Kings 118 Lightning 87
Listening to RDC Kings head coach Clayton Pottinger you’d think his team lost their Alberta Colleges Men’s Basketball League season opener.
In fact the Kings came away with a 118-87 victory over the St. Mary’s University Lightning of Calgary before a near full house at RDC Saturday.
Still it was the lack of defence that had Pottinger upset.
“I don’t like the fact we let one player torch us for 35 points … I don’t like the fact we’re giving up close to 90 points a game. You look back over the preseason and we have given up a ridiculous amount of points. We’re winning some shootouts which isn’t a recipe for success in the long term and not a recipe for success in the playoffs.”
But to give the Lightning credit, when they did have an open shot they converted. Third-year guard Cordell Minnifee led the way with 35 points.
On the other side the Kings also torched the Lightning’s defence, led by Ian Tevis, who had 36 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals and was the RDC player of the game.
But Pottinger would like both Tevis and point guard Kai Greene to pick up their defence.
“It seems when we play a team with a stud guard he has a big game. My challenge to Ian and Kai is to do a better job of lock down defence.
“Yes I’m calling those two guys out in the press,” he said with a laugh.
Matt Matear added 15 points for the Kings while Anthony Robbs added 13 points and five boards, Shayne Stumpf had 12 points and 12 rebounds, Greene 13 points and 11 assists and Spencer Klassen 10 points.
Lightning 78 Queens 51
It was the story of two halves for the RDC Queens. They turned in an outstanding first half and trailed 36-32 at the break. Then they fell apart losing 78-51 to the defending league silver medalists.
They were outscored 28-12 in the third quarter and 14-7 in the fourth.
“The second half some people stopped doing the job they were supposed to take care of,” said Queens head coach Ken King. “The first half we might have got a little ahead of ourselves and relaxed.”
The Queens also lost veteran guard Kaylee Kuba with an ankle injury.
“He lost hurt as she’s the heart and soul of our team and her injury took a lot out of us. Not that was the reason we lost, but in those moments when we needed someone to pick us up she wasn’t there.”
Keitlyn Williams had a solid game for the Queens and drew praise from King, finishing with 10 points and only four turnovers, despite the fact the Queens had 35 turnovers.
Kiana Mintz added nine points, Brooke Kirkpatrict eight and Emily White seven points and six rebounds.
Mary-Jean Ritchie had 24 points and Montana Romeril 22 for the Lightning.
RDC hosts Olds next Friday then face St. Mary’s again on Saturday.