Kodiaks handed first loss of the season

By Lethbridge Herald on November 17, 2023.

Herald FILE photo Lethbridge College Kodiaks’ Kitawna Sparks battles for a rebound against two Lakeland defenders during Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference women’s basketball action last month. Sparks had been relied on as a leader down the strecth of the first half due to team injuries.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

It was a battle of two undefeated teams in Alberta Colleges Athletic Association women’s basketball at Lethbridge College on Friday night.

However, it was far from being a tight battle as the No. 2 nationally ranked  Lakeland Rustlers  defeated the Lethbridge College Kodiaks 81-57 and handing the Kodiaks their first loss of the season.

“Well we certainly weren’t sharp and especially  defensively,” said Ken McMurray, Kodiaks head coach.

“We gave up 24 offensive rebounds, so we didn’t block out, and I don’t know how many blow-bys we had where they got all the way to the cup. But our defence wasn’t there. I felt like the girls were excited and ready to play, but we certainly weren’t sharp.”

McMurray said the girls didn’t quit.

“They tried hard, I just don’t think they were there mentally, defensively and offensively,” he said.

The Kodiaks only shot 40 per cent from the foul line and 30 per cent from the field.

“And didn’t take really great shots,” said McMurray.

“We didn’t execute our offence very well. You can learn a lot from losing and it’s a gut check to see what each person needs to do better, and they’re a good team and they’re coming off a solid weekend last weekend. And so anyways, we got a lot of work to do to get better.”

The Kodiaks (5-1) will look to rebound from their first of the season when they host Keyano tonight at 6 p.m.

“Well, we’ve just got to come ready to play,” said McMurray.

Kitawna Sparks drained 21 points for the Kodiaks in the loss.

The Kodiak men’s team lost 97-78 to the Rustlers in the later game and will host Keyano at 8 p.m. tonight.

Meanwhile, the U of L Pronghorns women’s basketball team beat the University of Winnipeg 68-44 at the 1st Choice Savings Centre on Friday night to improve to 2-3 on the season.

The U of L men’s team lost 87-84 to U of W on Friday night.