Kings 88 Clippers 82
It’s not always how you start, but how you finish.
The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings kept their Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference men’s basketball playoff hopes alive with an 88-82 double-overtime win against the Briercrest College Clippers Friday at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
With the win, the Kings will play the Lethbridge College Kodiaks in the south division semi-final Saturday in Lethbridge.
Friday’s game was tied at 67 after regulation and after the two teams traded baskets in the first OT, the Kings pulled away outscoring the Clippers 10-5 in the second OT.
Early on, it looked like the game would never get to that point, as the Kings trailed 40-29 at halftime. The Kings shot under 30 per cent from the field in the first half and the Clippers were shooting close to 40 per cent.
The Kings turned the tide in the third quarter, erasing an 11-point deficit quickly and outscoring Briercrest 26-11 in the quarter. The Kings allowed just one three from the Clippers in the third quarter as their defence tightened up and they only allowed five field goals in the frame.
Ty King took over for RDP in the second overtime with six points. He finished with a game-high 26-points, while Eduardo Crespo chipped in 21. Cody White added 16 points in the victory.
Kings head coach Darren Graham said the team came out more relaxed in the second half, played better defence and simply made their shots.