, 5th year) – Alberta Golden Bears
“Mr. Do it all” was at again posting the weekends top scoring honours in a key 27-point effort as the Golden Bears came-from-behind to earn split against the tough Saskatchewan Huskies on their home floor. Friesen has the ability to do it all for the defending Canada West champions. Look for his name to be a regular on the Top 10 weekly performers.
Oct 31. vs. Saskatchewan Huskies, L, 72-60: 14 points (4/9 FG, 2/4 3FG, 4/6 FT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Nov 1. vs. Saskatchewan Huskies, W, 77-63: 27 points (10/17 FG, 4/9 3FG, 3/4 FT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson (PG 5’9″, 160 lbs, 4th year) – Calgary Dinos
Ogungbemi-Jackson is as tough as they come across the country! A weekly triple-double watch, the Calgary Dinos leader was everywhere, nearly missing out on double-doubles against the Winnipeg Wesmen.
Oct 31. @ Winnipeg Wesmen, W, 77-64: 15 points (5/11 FG, 1/2 3FG, 4/4 FT) 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Nov 1. @ Winnipeg Wesmen, W, 87-82: 18 points (4/11 FG, 2/2 3FG, 10/11 FT) 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals
Amarjit Basi (G 6’0″, 165 lbs, 2nd year) – Manitoba Bisons
Amarjit Basi was arguably the Bisons top player this weekend and that’s is saying a lot, specially since teammate Stephan Walton was nearly perfect on opening weekend. Basi, a sophomore for the Bisons provided timely shooting by coming off the bench as Manitoba took care of business versus the TWU Spartans. Basi averaged just shy of double-digits scoring last year and should be a key contributor for the Bisons moving forward.
Oct 31. vs. Trinity Western Spartans, W, 84-56: 18 points (8/14 FG, 1/5 3FG, 1/1 FT) 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Nov 1. vs. Trinity Western Spartans, W, 96-78: 19 points (6/11 FG, 4/8 3FG, 3/3 FT) 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Marcus Tibbs (PG 6’0″, 170 lbs, 3rd year) – Victoria Vikes
The third-year point guard out of Seattle, Washington took it to Cougars on both games, aside from some poor three-point shooting and some questionable turnovers Tibbs showed that he belongs in the discussion of top point guards in the conference, if not nationally.
Oct 31 vs. Regina Cougars Cascades, W, 72-63: 17 points (7/19 FG, 0/4 3PT, 3/4 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Nov 1. vs. Regina Cougars Cascades, W, 78-63: 22 points (10/17 FG, 0/2 3PT, 2/3 FT) 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Brandon Brine (F 6’6″, 229 lbs, 4th year) – Lethbridge Pronghorns
The Aussie import was solid for the victorious Pronghorns tallying a near double-duece in the blowout win over the Brandon Bobcats. The fourth-year man wasn’t shy about letting the shots fly, putting up a total of 37 field goals over the weekend.
Oct 31 @ Brandon Bobcats, W, 85-82: 16 points (7/16 FG, 2/5 3PT, 0/1 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Nov 1 @ Brandon Bobcats, W, 84-66: 19 points (8/21 FG, 3/8 3PT, 0/1 FT) 9 rebounds, 2 steals
Youssef Ouahrig (G 6’0″, 184 lbs, 3rd year) – Alberta Golden Bears
Ouahrig kept the offence running and his teammates happy with his distribution in Alberta’s win over Saskatchewan. The Montreal PG is the clue that holds the Huskies together and as he long as he can provide consistency throughout the year, folks should become more familiar with his game.
Oct 31. vs. Saskatchewan Huskies, L, 72-60: 17 points (5/6 FG, 4/5 3FG, 3/5 FT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Nov 1. vs. Saskatchewan Huskies, W, 77-63: 14 points (5/12 FG, 2/6 3FG, 2/2 FT), 7 rebounds, 7 assists
Matthew Forbes (F 6’6″, 229 lbs, 4th year) – Saskatchewan Huskies
Forbes has been a force to be reckoned with since he arrived in Saskatoon. Now in his fourth-year, the arts-science major is set to take his game up a notch as he looks to take Huskies back to the promised land (Nationals). Nearly racked-up double-doubles in the weekend split vs. a tough Alberta Golden Bears.
Oct 31. @ Alberta Golden Bears W, 72-60: 17 points (6/10 FG, 2/4 3FG, 3/3 FT), 10 rebounds
Nov 1. @ Alberta Golden Bears L, 77-63: 9 points (4/11 FG, 0/1 3FG, 1/2 FT), 9 rebounds, 2 assists
Jonathan Tull (F 6’4″, 195 lbs, 4th year) – Regina Cougars
“Tull the Bull” was easily Regina’s top player in their two losses to the Victoria Vikes. The former NCAA division one commit (Central Connecticut State) and Acadia Axemen guard didn’t shoot the ball well during the opening weekend but it was clearly evident that he will be bullying opposing defences for the remainder of the Canada West season.
Oct 31. @ Victoria Vikes, L, 72-63: 14 points (3/10 FG, 2/3 3FG, 6/8 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists
Nov 1. @ Victoria Vikes, L, 78-63: 25 points (9/20 FG, 2/8 3FG, 5/7 FT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Honorable Mention:
Philip Barndt (F 6’6″, 190 lbs, 4th year) – Calgary Dinos
Let’s not set the exceptions that you can get into the weekly Top 10 performers by putting up 8 points and rebound as was the case for Barndt in opening the win over the Wesmen. The Billings, Montana native bounced back with a 24-point game in the tighter contest of the two-game series. Come to think about it, Brandt shot 4-of-5 in the open game win.
Oct 31. @ Winnipeg Wesmen, W, 77-64: 8 points (4/5 FG, 0/1 3FG), 1 rebound
Nov 1. @ Winnipeg Wesmen, W, 87-82: 24 points (10/17 FG, 1/3 3FG, 3/3 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 assists
