The Week Ahead: Jan. 18-23

Well, now that January 18, supposedly the most depressing day of the year (according to a British researcher) is behind us, its time to look forward to a great week of basketball in Chilliwack.

On Monday, Unity Christian defeated Highroad Academy by a score of 57-43.  Unity is now 3-2 in the A Fraser Valley West/East division and Highroad falls to 0-4.  A bright spot for Highroad on Monday night was Axel Steegstra (grade 10 guard) who finished with 23 points on 7 three-pointers. 

Tuesday night, the Sardis Falcons and Chilliwack Storm renew their crosstown rivalry in their first league matchup of the year.  Chilliwack has been improving lately and although they suffered losses to Kitsilano and Walnut Grove on the weekend, they beat Abbotsford Collegiate 93-89 in a game that went to overtime.   Sardis will be looking to use their physical play and deadly three-point shooting to outmatch the Storm.  That game goes at 8:15pm at Chilliwack Senior.

Tuesday also marks G.W. Graham's much-anticipated rematch with the Abbotsford Christian Knights who narrowly defeated the Grizzlies in their first league matchup.  The Grizzlies swear this game will be different and that they are more than ready for this one.  According to their captain, Micah Cockrill, the Grizzlies are "hungry and determined" to beat the Knights at home.  That game also starts at 8:15pm at G.W. Graham.

Also on Tuesday is the Unity Christian-Agassiz matchup which tips off at 8:15pm out in Agassiz.

What a conundrum for basketball fans in Chilliwack!  Which game should one go to?

Later this week:

• Chilliwack Senior plays Yale Secondary on Thursday night at 8:15pm at Yale
  
• G.W. Graham makes the trek out to Hope for another highly-anticipated rematch (8:15pm start)
• Hope will be the only team in action on the weekend as they participate in the 2nd annual Titan Invitational at Samuel Robertson Technical out in Maple Ridge

If you are hungry for some basketball action this weekend, I would suggest going to see the Trinity Western Spartans play at the Langley Events Centre (200th St. and 80th Ave. in Langley).  They play the Manitoba Bisons on Friday (women at 6pm, men at 8pm) and the Winnipeg Wesmen (women at 5pm, men at 7pm).