Thunderwolves veterans lead hoops squad to weekend sweep

On a rookie-laden team, Manny Furtado needs his few remaining veterans to come through each and every night.

If they’re held in check or have an off night, trouble’s bound to follow for the Lakehead Thunderwolves men’s basketball squad.

So far, it’s so good.

The Wolves, led down the stretch by fourth-year forward Bacarius Dinkins, pulled away in the final two minutes with an 8-1 run to earn a weekend non-conference sweep over the visiting Manitoba Bisons on Saturday night.

Dinkins scored seven points in the decisive third quarter, which saw the Bisons erase an earlier 14-point deficit, and Mor Menash added five points of his own in the final two minutes of play to help the Wolves to the 80-73 triumph.

“We’ve got about five or six veteran guys and we’ve got about 10 rookies guys that really don’t have any CIS experience,” said Furtado, heading into his second season as coach of the Thunderwolves, who finished 11-8 in Year 1.

“We’re definitely going to rely on our veterans for some scoring. We’ve just got to get some rookies in some spots to make some plays.”

Dinkins finished with 19, second to sophomore Tanner Parrington, a Red Deer College transfer who scored 20 in his second game back after sitting out last season because of academic issues.

Menashe collected 11 and said it was great to get a pair of wins this weekend.

“I think this summer our team changed completely,” the Israeli import said. “We didn’t really know how it was going to work, with the combination of veteran guys and the new guys that we have. But I’m happy that the new guys that did play did well and helped us get these two games. They worked pretty well in our system.

“And from our veteran guys we got a pretty good job too and they got us the game, eventually.”

Parrington, who originally planned to attend Mount Royal College, said it was great to get back on the court.

His performance was just an added bonus.

“I actually owe it all to the guys in the room,” the Calgary native said.

“They got me open, they got me the ball. I just hit shots.”

The Wolves trailed 17-9 early, but escaped the opening quarter deadlocked at 23. They took a one-point lead into the third, then outscored the Bisons 17-8, Menashe and Dinkins each collecting six points.

Kevin Omoerah led Manitoba with 19, but it was the Bisons inability to hit clutch shots down the stretch that cost the Canada West team.

Trailing by five in the final minute of play, Justus Alleyn missed a pair of three-pointers and Omoerah missed a third to stop hope of a comeback in its tracks.

The Wolves men’s and women’s teams will host Winnipeg on Thursday and Friday at the Thunderdrome. Game times are 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. each night.