Kodiaks men’s basketball team settles for a split

The Lethbridge Kodiaks men’s basketball team was unable to put up a 2-0 weekend.

The Kodiaks were defeated 90-81 by the Medicine Hat Rattlers during Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference play Saturday night at the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.

Saturday’s loss comes 24 hours after the Kodiaks posted a 107-101 win over the Rattlers in Medicine Hat as the Kodiaks sit at 6-7 (place in the South).

Kodiak Michael Clemons put up 12 points for Lethbridge Saturday night and added 15 assists. He also had four steals.

Grady Taylor topped the Kodiaks point-getters with 16 points and Colten Murray came in off the bench and added 14.

Keanu Funa chipped in with 12 points and Sini Atoa scored 11.

Jackson Kasko hauled in eight rebounds.

In the women game, the Kodiaks battled the Rattlers down to the final whistle, but were unable to come up with a three-pointer at the buzzer that would have tied the game and took a 75-72 loss.

The setback puts the Kodiaks at 49 on the season.

The Kodiaks trailed the Rattlers 3832 at the half, but thanks to a 25-16 third quarter opened up a 57-54 lead.

In a fast paced fourth quarter the teams kept it close as Medicine Hat led by one heading into the final minute, but a last second Kodiaks push was denied as the visitors hit the road with the threepoint win.

Amy Arbon posted an impressive double-double for the Kodiaks with 16 points and 20 rebounds. Teammate Courtney Kwasney added 17 points and three steals.

Jaclyn Heggie also hit double digits for Lethbridge with 10 points.

The Kodiaks hit the road to Calgary Thursday to take on the Trojans before welcoming the Trojans to the Val Matteotti Gymnasium Saturday night. The women’s game Saturday night is at 6 p.m. with the men following at 8 p.m.

In volleyball, the Kodiaks were held winless in Red Deer.

The women’s team was defeated 3-0 (13-25, 19-25, 19-25) by the Queens.

The Kodiaks lost by the same margin Friday night and are now in the fourthand-final playoff spot in the ACAC South Division, two points behind the Ambrose Lions (11-7) and four points ahead of the SAIT Trojans (8-12).

Meanwhile, the Rattlers grab a stranglehold on second place in the South Division, eight points up on the Lions and eight back of the Briercrest Clippers (191).

Kristine Ward had 10 kills for the Kodiaks. Reina Hirata and Taya Mikado had six digs each for Lethbridge and Jamie Brown had two service aces.

In the men’s game, the Kodiaks (11-7) were topped 3-1 Saturday night by the Kings (17-25, 15-25, 28-26, 19-25) and move into a three-way tie with Red Deer and Medicine Hat in the South, but have two games in hand on those teams.

Dax Whitehead paced the Kodiaks with nine kills. He and Tony Albizzati each had 10 digs.

The Kodiaks welcome a formidable opponent to the Val Matteotti Gymnasium this weekend when the Clippers come to town Friday and Saturday.