Rustlers Basketball earns 2 ACAC All Conference Awards
Lakeland is proud to announce two student athletes were named to the ACAC All-Conference teams this year in basketball, continuing a tradition of on-court excellence for Rustlers Athletics.
3rd year forward Alana Olson and 3rd year guard Johnny Mims were both honoured with All-Star status this season. Olson was named to the North Division 1st Team, while Mims was nominated to the North Division 2nd Team on the men's side.
Olson, a graduate of Maidstone High School, continued to showcase her steady improvement since joining Chris King's program in 2019. Taking on a leadership and primary scoring role, the 3rd year came out of the gate with a pair of double-doubles opening weekend and nearly held that total for the rest of the season. She averaged 14.7 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game, leading her team in both categories and finishing 11th and 9th in the ACAC respectively. Olson also finished 7th in 3-point percentage.
Some of her highlights included a four-game stretch in November, where she averaged more than 15 points and 11 rebounds, including a 25 and 11 outing against Red Deer Polytechnic. In January, she posted a season best 30 points in the team's win at home against the NWP Wolves and a week later she had 28 points and seven rebounds in a road win vs. the Eagles.
Olson also battled significant injuries this season and worked hard to recover in time to compete for her squad in the postseason a week ago. She is working towards a Bachelor of Science degree at Lakeland.
Johnny Mims, who hails from Los Angeles, California, had an instant impact upon joining Sheray Thomas' squad after previously playing for two years in the U.S. He's started every game this season, leading the team in almost every statistical category and has been the fulcrum of several comeback victories.
Mims had 23 points, 5 assists and 2 rebounds when the Rustlers defeated the defending champion SAIT Trojans in early November, scored a season high 29 points the following weekend on the road against Olds in a loss and posted 25 points and 4 assists in their victory of the South's top seed Lethbridge. He also ranks amongst the league's leaders in minutes per game (11th) points per game (11th) 3-point percentage (13th) and assists (9th).
The men's basketball team will need that same consistent output from the Business Administration student at the ACAC Championship this weekend, which is being hosted by Ambrose University.
Congratulations to both Alana and Johnny on being named All-Conference!