The University College of the Fraser Valley is the place to be this Saturday if you like to watch top-notch basketball talent with free admission. Both the men's and women's teams will be hosting their former teammates in the annual homecoming games with the women tipping off at 4:00 and the men following at 6:00 in Abbotsford.  

All sides are looking forward to the event, as it is a great measuring stick for all involved. On the women's side, Al Tuchscherer has reinvented his team, which features six rookies and is full of confidence for how this season will play out.

"This game will be the first opportunity for many of these rookies to play against someone other than their own teammates," says fourth-year guard Shiloh Minor.  

According to Tuchscherer, some of the Alumni have been staking out Cascades practices over the past few weeks and likely relish this as an opportunity to test some of the players who have been called upon to fill their shoes. "It'll be a good test for us, for sure," he says. "No doubt about it."  

As you listen to the lineup being introduced for the men's alumni squad, you may think that you are at an induction ceremony for the Cascades Hall of Fame, with names like UBC's Pete Wauthy and Pat McKay, former CCAA National Championships MVP Mike Lee, former All-Canadian James Maksymiw, and former Manitoba Bison (CIS) Chad Yarwood figuring to instill a little fear into the opposition.  

As if that lineup isn't powerful enough, add Randy Nohr, the Fraser Valley basketball legend who is fresh off his appearance with Team Canada in the LA Summer Pro League. The LA experience is only the latest in Nohr's amazing career, which started off with back-to-back AA titles in high school for the Aldergrove Totems, along with teammate Maksymiw.  

Nohr is probably best known for his back to back CIAU national Championship MVPs as a member of the St. Francis Xavier X-Men in 2000 and 2001. Nohr then signed a contract with a professional team in Sweden , where he played last year. The depth and quality of the alumni really reflects on the history of the UCFV program and its ability to snag the top talent in the Fraser Valley .

As star studded as the Alumni are, don't expect the current version of the Cascades to be shaking in their boots as they, too, boast a strong squad this year. Despite some inexperience, coach Pat Lee has had one of his best recruiting periods in a while, securing former Highroad Christian Academy star Jamie Vaughn who can seemingly do everything on the court, Brian Smith out of Maple Ridge, Lee Jackson out of Whatcom, and Brad Van Dolah out of Nechako Valley. "We've got a great preseason and I'm really excited about it," says Lee. According to Mike Lee, "We don't like to lose to the young guys so expect to see some good dunks and some hard play out there."  

ALSO IN SOCCER

Cascades men's and women's soccer teams have a big homestand this Saturday as they host Cariboo, who men's and women's teams are both ranked #7 in the country. The UCFV men look to halt a losing skid and gain some ground on league leaders Capilano as the season reaches the halfway point. The women are looking to break out of their goal scoring slump against the Sun Demons who sit 5 points back of the Cascades in the BCCAA standings. The men kick off at 12:00 followed by the women at 2:00 . Come out and give the team's some crowd support.