Queens 80 Lions 62
Dedra Janvier couldn’t have asked for a better finish to her career.
The fifth-year guard turned in a spectacular performance to lead the Queens to an 80-62 victory over the Ambrose Lions at RDC Saturday, then was honoured following the game.
Janvier finished with 24 points, one rebound, three assists and four steals. She finished her career with 1052 points, which moved her in front of Jody Potts as the all-time RDC scoring leader. She also finished with 202 three-point baskets which is an ACAC record.
“I didn’t know anything about the records, but that’s awesome … it’s something to be proud of,” she said while holding back the odd tear. “It is very emotional.”
Janvier arrived at RDC from Cold Lake as a shooting guard. She developed into one of the top outside shooters in the ACAC and over the last couple of seasons was asked to be a team leader and even came off the bench instead of starting. She played every role head coach Ken King asked of her and by the end was back starting.
“It was a bit of adjusting at times, but I’m happy I was able to play all five years here,” she said.
“Dedra went out the way she deserved to go out, breaking that record,” said King. “It was something she deserved.”
Janvier is hoping the Queens season isn’t over. They sit with a 10-11 mark, two points up on the Medicine Hat Rattlers, who upset SAIT 50-49 Saturday. MHC does have two games remaining against Ambrose and one win will give them fourth place as they hold a 2-1 edge in games against the Queens.
Janvier will attend the University of Alberta next year to finish her education degree.
“But I will be back every weekend as I believe in this team. We’ve come a long way and if we don’t make the playoffs this year we will the next.”
King believes so as well.
“I’m impressed with the development of the younger kids. Look at Madi Nimmo, a Red Deer kid who also played in our club program. She only played the second half because of injuries and came along quickly. Brooke Kirkpatrick has been awesome and she’s in the running for rookie of the year. You can see how effective the combo of Eva (Bonde) and Emily (White) can be and just how strong they will be in the future if we retain that group. We could have 10 to 13 girls back next year and that’s huge.
“Even this year we were still a younger group. I believe we’re at that hump where we’re trying to get to the next level. A lot of people finished strong.”
The Queens won seven of their final 11 games and defeated all the top teams except undefeated Lethbridge.
“If we get the players back we hope to get back we just have a couple of positions and statistical needs to fill.”
White had another strong game with 19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and five steals. Bonde had 12 points, four rebounds, five assists and five steals and Nimmo, a Hunting Hills grad, had nine points and nine rebounds in only 16 minutes.
Kings 104 Lions 92
The Kings honoured two fifth-year players before the game in Matt Matear and Lacombe’s Shayne Stumpf.
The two then dominated the game as Matear had 29 points, 16 rebounds and four assists and Stumpf 16 points, 11 boards and five helpers in a 104-92 victory.
“Matt had a fantastic game and Shayne came on strong,” said Kings head coach Clayton Pottinger, whose squad finished with a 15-6 record and head to the playoffs at Medicine Hat March 1-4.
The Kings sit in second place behind 17-3 Medicine Hat, but both SAIT, 14-5, and Lethbridge, 13-6, have two games remaining and if they win both the Kings will slip to fourth.
Pottinger had mixed feelings about Saturday’s win.
“We played about two and a half quarters of playoff basketball,” he said. “We’re not at the point where we keep our intensity a full game. We’re up by 20 plus and win by 12 and give up 92 points. That shouldn’t happen.”
Ian Tevis added 17 points and nine rebounds, Spencer Klassen 15 points and Khurram Sultan and Kai Greene eight points each. Kyler Shula had 24 for Ambrose.