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Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference "To be Canada's premiere collegiate athletic conference by developing and inspiring leadership through excellence in academics, sport and citizenship"
Posted: Jan 20, 2023

Clippers Shock Rattlers with Last Second Win

Box Score
Game Leaders
MHC
Pts: Cooper Ward - 27
Reb: Cooper Ward - 14
Ast: Ethan Robinson - 5
BC
Pts: Matthew Bryant - 15
Reb: Danny Mullens - 10
Ast: Matthew Bryant - 7
Team Stats
Full stats

by Jeff Misener

The Medicine Hat College Rattlers (8-4) made the short trek down the TransCanada Highway to face the Briercrest Clippers (1-11) in a South Division contest. Both teams entered the game smarting after losses last weekend, and while the visiting Rattlers are securely established in a playoff position, the Clippers need to string together some wins to join the postseason party. 

Both teams attacked the rim with success to start the game. After hitting his first triple, Clippers' forward Danny Mullins retreated to the bench with two early fouls. Medicine Hat splashed a pair of threes before Riley Seaborn spotted Briercrest big man Zach Martens for a two-handed dunk. When the opportunity arrived, the teams willingly ran the fast break, highlighted by Seaborn's full-court bomb to freshman guard Kaedyn Banilevic for an easy layup. The Rattlers enjoyed a 27-20 lead on the strength of their outside shooting. 

Seaborn, Oroma Bongomin, and guard Jackson Mayes hit layups for Briercrest to narrow the lead, but Medicine Hat forward Cooper Ward netted his second triple to push the advantage to nine. Banilevic found Martens for his second slam of the half, but triples from Ward and Ethan Robinson widened the Rattlers' lead. Out of a Briercrest timeout, Banilevic drained a three and Matthew Bryant and Martens scored on offensive putbacks. The half ended with Robinson's sweet euro step teardrop, giving the visitors a 50-39 edge.

Bryant dropped a three to start the third quarter, only to be matched by Robinson. Bryant found Bongomin racing along the baseline for a reverse layup, but Ward muscled inside and converted a three-point play. Monstrous blocks from Martens and Banilevic ignited the crowd, but the Clippers let the momentum slip with a series of miscues. Medicine Hat held a 69-57 lead entering the last frame.

Rattlers' forward Tanner Scott nailed his second triple before Bryant found a cutting Jackson Mayes for a reverse lay-up and Seaborn hit a floater in the paint. As the Rattlers struggled to hit free throws, a Banilevic triple, and more layups from Seaborn, Bongomin, and Brolin Simes shaved the lead to two. Mullins three with five seconds left lifted the Clippers to an improbable 87-86 comeback win.

Danny Mullins' notched 11 points and 10 rebounds to earn Player of the Game honours for Briercrest, who had five players score in double figures. For the visiting Rattlers, Cooper Ward starred with 27 points and 14 boards, while Ethan Robinson added 19 points and thirteen rebounds.