By Scott Roblin

Rattlers sweep Lions off season-best performances from Slack, Kuntz

Nov 17, 2018 | 11:39 AM

CALGARY, AB – Jaamel Slack was a different kind of animal on Friday night, dropping 26 points on the Ambrose University Lions to lead the Medicine Hat College Rattlers to victory.

Medicine Hat rallied from a slow start against the Lions to come back from a 17 point deficit, getting back to their winning ways by a 90-79 final.

In the opening quarter, the Rattlers struggled mightily to hit their shots as they only saw four baskets fall and trailed the Lions 18-9 heading to the second quarter.

Medicine Hat’s play improved slightly before halftime with Jon Sappleton dropping six points in the second quarter, but Ambrose University was able to go shot for shot and lead 41-31 at the break.

Halftime proved to be the turning point for the Medicine Hat boys, exploding for 31 points in the third quarter with Sappleton going a perfect three for three from the field to add 10 points to his stats.

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Leading by just three points, the Rattlers put the game away in the fourth quarter off the back of Slack’s 15 points in the fourth alone.

Starter DeAngelo Ashley also hit four shots over the final 10 minutes, helping Medicine Hat to a 90-79 win over the Lions.

While Slack led the Rattlers in points, Sappleton came through with the double-double courtesy of 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Saturday’s win was a big one for Medicine Hat, as they moved to a 5-2 record and are now tied with the Lions for second place in the ACAC South Division.

Medicine Hat’s women’s basketball team also proved why they are nationally ranked, taking down the Lions 88-65 in the early game.

Kendell Kuntz made 11 of her 19 shot attempts on Friday to register a season-high 25 points, while the entire Rattlers squad hit over 55 percent of their shots against the Lions.

Kuntz knocked down seven points in the first quarter to give Medicine Hat an 18-13 advantage, before the rest of the team came together in the second quarter with seven Rattlers hitting shots.

Leading 36-30 entering the second half, it was another offensive show of force from the Rattlers with Kuntz, Kate Rozdeba, and Morgan Muir combining for 20 points.

Off the bench, Kiana Mintz took over in the fourth quarter with 11 points including a big three-pointer to secure the two points for Medicine Hat.

The Rattlers made the most of their chances with 33 points off turnovers, while they outscored Ambrose University 36-14 from points off the bench.

Moving to a mark of 6-1 on the year, the second-place Rattlers will look to put a ribbon on their weekend in Calgary on Saturday.

They’ll square off against the SAIT Trojans at 1:00 pm, with the Rattlers men’s team getting their game underway at 3:00 pm.