By Scott Roblin

Kuntz’s late layup guides Rattlers to stunning victory over Trojans

Feb 17, 2019 | 3:10 PM

CALGARY, AB – Kendell Kuntz made her former team pay on Saturday night, shocking the SAIT Trojans with a late basket to seal a thrilling 58-57 victory for the Medicine Hat College Rattlers.

With Medicine Hat trailing by a single point with six seconds left on the clock, Kuntz stole a Trojans inbound and drove down the court, hitting the game-winning layup with two seconds remaining to stun SAIT.

Coming out slow in the first half, the Rattlers found themselves down by a 36-25 score at halftime to the struggling Trojans squad.

The Rattlers seemed more inspired to begin the second half however, with Medicine Hat outscoring SAIT 23-5 over the third quarter led by eight points from Jordyn Kearley.

SAIT was able to restore their lead in the fourth quarter with Jaiden Hansen coming alive with six points off the bench, setting up the late inbound.

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Kuntz’s heroics however were enough to guide the Rattler to their 17th victory of the season, who need just one more victory to clinch first place in the South Divison.

Hitting five three-pointers on the night, Kuntz led Medicine Hat with 17 points, while Morgan Muir also had a solid night offensively with 11 points from the field.

Trojans veteran John Smith was too much to contain for the Rattlers men’s basketball team however, as he torched Medicine Hat for 43 points on Saturday in an 82-72 victory for the Trojans.

After both teams ended the first quarter tied at 16-16, the Trojans were able to pull ahead with a trio of baskets from beyond the arc from Smith to lead 40-31 at the half.

Medicine Hat’s Kieron Burgess put up nine points in the third quarter to try to get the Rattlers back in the contest, but the Trojans matched shot-for-shot with another dozen points coming from Smith.

For the first time in Saturday’s game the Rattlers were able to outscore the Trojans over the fourth quarter, but SAIT was able to hold on to win by 10 points.

Burgess kept up his consecutive double-double streak, extending it to 11 games with 24 points and 23 rebounds in the loss.

Now holding a 12-8 record, the Rattlers men’s squad remains tied with Ambrose University for second place in South Division with 24 points.

With playoffs on the horizon, both Rattlers teams will wrap up the ACAC regular season on Friday night at home when they host the St. Mary’s University Lightning beginning at 6:00 pm.