CLARKWATCH: Follow news and updates regarding sanctions on Mayor Clark.

Rattlers roll through St. Mary’s at home, Werre honoured by fans

Jan 21, 2018 | 3:09 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat College Rattlers basketball teams gave their fans something to cheer about on Saturday night, picking up two big wins over the St. Mary’s Lightning.

Medicine Hat’s women’s team needed a big rebound performance after a blowout 83-43 loss at the hands of the Lightning on Friday.

The first quarter was fast-paced, with both sides hitting around 40 percent of their shots in the opening frame as St. Mary’s held an 18-17 lead after 10 minutes.

Medicine Hat faltered slightly in the second down by six midway through, but were able to rebound with some big baskets before halftime to limit the Lightning lead to 38-35.

The Lightning struggled in the third quarter with their shooting only making a pair of baskets, while Medicine Hat was deadly from the line with Morgan Muir, Kendell Kuntz, and Jordyn Kearley making 10 of their 11 attempts.

Leading 56-48 entering the fourth, the Rattlers were able to keep pace with the St. Mary’s club to earn the weekend split with an 80-72 win.

Rattlers head coach Clayton Nielsen said he was pleased with the effort shown on Saturday, especially for how the team responded after Friday’s beat down in Calgary.

“We had to come back and battle from that,” said Nielsen. “Get over that mental beating if you will, of that game, come out and show what we can do. I think those games show you are you going to be a good team, average team, or a really good team? And, we proved that we can be a really good team when we play that way all the time.”

Muir was named Rattlers player of the game with 14 points, three rebounds and a steal, while Kearley also contributed 14 points from the bench.

All-time ACAC rebounds leader Kennedy Werre added to her record in a big way with 21 rebounds in the win, and said she’s proud with the way her team fought back.

“We stuck together and we kind of pushed through,” said Werre. “There was a few times there that we could have let through and just let go, we kind of pushed back and just stuck together.”

Following the match, the Rattlers presented Werre with a signed basketball for her recent achievement, while the senior was also greeted with a standing ovation from the Medicine Hat faithful.

“To be from here [in my] hometown and I saw a lot of familiar faces,” said Werre. “It meant so much to me and it’s amazing.”

As for the men’s team, they earned a weekend sweep of the Lightning with a 74-65 win in front of their home fans.

It was a night to remember for Jon Sappleton, going 11 for 19 from the field to score a game-high 29 points, while also collecting seven rebounds and four steals.

The win is Medicine Hat’s fifth in a row, moving their record on the season to 10-2 and a second place standing in the ACAC South Division.

A rivalry weekend lies ahead for the men and women in black and yellow, as the Rattlers basketball teams get a home-and-home series started with Lethbridge College on Friday night.

Friday’s games will go at Medicine Hat College, with the women’s game starting at 6:00 pm and the men taking to the court at 8:00 pm.