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Show B4 SPORTS BASKETBALL from B1 ing was a result of looking beyond the next step, something he has repeatedly quashed this season despite lofty expectations. "Last year I thought we got a little bit ahead of ourselves we're not going to do that this year," Hunsaker said. Not only would a similar ending put a damper on UVU's season-ending run, it would also prevent them from clinching a national tournament berth. The CIT is the likely landing spot, with a chance at hosting a firstround game. "I would certainly like these kids to have that chance, but we have to go all the way," Hunsaker said. "Complete every hurdle." That includes hurdles UVU has already cleared. The Wolverines sported a perfect 9-0 conference record heading into Saturday's regular season finale, having beaten every Great West opponent twice except North Dakota. More important to head coach Dick Hunsaker, they bring the qualities he feels are responsible for their success and tournament hopes. "That old adage of toughness, competitiveness and physicality; this team brings those qualities to the game," Hunsaker said. It helps that the team found those qualities at the same time. All five starters joined the program in the summer of 2010, Holton Hunsaker and Ben Aird as freshmen, Isiah Williams, Geddes Robinson and Keith Thompson as junior transfers. All five have taken turns leading the team in scoring, with Williams exploding for 28 in last week's game. PHOTO COURTESY OF UVU ATHLETICS Taylor Huber lofts a shot during Utah Valley's win over Houston Baptist last week. The win clinched the No. 2 seed in the GWC Tournament for the Wolverines. W. BASKETBALL from B1 PHOTO BY LANCE LARSEN/UVU REVIEW Alfonzo Hubbard skies for the dunk in a regular season game. The junior swingman will hope to continue his production as the team's sixth man. "The group of recruits that came in here two years ago were exceptional," Hunsaker said. "Credit goes to them for winning their second conference championship outright and play as they have and compete as they have." The accolades and accomplishments of that recruiting class highlight what they haven't done: win the conference tournament. Hunsaker and Williams are approaching it the same way they did the regular season: one game at a time with tempered expectations. "Hopefully we can keep [the streak] going and win a championship," Williams said. Matt Petersen can be reached at petersensports@ gmail.com . Follow him on Twitter @TheMattPetersen. contributing as well. The 3-point shooting of late is another improvement that the Wolverines have seen this year. After starting for much of her career, Johnson has settled into her bench role quite well. "[The transition] hasn't been bad," Johnson said. "I enjoy coming off the bench. It takes a lot of pressure off me." With a win Tuesday over Houston Baptist, the Wolverines clinched second place in the Great West Conference. This gives the team a first-round bye in the conference tournament. "You want to be able to give yourself a chance to get that first round bye, watch teams play and settle in a little bit," Coach Nixon said. "Regardless, I feel like we're a program that has peaked at the end of the year and hopefully we'll be able to do things in the tournament that will help us to be successful." University of North Dakota has clinched first place in the Great West, with their only loss corning to the Wolverines in North Dakota. The second meeting between these two teams in their season finale on March 3 in Orem. Get Everything You Need in One Place! PHOTO COURTESY OF UVU INTRAMURALS Student dodgeballers pose during the Intramurals-hosted dodgeball tournament held Wednesday, Feb. 29. Dodge this: Winning second to fun By Travis Leavitt Sports Writer At UVU's recent Intramural Dodgeball Tournament, winning the match almost appeared to be a secondary motive for the team dubbed the Hood Rats. These brobdingnagian, burly men were intent on inflicting rubber induced injuries in addition to merely prevailing over their foe. They were dressed head to toe in trendy fashions circa 1984, goofy fake facial hair and David Bowie mullets. Most notable was the gentleman who donned a bright blue luchador mask accompanied with neoprene skin tight metallic-blue pants, making it debatable whether or not he had them spray painted on before the match. A member of the opposing team, the Wet Noodles, had this to say concerning the Rats. "We've played these guys before and really they aren't that good," Steen Hatch said prior to the match. "They dress and act pretty crazy but we've beat them a few times before this." In this statement, Hatch echoed the sentiment of his team, who were decidedly all business. They were in stark contrast in appearance from the team slated to battle across the court from them. Rather than being physically imposing, these average Joe's spent 30 minutes prior to the match doing drills stressing agility and finesse. The Wet Noodles were as subdued as the Rats were flamboyant; they showed up with their white tshirts, gym shorts and skills in winning dodgeball. "We have a set of balls and we do drills the night before," Hatch said. "We practice a lot of three versus one situations and how to dodge or catch effectively." After a lengthy rules discussion, the match began and balls began flying around the room at striking velocities and physical appearances took a backseat to the onslaught of rubber spheres. Players from the Wet Noodles hurdled, dodged and avoided physicsdefying throws from the Rats, who aimed to dismember and intimidate. The Rats were boisterous and celebrated every Noodle who hit the floor; every player out was accompanied by a roar of jubilance and the occasional cartwheel. The fact that a mere journalist was the only eyes watching other than a player didn't seem to affect the players on either side, who were putting on a spectacle of sporting madness. It was wit against pure force. The match was hard fought and closely contested, coming down to the ninth and final match of a best of 9 series. With all of the graceful jukes and artful dodges, the championship was won fittingly when a Rat player mistakenly stepped over the line, granting the Wet Noodles as victors. "It feels pretty good to win," Hatch said. "But it's back to practice for us. We are never satisfied." • tikatc,t1 10aro-3pro ai 7. "16 • d • 20-2#1, 20.12 e BoOkStOce 401-1-7 pro 0 • • •• • • •• • • • • • • • • BOOKSTORE Yew Campus. Your Needs. Your Stem 4: 10 W-Nk • BROWSE AND ORDER Caps and Gowns Personalized Announcements Stole of Gratitude Diploma Frames Class Rings |