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Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference "To be Canada's premiere collegiate athletic conference by developing and inspiring leadership through excellence in academics, sport and citizenship"
Posted: Oct 20, 2023

Briercrest Opens Season With Strong Performance

Video Box Score
Game Leaders
OC
Pts: Gurech Gurech - 17
Reb: Gurech Gurech - 12
Ast: Gurech Gurech - 5
BC
Pts: Riley Seaborn - 23
Reb: 3 Players (#3, #6, #21) - 9
Ast: Francis Dogani - 4
Team Stats
Full stats

By Jeff Misener

The Briercrest Clippers opened their 2023-24 campaign in men's basketball with a tilt against the Olds Broncos. The Clippers received contributions from old and new players as ably defended their home court, scoring an 88-82 victory.

Riley Seaborn and freshman Asher Elstad opened the Clippers' scoring with wing threes, while big man Zach Martens converted at the rim. Olds found their joy in the paint, highlighted by Isaiah White's baby hook and Gurech Gurech's smooth teardrop. A slick layup from Briercrest newcomer Francis Dogani and clean triples from Kaedyn Banilevic and rookie Owen Shepherd-Hills propelled the hosts to a healthy lead, only to have the Broncos tighten the screws on defense and discover their offensive rhythm.

After a stretch of sluggish play, Dogani's pure trey and a thunderous slam from Martens ignited the Clippers. White and Gurech carried the offensive load for the visitors, but Elstad and Seaborn kept the hosts in front. Olds made an urgent push near halftime to make it a one possession game.

Out of the break, Olds' Logan Bennett splashed a baseline three, but Seaborn answered with a pair from distance. Bennett's second bomb was annulled by a Corbin Gengenbach layup and Marten's second dunk. Olds mounted an attack in the paint and snatched several offensive boards, but Shepherd-Hills hit a fistful of shots to steady the Clippers.

Down the stretch, Seaborn and Bennett traded offensive blows, Shepherd-Hills continued his assault on the rim, and Elstad knocked down an open baseline triple. Gurech found an opening to the hoop, but Dogani replied with a jumper and layup. Olds made it a one score game, courtesy of Nathan Akade, Bennett, and Alonzo Tam, but two costly turnovers and a foul by the Broncos in the dying seconds allowed the hosts to seal the win.

Riley Seaborn led all scorers with 23 points and added nine boards to earn Player of the Game selection for Briercrest. Newcomers Asher Elstad and Francis Dogani poured in 19 and 17 points, respectively. Gurech Gurech led Olds College with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, while Logan Bennett overcame early foul trouble to add 15 points.