Men's Basketball head to Lethbridge after final weekend of play
The Lakeland Rustlers Men's Basketball team lost both games against the Concordia Thunder on the weekend, losing 87-84 Friday night in Lloydminster and 90-78 Saturday night in Edmonton.
The teams would go back and forth for the entirety of the game Friday night with neither team wanting to give up a large lead. In the first quarter, the Rustlers came out strong and were able to take an 18-15 lead heading into the second. In the second quarter, the Thunder fought back, outscoring the Rustlers by 2, cutting the Rustlers lead at the half to 34-33.
Both teams increased their scoring in the second half in hopes of building and extending a lead. The Thunder outscored the Rustlers in the third quarter and led 63-59 after three. In the fourth quarter, the teams would go back and forth, with the score being tied several times in the final minutes. In the end, the Thunder scored last and came away with the 87-84 win.
The Rustlers were led by 2nd-year guard Brandon Isaac with 23 points, two assists, and two steals, earning him Player of the Game honors. Fourth year forward Prentice Gardner had 18 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal, while fourth year guard Terrell Murdaugh added 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
Saturday night, the Rustlers got down early and could never overcome the deficit. The Thunder opened up a 10-2 lead in the first quarter, but the Rustler cut the lead to 12-8. Both teams would go on runs before the quarter was over, with the Rustlers trailing 24-18 after the first quarter. The Rustlers cut the Thunder's lead to two in the opening minute of the second, before the Ooks extended the lead to seven. The Rustlers would fight back and cut into the lead, and the teams continued this pattern for the remainder of the half.
At half time, the Rustlers found themselves down 48-39. The Thunder increased their lead to 11 to start the third quarter before the Rustlers went on a run to cut the lead to five. The Thunder eventually opened up a 14 point lead, which is how main the Rustlers trailed by after three quarters, 71-57. In the fourth quarter, the lead the Thunder had built was too much for the Rustlers to overcome. The Rustlers found themselves down by as many as 19 and lost the game 90-78.
The Rustlers were led by Gardner with 24 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists. 3rd-Year forward Artavis Holiday had 11 points and nine rebounds for the Rustlers while Isaac added ten points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
With the two losses, the Rustlers drop to third place in the North Division. Following the two losses on the weekend, the Rustlers drop to third place in the North Division with a 16-8 record, however the Rustlers had previously clinched a playoff spot and will travel to Lethbridge to take part in the ACAC Men's Basketball Championships.
ACAC Men's Basketball Championship Preview
The Lakeland Rustlers Men's Basketball team is in Lethbridge February 28-March 3 to take part in the ACAC Basketball Championships.
The Rustlers, who went 16-8 in league play, sit in 3rd place in the ACAC North Division. Their third place finish matches them up with the second place team in the South Division, the Medicine Hat Rattlers, in their opening game of the provincial championship Thursday night. The Rustlers will then face either the Lethbridge Kodiaks or the Concordia Thunder, based on the results of the games.
The Rustlers need to finish in the top two at the ACAC Basketball Championships to advance to the CCAA Basketball Championships which are being held March 14-17 at Montmorency College in Laval, QC.