It was a great weekend for the women’s Kodiaks basketball team, but not a great one for the men’s, as they hosted the Red Deer College Kings and Queens over the weekend.
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On Saturday, the women started strong and did not let up for most of the game. Kodiaks’ Brittany Pekar, the player of the game, scored 27 points, putting her over 900 points in her ACAC career. The Kodiaks led the Queens 38-23 at the half.
The Kodiaks won by a score of 69-57.
The Queens battled back in the third quarter, cutting the lead down to single digits, but the Kodiaks dominated the fourth quarter.
Coach Avery Harrison said that the key to the victory on Saturday was taking away the Queen’s inside game and holding them to 23 points.
However, he was not impressed with the third quarter.
“We gave them a good run and nearly put them back in the game,” said Harrison.
Harrison said in practice, the team would be working on outside defense and increasing their ball pressure.
On Friday, the women managed to win the game with a final score of 73-62.
The Kodiaks started their game against the Queens on a rough note, surrendering four points in the first minute of the game. They managed tobattle back, ending the half down 35-34.
In the second half, the women roared back, getting rebounds and controlling the ball. Mackenzie Meeks was the player of the game for Lethbridge, while Lauren Loyek earned the honours for Red Deer.
While the women triumphed over the weekend, the men’s Kodiaks dropped both of their games to the Kings.
Saturday’s game was an aggressive affair, with the Kings dominating the Kodiaks throughout the half, holding them to a 49-42 score.
Throughout the second half of the game, the Kings were seemingly able to score at will, crushing the Kodiaks with a final score of 105-88.
Players of the game were Khurram Sultan for the Kodiaks, who lead the team with 26 points, and Lloyd Strickland for the Kings, who led his team in assists.
Coach Ryan Heggie said that the team came out with little energy in the third quarter, allowing the Kings to surge ahead.
“They’re too good of a team to have mental errors like that,” said Heggie.
Heggie, however, was happy with the effort his team showed throughout the game.
“I’m disappointed in the weekend for the win/loss situation, but I am never disappointed in the effort these guys put in,” said Heggie.
Heggie said, defence will be the focus of the Kodiaks’ practice this week.
On Friday, the Kings defeated the Kodiaks 94-81.
The men started off strong against the Kings, beginning with a three-point shot sunk by Tysen Pushor. The Kodiaks and Kings traded baskets throughout the first half, with the Kodiaks leading 38-37 at the half.
The second half was a different story. The Kings ended up outplaying the Kodiaks in the third quarter, leading 63-59. The Kodiaks managed to battle back, at one point tying the game at 73 points apiece halfway through the fourth quarter. However, the Kings went on a points surge in the second half, including 10 unanswered points, to win the game.
Bradee Perrett was Lethbridge’s player of the game, while Robert Pierce of the Kings received that honour.
The Kodiaks will be hosting the Concordia University College Thunder on Feb. 3. The women play at 6 p.m. and the men follow at 8 p.m.