SUBSCRIBE: Missing news on social media? Subscribe to CHAT News Today's DAILY newsletter and stay up to date with your city.

Rattlers pile up points to sweep Kodiaks on the road

Jan 28, 2018 | 2:51 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A picture-perfect evening for the Medicine Hat College Rattlers basketball teams, winding up their home-and-home series at Lethbridge College.

On Friday night, the Rattlers women picked up an 82-75 win over the Kodiaks, while the men’s team suffered their first loss since November 10 in a 107-101 defeat.

Courtney Henry and Kennedy Werre were the big contributors for Medicine Hat in the opening quarter, but trailed the Kodiaks 19-17 after the opening frame.

Henry continued her strong play off the bench with another six points in the second, with the Rattlers and Kodiaks trading the lead eight times before halftime with Medicine Hat leading 38-32 at the break.

Lethbridge came out firing in the third quarter though, as Jaclyn Heggie and Courtney Kwasney combined for 15 points to give the Kodiaks the lead 57-54 with 10 minutes remaining.

Despite being out-rebounded on the evening, Medicine Hat was able to net 21 points in the final quarter to edge out Lethbridge College 75-72.

Kendell Kuntz and Werre tied with 21 point nights for the Rattlers in the win, while Werre added 10 rebounds to her ACAC record.

Moving to a record of 11-3 on the season, Medicine Hat sits second place in the ACAC South standings with seven games left on the year.

As for the men’s team, they were looking to get back into the win column after having their four-game win streak snapped on Friday at home.

This match was a chippy affair, with both teams heading to the free-throw line multiple times as the Kodiaks were up 22-18 after the first quarter.

Bench scoring was a big factor in the second quarter for Medicine Hat, getting 11 points from Vince Munoz and Brady Resch to close the gap to just one point heading to the second half.

Medicine Hat took the lead in the third quarter thanks to three baskets and five free-throws from Jon Sappleton, putting up 11 points by himself to give the Rattlers a 68-62 advantage.

The Rattlers continued to roll with another 22 points in the fourth quarter, sweeping their weekend set with a 90-81 win against the Kodiaks.

Sappleton was named player of the game with a 28 point performance, while he also led the team in the rebounds category with 11.

Climbing to an 11-3 record of their own, the Rattlers sit alone in second place in their division and have won five of their last six contests.

The stretch drive of the regular season gets underway next weekend, when the Rattlers face off against Red Deer College on the road.