Kodiaks wrap up a memorable season
For Grady Taylor, the emotions were hard to gauge.
In a valiant push back in the third quarter that eventually forced overtime, the Kodiaks were defeated 96-93 by the Keyano Huskies in the fifth place game at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference provincial championship Saturday afternoon at the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.
Saturday afternoon’s game was the last one of the weekend for both teams no matter who was the victor, but for the likes of graduates Taylor, Pierce Van gaalen and Colten Murray, it’s their last in Kodiaks silks.
Hence the variety of emotions.
“I don’t know whether to cry or laugh or smile or what,” said Taylor, who along with Keanu Funa had 28 points in Saturday’s loss. “It’s been a great second semester. I came back in the second semester to play with the boys and watching some of them turn into men, it was just awesome to play with them and experience it, to play in playoffs and have the coaches we have to lead us and help us and get to where we need to be.
“To play for coach (Ryan) Heggie, he’s coached me for more years than any coach has ever coached me and I’ve learned more from him than anybody in my life. He’ll always be my coach and a best friend and someone I acknowledge and look up to.”
On Saturday, the Kodiaks rallied for 27 points in the third quarter after a rough second quarter to get themselves back in the game and get the lead down the stretch.
But with one more possession and the final seconds ticking away, the Huskies scored on a layup with 1.2 seconds remaining to force overtime.
A flurry of baskets and threepointers ensued in the fiveminute overtime, but the sharp-shooting Huskies managed to outscore the Kodiaks 18-15 to earn the win and fifth place.
“It was a fun game to play in. When any game goes into overtime, no matter where you struggle at any point in time, it’s a fun game. It was frustrating at times. We had a rough second quarter and I think that hurt us the most. We fought back and they fought back. It was just an all-around good game.”
There were, however, some rough patches for the hosts along the way.
“We had OK start and then we had a really tough second quarter,” said Heggie. “We got a bench technical and some blood on a jersey and we almost unravelled a bit in that second quarter. I pulled the guys in and I said ‘We have about three minutes to get this under control.’ To their credit, they made a push and cut it to nine at halftime, which gave us a chance to get to the change room and talk about our struggles we were having.
“So we did that and we came out and really took control of the whole game in the second half. Keyano wouldn’t let us take control enough to put them away. They were always within striking distance and they made some defensive plays at the end of the game. Their coach made some smart decisions and it worked out in their favour. They made plays and in overtime I don’t think missed a shot. We made some shots, too. We were down five and Cory Richardson hit a big (three) to put us within two and then they got another shot. Hats off to them. When it was looking bleak for them they kept fighting and that’s basketball. Sometimes you win those games and sometimes you lose them.”
Funa completed the double-double with 14 rebounds, while Michael Clemons continued to do what he’s done all season and rack up more assists, finishing Saturday’s game with 16.
Chris Oppong led the Huskies with 26 points and Jo Michel had 18.
Dante Dinter, Stefan Jovcic and reserve Jack Redden had 14, 13 and 12 points, respectively. Oppong added 14 rebounds. The Kodiaks end the season with a 13-8 record that earned them fourth place in the ACAC South Division and berth in the playoffs that was earned, rather than handed to them as hosts.
They also finished the regular season on a six-game winning streak, toppling a few formidable opponents on the way.
“Along the way, getting into that fourth seed to make sure we qualified for tournament, we beat some pretty good basketball,” said Heggie. “We beat SAIT, who have qualified to go to nationals and we beat Medicine Hat a few times, who was higher ranked than us. So we showed we can play with the best.”
A weekend-opening loss to the eventual bronze-medal winning Concordia University College Thunder Thursday night relegated the Kodiaks to the consolation side.
However, they earned the right to play on Saturday thanks to a win over the Medicine Hat Rattlers Friday.
“In these tournaments it’s one-and-done,” said Heggie. “So if you don’t bring your best game that night or the other team is at their best and you’re not, your season is on the consolation side really quick.”
“I told the guys this loss hurts because every loss hurts and every win is great. But nobody is really going to remember this in a week. I told them ‘What I want you guys to remember is the season and how good of a season we had.’ I want the veterans to remember their career they had here and all the good times, the highs and lows. Those are the memories, not losing a consolation game in overtime. It was exciting, like Grady said, to play in and it was great for the crowd (but), nobody in the crowd is going to come up to us in a week ‘Why did you lose that game?’”
“Our goal was to be able to compete on Saturday and we were here on Saturday and they competed like men and the other team won the game.”
Bronze medal game Concordia University College Thunder 102, NAIT Ooks 94
Two members of the Thunder hit the 20-point mark as Mike Malin scored 24 points and Brett Jakubec poured in 20 as Concordia came away with the bronze medal. Malin had the double-double with 11 rebounds.
Chad Oviatt came off the bench and scored 12 points for the Thunder and Ryan McLaren and Ronald Bacon jr. hit for 11 and 10 points, respectively.
A trio of Ooks made it to 20 points, led by Jackson Jacob’s 29 followed by Ryan Dwelo and Samson Cleare with 20 each. Cleare also had 13 rebounds.
Wyatt Beaver added 15 points for NAIT.
Gold medal game SAIT Trojans 88, Lakeland Rustlers 77
Charlie Conner had 30 points for the Trojans and Gemie Muya-Ntalaja and Murphy Beya each added 20 as SAIT claimed this year’s ACAC gold.
Muya-Ntalaja also had 10 rebounds.
Adrian Richards topped the Rustlers point-getters with 20 points and Prentice Gardner had 17 and Terrell Murdaugh had 10.
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