By Scott Roblin

Rattlers top first-place Trojans on seniors night at the Snake Pit

Feb 18, 2018 | 4:15 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A special night on and off the basketball court for the Medicine Hat College Rattlers on Saturday, playing their final home games of the season versus the top-ranked SAIT Trojans.

Coming off a pair of losses at the hands of the Trojans on Friday night, the Rattlers were looking to send their seniors off with wins over SAIT.

The women’s team picked up a big two points to keep pace in the playoff race, rolling to a 65-54 win over the Trojans in their final game at home.

Medicine Hat scored five points off SAIT turnovers in the opening quarter to take a 19-7 lead after 10 minutes, with four of the Rattlers starters racking up points.

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Rachel Sherven hit a big three-pointer early in the second quarter for the Rattlers, helping to double their lead over SAIT to 28-14 by the mid-way point of the quarter.

SAIT however was able to get their offence working again late in the half, knocking down a few shots to cut the Medicine Hat lead to 30-21 at halftime.

Senior Courtney Henry continued to run the Rattlers offence in the third quarter, adding five points to her total in her final game at the ‘Snake Pit’ to make it a 46-37 game after 30 minutes.

Fellow senior Kennedy Werre grabbed four rebounds in the span of a minute in the fourth quarter to keep the Trojans at bay.

She added four points to her totals in her last home game, helping Medicine Hat clinch a 65-54 win over the first-place Trojans.

Henry and Werre were tops on the Rattlers in points with 15 and 14 respectively, with both taking home player of the game honours in their last action at Medicine Hat College.

Werre said her time at Medicine Hat College has been life-changing and hopes to play a few more games before their season comes to a close.

“Just the community around here is just phenomenal,” said Werre. “There’s so many memories I’m going to have and I’ll cherish forever. And, the group of girls that we always have, they’re a great group of girls every year. They’re like my sisters and I’ll miss it.”

With just one game left before playoffs, the Rattlers women’s team holds down third place in the South Division and can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Ambrose University.

Following the game, Henry and Werre, along with graduating men’s players Vince Munoz and Stephen Jones were honoured by the team for their efforts over the years.

Henry said the evening flew by but she tried to take in as much as she could.

“I just tried to live in the moment and enjoy every bit of it because it was an amazing feeling,” said Henry. “It’s been a pleasure to play here.”

Medicine Hat’s men’s team was also able to dethrone SAIT on Saturday night, holding off a late Trojans rally to pick up a 96-91 victory.

Baskets dropped all night for both Aaron Cameron and Jon Sappleton, combining for 45 points and nine assists to help seal the win.

Entering the starting lineup, it was a key evening for both Munoz and Jones as well getting to hit the court at Medicine Hat College for the last time.

Munoz was 1-for-4 from the field with five points and two assists, while Jones contributed 11 points for the Rattlers and also hauled down six rebounds.

Moving into a tie with SAIT for first place in their division with 30 points, the playoff-bound Rattlers have one last shot at securing the top seed out of the south.

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams will head to Calgary on Saturday night to face the Ambrose University Lions, with playoff positioning very much on the line.