It was the first week of the regular season, and the VIU Mariners basketball teams played like it. But they also emerged a perfect 4-0.

The Vancouver Island University men’s basketball team defeated the Quest Kermodes 83-52 Friday in Squamish, then followed up with an 88-75 victory in the next day’s rematch.

The VIU women started with a 55-44 win Friday and held on for a 69-67 win the following afternoon.

“I’ll take the two wins, but I wasn’t overly thrilled with our performance,” said Tony Bryce, coach of the Mariner men. “I thought there was a little bit of Jekyll and Hyde where we played very well in stretches and then had lapses.”

Veteran forward Andrew Kaban was “lights out,” said the coach, despite playing through illness. Kaban led the M’s with 30 points Friday, while guard Mike Wohlers added 11. Fraser Thompson had a team-high nine rebounds.

The next day was more concerning for the coach, as he didn’t like how his team let up with a big lead. Kaban had 23 points in that one, Wohlers had 18 and Thompson had 12 points and eight boards.

Among rookies, guards Jake Hayton and Clayton Billett impressed the coach.

In women’s play, the Mariners “were OK” on the first weekend of the season, said Bill McWhinnie, the team’s coach.

“We’ll only get better,” he said. “First week and we’ve already got two wins; we can’t really be too upset.”

The team has had some bad luck with injuries early on, but enough different players contributed to secure the two victories.

Rookie post player Shayna Worthington was terrific on opening night in Squamish, scoring 15 points and adding 16 rebounds. Veteran point guard Katie Pearson added 14 points and newcomer Kayla Gromme, playing hurt, scored 12.

On Saturday it was forward Sarah Fraser pacing the offence with 23 points. Worthington had another double-double with 10 points and 10 boards, Pearson had 18 points and Gromme added 14.

The M’s led both games from start to finish, but the Kermodes hung around Saturday and had a chance at a game-tying jump shot at the buzzer.

“Scoring hasn’t been an issue so far this year,” McWhinnie said. “It’s the defensive end that I’m concerned with right now.”

GAME ON … The M’s play their home openers Friday (Nov. 13) when Langara visits the VIU gym. The women start at 6 p.m.; the men go at 8 p.m.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com