Rattler women felled in battle of top teams
By Sean Rooney on February 17, 2018.
Medicine Hat News
A disparity in long-distance shooting proved too much for the Medicine Hat College Rattlers to overcome.
At Calgary Friday to play the division-leading SAIT Trojans, the Rattlers women’s basketball team led early but fell 59-48.
Without top-scoring guard Kendall Kuntz due to injury, the Rattlers went 0-for-6 from beyond the three-point line, compared to the six threes the Trojans hit — three from Alicia Tan and three from her younger sister Alexa.
Aside from those glaring statistics, Medicine Hat led 22-10 after the first quarter and outrebounded SAIT 38-22. But the Trojans also forced 23 turnovers.
Morgan Muir’s 10 points were the best from any Rattler, as Kennedy Werre was held to seven (plus 10 rebounds). Alexa Tan led all scorers with 17 points, Alicia Tan had 16 and the Trojans improved to 16-2.
Now 12-7, Medicine Hat hosts SAIT at 6 p.m. Saturday needing a win if they want to clinch a playoff spot without needing any help. Their last regular season game is next weekend against 1-18 Ambrose, but they’re trying to stay ahead of 11-7 St. Mary’s and 10-8 Red Deer, who incidentally play each other next weekend in a home-and-home set. Medicine Hat needs to stay ahead of one of them to crack the top four.
Women’s volleyball
At Red Deer, the Queens handed the visiting Rattlers women’s volleyball team a 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-21) loss.
Paige Burton led all Medicine Hat hitters with eight kills.
See Queens, Page A11
Shaya Suchy had 11 digs but the Rattlers never got enough momentum in their last weekend of the season.
Naomi Jardine’s nine kills led the Queens, and she added nine digs.
The teams rematch Saturday afternoon in Red Deer to conclude the regular season. Red Deer is 17-6 while Medicine Hat is 7-16. The Rattlers will finish sixth in their seven-team division, while Red Deer will be second and head to Camrose next weekend for playoffs.
Men’s volleyball
They might be hosting conference championships next week but the Rattlers men’s volleyball team isn’t going in like a lion.
The Rattlers fell 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-22) at Red Deer Friday night.
Vitor Pereira’s 15 kills led Medicine Hat. Hamish Hazelden had 12 for the Kings.
Medicine Hat (13-10), which won bronze at nationals last year, hosts the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference championships starting Thursday. Red Deer (14-9) hosts the Rattlers once more Saturday afternoon, and are tied for the third and final playoff spot as Medicine Hat’s berth is automatic.
Men’s basketball
The fight for first place in the ACAC’s South Division was all but decided Friday.
SAIT’s Trojans held on for a 72-66 home win over the Rattlers in men’s basketball, clinching the season series between the teams prior to Saturday’s 8 p.m. rematch at the Snake Pit.
Jon Sappleton had 23 points and 13 rebounds in a losing cause, while Osato Obaseki had 10 points and 18 boards.
Julian Apakoh and Nicholas Molina each had 17 for SAIT.
Medicine Hat fell to 14-5, while SAIT is now 15-3.
Lethbridge hosts conference finals but both teams have already clinched their spots.
