Queens 51 Clippers 50
The RDC Queens may have been better off opening their Alberta Colleges Women’s Basketball League season on the road.
“We had a lot of nerves as everyone wanted to come out strong at home and we didn’t play our best,” said Queens starting point guard Karlen Majcher following a 51-50 victory over the Briercrest Bible College Clippers at RDC Friday.
“I thought we settled down some in the second half, but when we did we didn’t keep up our intensity and we let them come back.”
The Queens led 51-45 late, but to the Clippers credit they never said die.
“They always come out and play with a lot of heart,” said Majcher.
Queens head coach Dawn Smyth agreed.
“I find Briercrest to be one of the hardest working teams in the conference,” she said. “You know they won’t show up with anything less no matter if they have five players or 12. They’ll all give 100 per cent and grind you for four quarters. You look at the fact they came off a long bus ride this afternoon and still played that hard. It’s a test to their character.”
But Smyth wants to see a better effort when closing out the game.
“It’s a lesson learned in that nothing is done until that final buzzer,” she said. “We have to understand that ever possession matters. We have to learn to make sure we take care of the ball. We made a couple of mistakes in the final 21 seconds and it almost caused a heart attack.”
The teams were tied at 15 after the first quarter, but RDC managed just six points in the second quarter to fall behind 25-21. They recovered and took a 39-37 lead after three quarters.
Majcher finished with 10 points, three rebounds and six steals and was named the RDC player of the game. She’s looked at as one of the Queens leaders, despite not playing most of last year because of a broken leg.
“It’s so amazing to be back and to be playing. Last year was tough,” she said. “But I did learn a lot. I got to know what was going on. The difference between high school and college and got to know the plays, which gives me an advantage this year.”
Lauren Loyek had 11 points and eight rebounds for RDC while Ashlynne Gentles had nine points and Erin Wiersma 10 rebounds. Shehana Woodland had 13 points and Megan Carr and Val Robinson 10 each for the Clippers.
Kings 78 Clippers 72
The Kings also didn’t put the game away when they had a chance and the Clippers kept things interesting before losing 78-72.
“It was very sloppy . .. we have to learn to close out games a little better,” said Kings head coach Clayton Pottinger. “We were up by 20 in the third quarter, but didn’t execute down the stretch.”
The teams were tied 17-17 at the end of the first quarter with RDC up 34-32 at the half. They out scored the Clippers 27-13 in the third quarter, but BBC held a 27-17 edge in the final 10 minutes.
“Hopefully it’s a learning experience . . . a growing experience,” added Pottinger. “We have to learn how to play ahead and protect the lead.”
Then again the Clippers are not a push over.
“They’re a talented team with some excellent shooters who probably didn’t shoot as well as they can,” added Pottinger.
RJ Wells led the Kings with 20 points and five rebounds while Rob Pearce had 15 points and eight boards, Joe Jennings 14 points, Kek Biel 11 points and seven rebounds and Eric Bakker 10 points.
Justin Wolverton had 26 points for BBC with Brandon Friesen and Jesse Mortensen hitting 12 each and James Wohlgeschaffen 11.
RDC hosts BBC today with the women tipping off at 1 p.m. and the men to follow.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com
