Vancouver Island shuffle > Royals face mid-table challenge Davie Wong Sports Editor his week’s viewing selection brought many a game to the fans of sport. If you were a Douglas fan, then you were also treated to some great women’s basketball games featuring two of British Columbia’s best teams from across the strait as the VIU Mariners and Camosun Chargers came to visit. The Mariners were playing for table positioning against the Royals. The two came into the weekend jockeying for second and third and both wanted to prove a point. The opening quarter of the match set the tone. An explosion of offence erupted from both teams, with the Royals behind the driving seat to start. The Royals scored 21 points in the first quarter and 17 points in the second, giving them a 38-31 lead. The second half of the game saw the Mariners give the Royals everything they had. The sudden offensive burst caught the Royals just off guard, but it was enough for the Mariners who snagged the lead 43-41 going into the fourth. The Royals answered back in the fourth quarter as desperation took hold. But Sienna Pollard and her Mariners held fast and withstood the Royals’ barrage. At the end of the game, when the dust settled, the Royals ended up taking the L, losing out to the Mariners by four points. Despite the result, several Royals had fantastic games. Sarah Jorgenson had 10 points and 8 rebounds, while Amber Beasley had her best game of the year, scoring 17 points in a frenzy. Rachel Beauchamp also came out of the game in form. Her 12 points and u Bearcats got no hops > Women’s Volleyball takes on Bearcats Davie Wong Sports Editor fter last week’s split against the UFV Cascades, the Royals were looking to get things back on track and to get the ball rolling the right way once again. Their visit to the CBC Bearcats was just the right time to get the team back on their feet. At 3-13, the Bearcats were hardly considered a big time threat, but the Royals needed to right the ship and took to the game as seriously as they would any other. It was definitely the right move, as the Bearcats were no slouches. The first set caught the Royals off guard as the Bearcats pushed them all the way. However, they couldn’t finish, and the Royals took a 26-24 set to start the game. The next set was more to the Royals flavour as they dominated the ball and took the set 25-15. The third set was where the Bearcats made their stand, playing excellent ball and con- trolling the tempo. But the Royals were too much for the Bearcats, and their quick-hit offence sank the Bearcats’ hope of coming back with a 25-22 set win. Their rematch the next day was just as exciting. The first set was nearly identical. It took a few moments for the Royals to step into high gear, but even- tually they turned it on and took the set, 26-24. Their momentum swung into the second set where they demol- ished the Bearcats 25-14. However, their momentum and set wins brought with them complacency. And perhaps that’s where the Bearcats found their in during the third set. a < S wv > @ a > 2 << a G . a ° Par) ° co oa rebounds gave her yet another double- double to add to her season record. Although the loss weighed heavy on everyone’s minds, the Royals knew they had very little time to shape up before the next game. The Royals slipped in form, dropping points here, there, and sort of every- where. The result was a rare 25-21 set loss. With momentum going the other way now, it was going to be a challenge to swing it around. And a challenge it was. The women put themselves in a fourth set war with the Bearcats, with balls flying everywhere. It went down to the very last point, but the Royals The Chargers came into Saturday’s game with a chip on their shoulder. Having been thrashed by the Blues the night before, the team wanted nothing more than to split the weekend and take a win off the Royals. But the Royals had other thoughts, and the game started out in their favour. The home squad took the lead early and never let it go. They walked into halftime with a 40-27 lead, and then went out in the third and absolutely went off on the Chargers. Thirty-seven points in the third quarter alone were more than enough to put away the game. A humble 12 points in the fourth was the finish the Chargers were all but waiting for as the Royals bounced back into the PACWEST season with a 1-1 weekend. Nearly everyone on the Royals had a big game against Camosun, but it was Rachel Beauchamp who really blew away the competition. Having been on the court for only 18 minutes, Beauchamp still snagged a team high 21 points, as well as 1 rebounds for her second double-double on the weekend. The weekend results put the Royals in the same spot in which they started: tied for second or third with the VIU Mariners. Despite handing the Royals a loss, the Mariners were dismantled by a Capilano team that is still undefeated. Going 1-1 as well put the Mariners in the same spot as the Royals as both teams look to next week to distance themselves a bit. Photograph by Davie Wong were able to convert on their chances and drove home the game winner. They finished the set 25-23 and took the game 3-1, meaning they swept the weekend. The win brings the Royals to the top of the standings, leapfrogging their rivals VIU and Capilano, who sit 2 points below them. For this week at least, the Royals are on top and look- ing pretty sharp.