MEN, WOMEN ADVANCE
Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s and women’s basketball teams will play for ACAC championships tonight
The Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s and women’s teams will play for Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference championships tonight.
The Kodiaks women downed the SAIT Trojans 66-50 during the second semifinal game Friday night at the Val Matteotti Gymnasium and face the St. Mary’s Lightning in the gold medal game tonight at 7 p.m.
In Medicine Hat, the Kodiaks men defeated the host Medicine Hat Rattlers 78-66 to advance to the gold medal game tonight against the SAIT Trojans at 7:30 p.m.
They’ve got the gold medal on their minds, but Friday’s win also earned the Kodiaks a trip east to Prince Edward Island for the CCAA championship in two weeks with the silver medallist earning the ACAC wildcard spot.
And Kodiaks guaranteed their spot by downing the hosts.
“We knew if we just kept it close we’d have a chance, being in their building and not letting the crowd get too far into it,” said Kodiaks head coach Ryan Heggie. “Props to my guys, they said ‘Forget that, coach. Let’s get a lead on these guys. We got a nine-point lead and we were down one after the first (quarter). Med Hat made a few runs, but I don’t think we relinquished the lead after halftime with the nine-point lead.
“The guys just made plays. Cory Richardson made plays, (Chris) Maughan, Grady (Taylor) and Pierce (Van Gaalen) and the guys off the bench. Taylor Hammel came in and played maybe a minute and had a three-on-two dunk that elevated everybody. Chris Thomson gave us valuable minutes (as did) Keanu Funa.
The Kodiaks face the Trojans, who downed the Red Deer Kings 94-83 in the first semifinal.
“They’re a tough matchup for us because they play four guards and their small forward is not really a small forward, he’s a good rebounder and shotblocker and very mobile like a good guard,” said Heggie.
Robert Miles had 23 points for Lethbridge, Richardson had 20, Taylor struck for 16 and Maughan had 11.
At the Val Matteotti Gymnasium, the undefeated and second nationally-ranked Kodiaks had to battle their way into the gold medal game.
“It got really physical both ways,” said Karren. “It was a just a physical game, so it took us out of it a little bit and probably affected them as well. It got a little hackey both ways and we have to clean that up tomorrow. We can’t be fouling away on teams, so we’ll change that.”
The Kodiaks now face a Lighting team they’ve beat three times, but Karren wasn’t about to put too much into previous results.
“The more you play somebody the harder it is to beat them. So by the fourth time teams start to figure it out, they get used to you. (But) we know what they do and they know what we do and it’s just a matter of who plays better defence.”
Emma Lowry led the Kodiaks with 20 points Friday and Logan Moncks hit for 13.
Women semifinal St. Mary’s University Lightning 63, Medicine Hat Rattlers 51
Montana Romeril was the sole Lightning player to top 10 points with a 24-point outing as the Lightning earned a berth in the gold medal game tonight at 8 p.m.
Abby Gibb added nine points for St. Mary’s and Mary Jean Ritchie and Kassandra Baptiste grabbed seven rebounds each.
For the Rattlers, Megan Getz led the way with 18 points. Kennedy Werre chipped in with 10 points and 17 rebounds.
Dragana Vukovic grabbed 14 boards for Medicine Hat.
Men semifinal SAIT Trojans 94, Red Deer College Kings 83
The Trojans earned their spot in the gold medal game tonight with a 30-point effort from John Smith, while reserve player Dathon Spencer came in and hit for 20.
Nick Molina had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Murphy Beya had 11 points and 11 rebounds and Taner Parrington chipped in with 10 points.
Ian Tevis led Red Deer with 29 points, seven rebound and five steals and Spencer Klassen drained 17.
Shayne Stumpf had 15 points and nine rebounds.