Briercrest Defeats Red Deer in Thriller

By Jeff Misener

The Briercrest Clippers (9-7) looked to record a second upset win over the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (15-2) in ACAC women's basketball action on Saturday. The Clippers withstood a furious comeback effort from Red Deer to steal a 67-66 win.

Red Deer raced to a quick lead as veteran Sandra Garcia swished a three and converted on a pair of layups, but a clean triple from Clippers' Claire Daubenfeld and inside work from Asia Wells and Hannah Matuszewski knotted the score. Although scrappy play marked much of the first quarter, Briercrest's Melissa Ellis found a way to splash a contested trey and give the hosts the first quarter lead. 

Garcia cashed in again from outside, but Briercrest's Madison Beattie and Brooklyn Martens cancelled her efforts with slashing drives to the hoop. Queens' Heena Sidhu made good on a three point play before Wells went to work in the paint. Garcia found Lauren France and Sidhu at the rim, but Martens and Wells muscled inside and Beattie coolly nailed back-to-back shots from downtown.

Garcia continued to exert strong leadership and her squad responded with passionate defensive pressure. Threes from Sidhu and Jayden Demchuk gave the hardworking visitors a brief lead that Briercrest quickly reclaimed. Garcia's short jumper at the end of the third period made it a one score game.

Red Deer's intense full court pressure forced numerous turnovers by the home team, but even as Demchuk and Sadie Jeffries rippled the twine for the Queens, the Clippers would not back down, with Wells and Hope Jordens leading the counterattack. In the game's most pressure-packed moments, Briercrest demonstrated the necessary resilience and captured the victory. 

Sandra Garcia claimed Player of the Game honours for Red Deer, leading her squad with 17 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Briercrest's Asia Wells stepped into the fray off the bench to register 17 points to go with eight boards.