Kodiaks are undefeated... again
So how does 21-0 sound? If you’re a member of the Lethbridge College Kodiaks women’s basketball team, it doesn’t sound too shabby and it’s a mark the team hit following a 99-57 over the Briercrest Clippers during Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.
With the regular season in the books, first place in the South Division locked up and the ACAC playoffs right around the corner — held by the Kodiaks at the Val Matteotti Gymasium starting Thursday — the Kodiaks are more than just hosts. They’re history makers.
“It’s actually kind of humbling because you don’t realize what these girls have done,” said Kodiaks head coach Brad Karren. “When you go back the last three years we’re 65-2. That’s pretty impressive. In the last two years, somebody just told me, it’s the first time a team has gone undefeated two seasons in row. That’s pretty impressive. The girls have played really well. There were moments in the last few games where they played hard and then they kind of coasted a little bit, but that’s OK. We have a few practices, but then we’ll focus in on playoffs.”
She wasn’t around for the first 21-0 season in 2015-16, but Kodiaks rookie Shayna Mathison joined the team in time for their second undefeated season.
“It’s pretty amazing. It’s not something that happens often,” said Mathison, who came in off the bench in Saturday’s win to post seven points and five rebounds. “I’d say how well we work together is a big part of it. We’re all really close and that helps. We always look to pass first and look out for each other.”
Of course, having a team win 65 of their past 67 games including two seasons of undefeated basketball requires some moving parts.
“It’s tough to juggle everything,” said Karren. “We play a lot of games. I think we’ve played 30something games this season and to keep them undefeated and focused is tough. But I think most of it is the mental part of the game for them. They’re unselfish. They run through their plays, they pass to each other. We don’t have one girl. If you shut down one girl somebody else can score and I think that’s a key. They’re unselfish. They worry more about the team part of it than the individual part and I think that’s what’s done it for us.”
The Kodiaks now take their perfect record into the second season as the team looks to build on last year’s ACAC bronze medal.
And they’ll do it in the friendly confines of the Val Matteotti Gynmasium.
“I’m very excited,” said Mathison. “It’ll be good to have it here and get out a big crowd, so that’ll be nice.”
Sunder West topped the 30-point mark in Saturday’s win with 33 points, while Logan Moncks chipped in with 22.
Shantaya Strebel had nine rebounds and seven assists and Amy Arbon added nine rebounds and six assists.