Weekend split for the men’s basketball team
By Leigh Patrick with files from Dinos Communications, March 25 2026—
In another Crowchild battle, each team emerged victorious. The Dinos secured a late-game win with a 90-75 score on Friday, Feb. 6 while the Cougars found their win in a tight 100-91 Saturday.
High off their win against the Brandon Bobcats last weekend, the Cougars were quick to open the scoring, though the Dinos found their footing, thanks to two dunks by fourth-year Hayden Franson that accounted for four of his 16 total points. The Cougars gained control of the quarter with a mix of jumpers and layups, shooting 42% from the field while going 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. The Dinos fought to close the gap late in the quarter, but with a 12-20 finish, they were falling behind.
The Dinos began to find their marks in the second quarter, blowing past the Cougars’ consistent scoring, as first-year Daniel Chijioke found the first of the Dinos’ points for the quarter, followed quickly by a three-pointer from Franson. Fourth-year Aidan Smith also made his mark on the game with several strong free throws and layups in the second quarter, allowing the Dinos to make up for their early mistakes.
Entering the second half with ferocity, the Cougars briefly pushed their lead to seven points early in the third quarter. It appeared that the Dinos would have to take a loss until second-year Daniels Baumanis found strength in his offense with layups, helping the gap close. Franson pulled his weight with a last-minute tip-in, putting the Dinos within three points of the Cougars.
Victory close, the Dinos opened the last quarter with a three-pointer by Baumanis, tying the game and upping the intensity. Smith brought the Dinos ahead with a three-pointer, and Franson followed with a dunk, bringing the total to 70-69. The spirits seemed to surge on the Dinos side as they kept in control, bringing victory to the team at the last buzzer.
“I thought we were lucky to be down four at halftime, given how we played. We had some guys who struggled early, but we needed shots to fall to get our offence going. When that happens, our defence can get set and be managed better,” said Dinos head coach Dan Vanhooren.
Saturday came with high scoring and high tensions. The night started with a celebration for Dinos’ seniors Martynas Sabaliauskas and Aidan Smith. While it was an emotional milestone, the Cougars were there for a fight.
The quarter opened with the jumper from the Dinos’ Baumanis, but the Cougars matched them with their own jumper. Things moved similarly for the rest of the frame, with neither side able to build a cushion. With the entire gym on edge, the Dinos brought themselves ahead with a jumper from Smith, followed by a three-pointer by Eli Djordjevic. By the second quarter, the Cougars found their rhythm from deep, hitting timely threes that gave them a 51-45 lead.
In the second half, the Cougars stayed ahead throughout the quarter, and their dominance on the glass proved to be the Dinos’ undoing. Despite a late flurry of scoring from the Dinos, the Cougars remained composed at the free-throw line. The 100-91 final score reflected a game where the offence was elite, but the Dinos just couldn’t find the stops they needed to sweep the weekend.
It was a classic Crowchild split: one win, one loss and a reminder that these two programs are as evenly matched as it gets.