Lightning edge Rustlers to advance to second-straight Gold Medal game
Fort McMurray, Alta. (March 1, 2024) - Lakeland College Rustlers 82 St. Mary's University Lightning 87
The St. Mary's University Lightning will play in the Gold Medal Game of ACAC Men's Basketball for a second-straight year after defeating the Lakeland College Rustlers 87-82 in the semifinal of the 2024 ACAC Men's Basketball Final Four at the Syncrude Fort McMurray, Alta. Friday night.
"I'm pretty excited," Lightning Head Coach Nathan Ruff said. "It's where we wanted to be. It's the progression that we talked about for this program after last year and years ago.
"I'm happy with that. I'm proud of where we are here and I just want to continue to keep getting better each night."
The game story was one of peaks and valleys for each side, working to maximize the former and minimize the latter. A 28-24 first quarter in favour of the Lightning indicated that as both teams took the lead on the strength of hitting four three-point shots each. However, the Lightning won the battle at the free throw line to take the four-point lead.
The second quarter was the Rustlers' chance to respond as Bahaeddin Salma knocked down four of his 11 field goals in the quarter. ACAC South Division Player of the Year Caleb Jipp responded with six points of his own in the quarter, part of a 29-point performance, but the Rustlers still managed to close the cap to one at the half.
Coming out of the locker room at the half, the Rustlers took charge with a 23-18 quarter on the strength of nine points from Andre McFadden and seven more from Salma. Despite the four-point deficit, Ruff and his squad were unfazed.
"Ultimately it was just to calm down and get back to how we play the game and who we are; to play with our pace and our energy and excitement and we responded really well," Ruff said of the message to his squad with Lakeland pressing to take a stranglehold in the game.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Lightning, specifically Jipp and Brock Dewsbery, who combined for 19 points in the quarter as the top team in the south stormed back with a 24-15 fourth quarter to take the win.
"He's a class act superstar," Ruff said of Dewsbery. "He knows how to finish a game, knows how to rally his guys around him and he is fabulous at hitting big-time shots."
The Lightning finished the game shooting 43.6% (34-for-78) from the field, including 32% (8-for-25) three-point shots. They made 11 of 21 attempted free throws in the contest.
Providing a strong challenge, the Rustlers shot 43.8% (32-for-73) from the field, making 31% (9-for-29) of their three-point shots. They made good on 75% (9-for-12) free throws.
The Lightning will advance to the ACAC Men's Basketball Gold Medal Game Saturday at 6:00pm at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre in Fort McMurray, Alta.
Players of the Game:
Lakeland Rustlers | #9 Bahaeddin Salma
St. Mary's University Lightning | #7 Brock Dewsbery