Day: 1 NAIT Ooks vs Lethbridge College Kodiaks play Game 3 of the 2020 ACAC Men’s Basketball Championships

Following the two afternoon championship games, the NAIT Ooks and the Lethbridge Kodiaks start off the evening pumped up and ready to go! The first quarter starts off with the Ooks taking possession of the ball and hitting a few baskets right off the bat. The Kodiaks regaining momentum take possession and catch up to the Ooks tying the first half of the 1st quarter 17-17. Both teams take the lead of the score neck-in-neck with each other, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. Three pointers seem to be the main theme of this game for both teams, especially into the last minute of the first quarter when the Ooks shot three 3's where they took the lead 30-21. 

After a quick timeout partway into the second quarter, the Kodiaks refocused, challenging the Ooks defensive zone to bear down. The Kodiaks bounced back with a few remarkable 3's tying up the score 40-40. Still the score remains neck-in-neck between the two teams with Ooks remaining in the lead 50-48 at halftime. 

Entering into the third quarter, both teams remained strong defensively and played strategically in the offensive zones. With a quick time out at the halfway mark of the third, the score remained close between both teams, sitting at a tie 65-65. At the end of the third quarter, the Kodiaks took a 1-point lead ahead of the Ooks 77-76. 

The final quarter of the game was nothing short of nerve racking with how close the score had been throughout the whole game. There was no determining which team was stronger and who would get the win because both teams held their momentum and played smart. With a quick time out half way through the fourth quarter, the Kodiaks held their lead 88-82. With only minutes left of the game, the Ooks bounced back and tied up the score 88-88. Down to only a minute left, the Ooks took possession of the scoreboard, 100-90 causing the Kodiaks to call a timeout. With fans sitting on the edge of their seats, the Ooks held a strong defensive zone holding their lead and finishing the game with a final score of 104-92. 

The 2020 ACAC Men's Basketball Championship Player of the Game presented by Kate and her son Riley Sambey on behalf of Cargill, was awarded to Ooks player, #23 Sean-Michael Calncey and Kodiaks player, #3 Chase Bohne.