Rattlers men’s basketball team gets back in win column

By Medicine Hat News on February 8, 2020.

It was a tough Friday night for three Medicine Hat’s Rattlers teams, but the fourth registered a feel-good win on the road.

The men’s basketball team earned a 96-77 victory in Olds in a matchup of the bottom two teams in their division. The Rattlers got 24 points and 10 rebounds from Kieron Burgess and ended an eight-game losing streak, which began way back in November with a loss to the same Broncos.

Zavier Croft added 15 points in the win, improving Medicine Hat’s record to 3-14 while Olds fell to 1-14.

Olds got 22 points from Muktar Mohamed but trailed from the second quarter onwards. Medicine Hat racked up 23 steals and hit nine three-pointers.

The teams rematch Saturday, neither one headed to playoffs but the head-to-head season series tied at one win apiece.

Women’s basketball

At Olds, the women’s basketball team faced the top team in the country and did so without their leader, guard Morgan Muir. So the final score of 80-39 may not have been a huge surprise.

Muir was injured a few weeks ago and played last weekend. As the conference playoff hosts, the Rattlers will hope to have her back for that tournament in early March.

Sisters Brittney and Brandi Thibeaux led the way for the Broncos, now 14-1 in conference play. Brittney, who scored 46 the last time the teams met, had 24 points and 14 rebounds, plus five blocks. Brandi added 20 points and six boards.

Katelyn Rozdeba led Medicine Hat with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Tatiana Dutka had nine points and 13 rebounds. The Rattlers shot an ugly 13 for 87 from the field and only attempted two three-point shots.

Now 9-8, they play the Broncos again Saturday.

Men’s volleyball

Facing the top-ranked team from their conference, the men’s volleyball Rattlers were swept.

At Lethbridge, the Kodiaks improved to 16-3 with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-21) win.

Medicine Hat fell to 4-15.

The teams rematch Saturday at the Snake Pit, following the women’s game which starts at 6 p.m.

Women’s volleyball

The women’s volleyball team saw a commanding lead turn to disaster in Lethbridge.

Facing a Kodiaks team already eliminated from the post-season, Medicine Hat fell 3-2 (16-25, 15-25, 25-18, 26-24, 15-11).

Mack Lewicki had 12 kills and 14 digs for the home team, which improved to 5-14. Amber Stigter had 19 kills and 10 digs, while Brooke Christie added 11 kills and 13 digs for the Rattlers, who host conference finals at the end of the month and are now 8-11.

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