Rattlers crush Lions at the Snake Pit
The Ambrose Lions Returned to the Snake Pit to take on the Medicine Hat College Rattlers. After a hard fought battle the last time these teams faced off we were looking forward to an intense affair. The Rattlers had a different look from the last time these two faced off with some key faces missing from the lineup. A packed gym welcomed both team to the opening tip. A quick bucket from Rattlers Deangelo Ashley opened the scoring. The Rattlers got their next points on a trip to the line to extend the lead to 4-0. Another jump shot from the Rattlers fell who added to their lead. Ambrose finally broke through with 3 point play. The Rattlers responded right away with Ashley again working inside. The Lions cut the Rattler lead to 5 as the quarter moved into the middle. The Lions score 2 quick buckets to reduce the Rattler lead to 1. Two three pointers from Rattlers Jaamel Slack gave the Rattlers some more breathing room. The lead 17-9 and forced the Lions to call a timeout. The Rattlers continued to press out of the break. the Lions hit back to back shots to reduce the deficit late. The Rattlers held on to the lead and finished the first up 28-17.
The second quarter started with a Rattlers stop and a quick bucket the other way in transition. The Rattlers score another as the Lions failed to convert in the offensive end. The Rattlers De Rosa went coast to coast for another bucket forcing the lions to take a timeout. The Rattlers came out of the timeout to score another basket inside from Ashley, then got to the line in bonus to extent their lead again. Another basket and one and the home side again extended their lead. The Lions bench was showing frustration and got called for a technical foul increasing the deficit further. The score read 43-20 with 3:35 on the clock. The teams continued to push as the clock wore down both making difficult baskets. The Rattlers dominated the paint on both ends and as a result were ahead big at the half 51-26.
The third quarter started with a turnover both ways before a shot even went up. Both teams were pressuring on defense eager to intercept passes. The Lions earned the first points of the half thanks to a trip to the line. A foul called on the Lions earned the coach a Technical foul for arguing. This seemed to inject some energy into the gym and the Rattlers started to come alive. Teams traded baskets and the Rattlers continued to look like the better team as they were able to control the boards on both ends. The quarter was in the tail end and the Rattlers entered into bonus. As the quarter closed the Rattlers had maintained their lead and increased it now 80-40.
With the Rattlers deep bench on the court to start the 4th, the Lions scored the first basket of the quarter. The Rattlers came right back down the court and made it to the line hitting one. The quarter started to hit its flow and the Rattlers were earning trips to the line by getting the ball in the paint. This was resulting in points on the board. A tight defensive presence also allowed the Rattlers to pull away. The Rattlers Kieron Burgess was a beast on both ends cleaning up glass and making baskets on the offence. The Rattlers hit the Century mark with 3 minutes on the clock and looked to add more. The teams continued to score as the clock wound down. The result confirmed, only the score remained a mystery. With the final horn sounding the Rattlers won 108-61.
The ACAC Player of the game:
AMB: Josh Daniel
MHC: Kieron Burgess