Kodiaks upset Rattlers Home Debut

The 1-0 Lethbridge Kodiaks traveled east down the number 3 to take on the 1-0 Medicine Hat College Rattlers. The game started with the Kodiaks opening the scoring only to be matched by the Rattlers. Lethbridge came back down the floor quickly and were able to score on a 3 point play taking a 5-2 lead in the opening 2 minutes. Both teams were playing high pressure defense and not allowing any clean looks from either side. Any time someone got a clean look they were scoring. Medicine Hat was playing a fast-paced transition game relying on their speed and ball skills to try and out run the Kodiaks. Lethbridge was able to hold the Rattlers from developing any offence in the half court. After struggling on both ends the Rattlers bench took a timeout down 16-10. They came out of the beak hard and were able to come up with 2 points quickly. They went on a run and took a 17-16 lead before the Kodiaks responded. With the game very even in the closing stages of the quarter, both teams looked to gain an advantage going into the break. the Rattlers were able to go on another late run and went into the break, up 24-18.

The second quarter opened with a very unforced turnover from the Kodiaks. This allowed the rattlers to go down and extend their lead before being matched by the Kodiaks. Again the Rattlers got to the line and earned another 2. The Kodiaks cut the Rattler lead to 5 and the Rattlers again looked to extend this time from Nick Murschell  putting back a miss. The teams started to trade baskets and the score slowly grew. As the quarter hit the halfway point the Kodiaks had battle back to close the gap to only 2. The Rattlers extended the lead to 5 before a 3 point play made the score 36-34 with just under 5 on the clock. Lethbridge continued to come back and was able to tie the game at 39. The Kodiaks took the lead on a single made free throw, but were answered by the Rattlers. Again the Kodiaks fought back and were able to take a small lead with less than a minute on the clock. The Rattlers scored to tie and the teams went in to the break tied at 45.

The Third quarter started with the Kodiaks breaking the tie with two straight baskets to take a 49-45 lead. After another Kodiak basket, the Rattlers got their first points from Kieron Burgess scoring once at the stripe. The game went into a higher gear becoming faster and fouls becoming harder. The Rattlers started to slowly chip away at the Kodiak lead reducing the deficit to within 1 score. As the quarter passed the midway point neither team had created any serious advantage or momentum. Lethbridge had a chance to put more points on the board as they entered bonus with more than 4 minutes on the clock. The Rattlers battled back to take the lead 58-57 with 2:40 left on the clock. with a very sloppy turnover, the Rattlers gave the Kodiaks back the lead. Lethbridge extended the lead again going up 65-59. A deep 3 from Kieron Burgess closed the gap to 3 in the last seconds and the Kodiaks still lead 65-62 in a close match.

The teams opened the fourth trading baskets on their first possessions. The Kodiaks were able to break down the Rattlers D too easily in the first part of the quarter. Increasing their lead, Lethbridge was up 73-66 before the Rattlers could blink. Another 3 from the Kodiaks and they found themselves up by 10. The Rattlers continued to attempt to penetrate on the dribble but were continually hit and bumped on the way up resulting in some very contested attempts and some very hard falls in the paint. The Rattlers continued to be snakebit in the offensive zone, they could not get anything to fall and the Kodiaks held on to a 82-70 lead with 4:28 left in the game. The Home side tried to claw back in the game but with a large Kodiak lead late, they would be in tough. With the Rattlers pressing and playing for steals and big plays, the Kodiaks were able to pull through and keep the ball out of the Rattlers hands and extending their lead now up 92-77 with 1:55 on the clock. Both teams seemed to pull off the gas with the result all but final and the game ended with the final 92-80 for the Kodiaks

The ACAC Players of the game were Chase Bohne for the Kodiaks and Jevon Fray-Woodbine for Medicine Hat