By Scott Roblin

Homecoming for Murschell, Sparkes at Medicine Hat High School

Sep 30, 2018 | 7:23 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A treat for those at Medicine Hat High School on Saturday night, as the Medicine Hat College Rattlers and University of Lethbridge Pronghorns clashed in an exhibition tune-up.

In what’s become a yearly tradition, the Mohawks and Pronghorns invaded the high school gymnasium to roll out their squads ahead of the ACAC and U Sports regular seasons.

While it was a close battle for the first three quarters, Lethbridge caught fire in the fourth quarter to roll to a 101-84 victory over their Medicine Hat counterparts.

Two former Medicine Hat High Mohawks were able to return to their former school on Saturday, including Rattlers sophomore Nick Murschell.

He said the team struggled with mental mistakes against the Pronghorns, but added it’s an easy fix with the regular season on the horizon.

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“We stopped taking care of the ball, we need to be more careful,” said Murschell. “We need to get back on defence, but it’s just little things. If we put that together, we’re a very good ball team.”

Murschell finished his night tied for fourth on the Rattlers in scoring, contributing 10 points on the evening.

Joining the Rattlers in the fall of 2017 after three years with the Mohawks program, Murschell said his rise to ACAC play should serve as encouragement for any local basketball players with college ambitions.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “I’m super glad to be able to come back here and have some of the high school guys see, ‘Hey, I can play college [basketball] too.’”

Matching up against Murschell on the other side of the court was Pronghorns guard Josh Sparkes, who drained 18 points including five three-pointers.

The only Mohawks player to ever win league MVP honours, Sparkes said it’s always special returning to his hometown to face a Rattlers squad he used to follow.

“I definitely grew up watching the Rattlers and I always wanted to be one growing up,” said Sparkes. “So, it’s always a little bit of fuel to come back and you always want to play good at home.”

Once a young Medicine Hat product looking for an opportunity with the Pronghorns, Sparkes is now entering his fifth and final year of university play.

He said it was hard looking around the Mohawks gymnasium knowing it was the last trip he would make as a competitive university player.

“It’s pretty bittersweet right now,” he said. “It’s a great feeling and I love coming back and playing, but it’s definitely weird to think that I won’t come back and play competitive basketball here again. I’m sure I’ll come back and play all the time, but it won’t be the same. So, it was a great way to go out, that’s for sure.”

Completing their exhibition schedule, the Rattlers return to the court on October 12 to open the ACAC regular season at home against the St. Mary’s University Lightning.