Young Kodiaks navigating tough start well

By Lethbridge Herald on October 28, 2025.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiak women’s basketball head coach Ken McMurray has his work cut out for him to start the season with a four-game road trip and the challenges of having eight rookies on the roster.

However, the girls appear to be making progress early on through the challenges.

“The girls are working hard,” said McMurray.

“The chemistry’s really good, I love that about this team, and that’s half the battle. If the girls like each other, and they play together and they want to see the success of their teammates, that’s a real positive.”

The Kodiaks are a young squad with eight rookies on their team this season.

“We’re trying to build confidence as best (as) we can and trying to work them through the first part of the year,” said McMurray.

The Kodiaks are off to an 0-2 start and McMurray spoke about the learning curve through those games.

“We’re right in those games,” said McMurray.

“Against Concordia, we were down I think 11 at the half and came right back out and tied it in the third quarter and played pretty strong (through) the third quarter, and then just  lost our composure in the fourth and it ended up being a blowout.”

The same thing happened to the Kodiaks against St. Mary’s, where they were in the game and fell off in the end.

The Kodiaks are still looking to put a full 40-minute effort in.

“Right now, we’re probably playing 25,” said McMurray.

“I just think we’re getting better and better and trying to get to playing a full 40-minute game.”

The Kodiaks have played last year’s national finalist from St. Mary’s University and a top North Division team  in Concordia  and will play another top team on Friday in The King’s University to round a tough first three games.

“We’re realistic about where we are and we just wanna try to improve every game,” said McMurray.

After playing King’s University on Friday the Kodiaks will wrap up their road trip in Grande Prairie against Northwestern Polytechnic on Saturday.