Skip to content

Penticton Secondary alum helping UBC-O Heat basketball break records

Jacob Stokker, a sophomore with the Heat, is off to a strong start to the season
14257679_web1_181107-PWN-UBCO-Stokker-T
Penticton Secondary School grad Jacob Stokker goes in for a lay up during UBC-O Heat regular season action. Stokker and the Heat are having a strong start to the season. File photo courtesy of UBC Okanagan Heat athletics

A Penticton Secondary School alum is helping the UBC-O Heat men’s basketball team get off to a record-breaking start to the season.

Jacob Stokker, a sophomore with the Heat, has chipped in to give the team a 4-0 start to the season. It is the longest winning streak in the program’s history since they joined Canada West in 2011-2012.

They currently sit on top of the Canada West division standings.

Related: Video - Aggressive approach helped Lakers’ Stokker

On Nov. 3 the Heat defeated the Brandon Bobcats 83-82 in dramatic fashion to bring their streak to four wins.

The Bobcats fought their way back from a 12-point second half deficit to tie things up at 78 and 80 but were unable to take the lead at any point in the game. Stokker finished the game with 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal and 13 points.

“I think we really moved the ball well and we talked about letting the offence score not individuals,” said Heat head coach Ken Olynyk. “We moved the ball and got easy shots and it made the difference. In the second half we started dribbling the ball way too much.”

Just the night before (Nov. 2) the Heat found themselves digging out from a 17-point deficit to come away with 85-79 win. The Heat scored 31 fourth quarter points to complete the biggest comeback in program history.

Stokker hit from three-point range to give the Heat the first lead of their game with under two minutes to go. Stokker had five rebounds, one assist and seven points.

The Heat opened the season with a pair of wins over the Trinity Western Spartans. They next face the Lethbridge Pronghorns (2-0) on Nov. 9 at 8 pm. in Kelowna.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

<>

Kristi Patton | Editor
KristiPatton
Send Kristi Patton an email.
Like the Western News on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter.