WBB | The Kodiaks Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
Feb. 14, 2020 – The Lethbridge College Kodiaks hosted the defending CCAA champions Olds Broncos on Valentine's Day at the Val Matteotti gym.
The Broncos who sit in first place of the south division came out to play. The current three-point leader in the ACAC Micheala Allen-Guillon drained back to back threes to get the energy going for the Broncos. Lethbridge responded instantly with a couple quick baskets by Emily Greeno and Natalie Hoyt. Lethbridge built off this momentum as they went on a 8-0 run to take a twelve-point lead that forced a Broncos timeout.
Lethbridge kept their consistency as the game went on; they held the Broncos to only thirteen points in the first quarter. The Kodiaks saw a 22-13 lead heading into the second quarter. Olds did not go away as Allen-Guillon remained a threat on the offensive end by cutting the lead to six. Lethbridge did not have an answer for her at this point. However, Lethbridge drained back to back three to extend their lead.
Brittney Thibeaux of the Broncos had other plans by getting her team back into it. The Broncos started picking up momentum with a 6-0 run of their own. This forced a Lethbridge timeout after Alice-Fay Pitts drained a three to skim the lead to four. Lethbridge kept their composure as they also connected on most of their shots. Lethbridge took a 38-31 lead at halftime.
Lethbridge came out firing in the second half with back to back threes by Hoyt and McMurray. Lethbridge built back their ten-point lead. The teams scored in bunches over the next minute with the Olds cutting the lead to 45-39 before Dezarae Jensen extended the Kodiaks lead by nine.
The Broncos sunk themselves in a hole as one of their most valuable players Brittney Thibeaux fouled out with their 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Lethbridge came out to play defensively and offensively as they extended their lead 53-41 heading into the last quarter.
The fourth quarter began with the Broncos cutting the Kodiaks lead to 49-55 and forcing a Lethbridge timeout. This was the quarter where the Broncos found the answers to their struggles. Olds offence was not going away as Allen-Guillon nailed two three pointers adding to another three pointer by Pitts to cut the Kodiak's lead to one point. There were eleven seconds remaining in the game, the Kodiaks were up 62-61.
Bronco's Brandi Thibeaux drove the lane and capitalized on her floater giving her team the lead 63-62. Coach Simpson called an immediate timeout. The Kodiaks also managed to capitalize by the beautiful play that coach Simpson drew. The play left Matlin McMurray wide open as she finished her layup to give the Kodiaks a one-point lead with three seconds. The Broncos failed to call their last timeout as the Kodiaks took the game 64-63 keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Natalie Hoyt of the Lethbridge Kodiaks finished the game with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Michaela Allen-Guillon of the Olds College finished with 25 points and 6 rebounds.
The Lethbridge Kodiaks and Olds Broncos head face to face one more time this season tomorrow (Feb.15th,2020) at the Val Matteotti Gym.
Players of The Game:
Broncos: #06 Michaela Allen-Gullion
Kodiaks: #04 Matlin McMurray