Keyano hold off Rattler comeback to win Opening game

The First place in the North Keyano Huskies came into the Snake Pit to take on the Tournament Host Medicine Hat College Rattlers. Although Medicine Hat was the host they earned their playoff spot as well just one game behind the third place Kodiaks. The Game opened with the Huskies scoring on their first possession after a quick defensive stop.  The teams traded misses as the high intensity game got off to a slow start scoring wise, but both teams intensity was high. The Huskies led 2-0 three minutes into the game as the scoring had stalled. Every point was at a premium at this point in the game as neither team was scoring. The Huskies went 1 for 2 at the line and the Rattlers responded with a great play down low. With another quick inside basket from Moiyan Toure the Huskies took a 5-2 lead as the quarter passed the midway point. The Huskies scored another on a quick break as the Rattlers were snakebit on the offensive side of the ball. Adding 3 more the Huskies went up 10-2 after a 8-0 run. The Rattlers finally responded with 2 more of their own but had no answer for Toure inside. The Rattlers took a timeout down 12-4 with 2:15 on the clock. Rattler Rhiannon Were hit both  her free throws coming out of the timeout, but the Huskies once again responded right away. Medicine Hat was well behind as the clock ticked down toward the end of the quarter, down 7-14 at the break.

The Rattlers were able to score the first basket of the quarter after a defensive stop. Another stop and a basket saw the lead cut to 3, 14-11. Keyano Pressed hard and made another inside basket to go back up 5. The scoring once again stalled as the teams played tough defense and applied pressure all over the court. Medicine Hat broke the drought again cutting the lead to 3. The Huskies got to the like hitting one for 2 again and going up 4. The Huskies again got to the line quickly hitting one again and restoring the 5 point cushion. Were once again earned a trip to the line for the Rattlers only hitting one. The Huskies once again scored on a fast break going up 6, 20-14. The Rattlers again got within 3, coming back to 19-22. The intense crowd caused a 5 second violation turnover but the Rattlers couldn't take advantage. The score stayed here for a minute as the Huskies lost a player to injury Madison Gingell going down. The Huskies pulled away again late with more inside play, going up 28-19 at the half.

The Second half opened with the Rattlers getting a quick steal on defense before turning the ball right back over to the Huskies. The Huskies hit a 3 and the half was started. The Rattlers responded with 2 of their own, but still trailed by 10. The Huskies scored again and extended the lead coming up with a steal on defense. Huskie Kaleigh Sellars hit her second 3 of the half, extending the Keyano lead to 13. Another quick inside basket and the Huskies led by 15. 40-25 the score read with the Huskies holding on to control the game as the clock passed the midway point. The Rattlers scored 2 and the Huskies had to call a timeout to regroup following some sloppy play on their part. The Rattlers hit a 3 coming out of the break and cut the lead down to 10. Medicine Hat continued to chip away whittling the lead down to single digits. As the clock ticked down in the quarter the score once again stalled with neither team scoring for over a minute. At the break the Huskies led 45-34 after hitting a last second 3 from Sellars.

The 4^th quarter started with the Rattlers turning the ball over on the inbound to start the quarter. The Huskies capitalized scoring 2 and again pulling away early in the quarter. The Short benched Rattlers looked to be struggling in the 4^th quarter with the Huskies still able to run. Keyano was up 49-34 two minutes into the fourth. The Rattlers needed something to change and took a timeout down 34-51. The Timeout helped the Rattlers score a quick basket but stalled out quick with both sides exchanging fouls. Keyano Guard Joy Victor fouled out with 6 minutes left in the quarter and putting the Rattlers into Bonus. The Rattlers again turned it on in the middle of the quarter cutting the lead to 11. Getting to the line, Morgan Muir brought the Rattlers within 9 again as the clock passed the halfway point of the quarter. Muir got right back to the line hitting both and making the game 44-51. This force the Huskies to take a timeout in an effort to regroup. The Rattlers hit another coming out of the break reducing the lead to 5, before the Huskies could respond hitting 1 of 2 at the line. With 3 minutes on the clock, the Huskies led 52-46 with the Rattlers pressing. The Huskies scored again, re-taking an 8 point lead before the Rattlers could respond. Keyano hit another single at the line and again extended the lead. with 1:18 on the clock the Huskies held a sizeable lead for the time left. The Rattlers needed to cause some quick turnovers if they hoped to get back in the game. The Rattlers took a timeout with 54 seconds on the clock down 48-55. The Rattlers fouled after missing on offence and hoped for misses and quick baskets. It was too little too late as the Keyano Huskies were able to hold on and take a close victory, 56-48.

The ACAC Players of the Game were Morgan Muir for MHC and Moiyan Toure for Keyano.