Wolves Bite Back: Chicago Outlasts Orcas 108-99 in High-Scoring Affair
Santos, Greene Lead Wolves' Surge in Vancouver; Orcas Fall Despite Strong Offensive Effort
By Robert “Rob” Sterling
VANCOUVER – The hometown Vancouver Orcas couldn’t summon enough late-game magic as the visiting Chicago Wolves stormed back in the second half, securing a hard-fought 108-99 victory in Pro League action. Despite a spirited offensive performance from the Orcas, Chicago’s balanced attack and timely execution proved too much to overcome, handing Vancouver a tough home loss.
The game remained tight through the first quarter, with both teams trading blows. Vancouver’s Griffin Price and Cleo Vargas provided a steady offensive presence early on, keeping the Orcas within striking distance. However, the Wolves began to find their rhythm in the second quarter, with Julian Santos orchestrating the offense and Jasper Greene dominating the glass.
Chicago’s momentum truly shifted after halftime. A crucial stretch in the third quarter saw the Wolves string together several key baskets, fueled by Santos’s all-around brilliance and a renewed defensive intensity. While Vancouver fought back valiantly, Chicago’s superior shooting efficiency and ability to find open looks made it difficult for the Orcas to close the gap. The Wolves’ ability to share the ball, evidenced by their impressive assist total, proved to be a significant advantage.
“We came out with good energy, but we let them dictate the pace in the second half,” lamented Orcas coach Anya Sharma. “We have to learn to close out games and sustain our effort for the full 48 minutes.”
Julian Santos was a man possessed for Chicago, finishing with a near triple-double. “We knew they had a strong home crowd, so we just focused on executing our game plan,” Santos said. “Everyone contributed tonight, and that’s what makes us dangerous.”
Cleo Vargas led the Orcas with 17 points, while Griffin Price added 15 points and a team-high 7 rebounds. For the Wolves, Santos poured in 18 points, dished out 8 assists, and pulled down 5 rebounds. Jasper Greene was a force inside, grabbing 14 rebounds to go with his 10 points.
Key Notes:
- Chicago Wolves shot 45.5% from the field, significantly out-shooting the Orcas (38.8%).
- Jasper Greene’s 14 rebounds were a game-high.
- Julian Santos dished out a game-high 8 assists.
- The Wolves doubled the Orcas’ assist-to-turnover ratio (3.0 vs. 1.8).
- Vancouver Orcas struggled at the free-throw line, shooting 68.0% (17/25).