Rattlers complete weekend sweep over Lions
The Ambrose Lions headed South to the Snake Pit to face off in the second half of a home and home with the Medicine Hat College Rattlers. The Rattlers got off to a hot start at home taking an early lead with the help of a plethora of Ambrose turnovers. With 3 shot clock violations in the first 5 minutes the Lions struggled on offence. They were able to stay with the Rattlers who were having their own issues finding the basket. The Rattlers held a 1 point lead, 98 with 4:00 on the clock. The Rattlers extended their lead with a basket inside only to be tied up at 11 from another Ambrose 3. At the end of the first quarter the Ratters led by 2, up 15-13 in a low scoring game.
The second quarter started with the teams able to score early matching each other at 19 within 2 minutes of the start of the quarter. With 6:51 on the clock the Lions took a timeout with the score still knotted at 19 and the Rattlers going to the line. Paige Cooper hit both for medicine hat as they restored their one basket lead. The Lions were able to respond right away tying it at 21. The Rattlers were able to score a quick 4 points from here opening up a small lead. The lions seemed to only be able to respond when the Rattlers scored, not able to take the lead away. They finally took the lead 27-26 with 2 Rattlers mistakes leading to Lion points. The teams traded baskets and the lead as the score flipped again with the Rattlers taking over the lead. The Rattlers scored twice late and took a 32-29 lead into the half.
The second half started with the lions narrowing the Rattler lead to 1 while both teams struggled to find the basket. The Lions took an early timeout down only one with 7:15 on the clock. Neither team was able to find the basket for the next minute as both teams missed 2 on each end. The teams traded baskets with the Rattlers still holding a 1 point lead. The Lions scored 2 straight and took a 36-39 lead with 3:48 on the clock they held this lead as the Rattlers could not score efficiently at all. The Lions added to their lead going up 43-38 with less than 2 minutes on the clock. The Rattlers hit a late 3 to cut into the lead. They hit both on an unsportsmanlike foul to tie the game and took the lead late on a layup. The Lions got to the line with 3 seconds left with a chance to tie it up. Missing one of two the Rattlers held a 45-44 lead going into the fourth.
The Lions came out quickly in the fourth to take the lead, only to be answered by the Rattlers on their next trip down the floor. The Rattlers were able to take back their lead they jumped out to a 52-46 advantage going on a big run. The Lions went cold on the offensive end the finally got going offensively but the Rattlers were able to match, going up 57-50 as the midway point of the quarter ticked by. The Rattlers hit again on their next trip opening up a 9 point lead their biggest of the game. They hit a single free throw and increased their lead to 10. The Lions came back to cut the Rattler lead to 6 scoring the next two baskets. The Rattlers responded and led by 8 with 1:20 on the clock. The Rattlers were able to extend finishing the game with a 66-54 victory sweeping the weekend.