Kings hold on for weekend sweep of Broncos

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings held on late to defeat the Olds College Broncos 85-77 at the Ralph Klein Centre on Saturday, completing a sweep of the weekend home-and-home between the two sides.

Eduardo Crespo was dominant for the Kings (11-7), earning Player of the Game honours with 29 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, while Jose Mauro Barrozo Junior added 17 points and 12 rebounds and Bernardo Moller posted 14 points and three rebounds off the bench.

The Broncos (3-15) were led by Player of the Game Keunte Howard with 23 points, eight assists and four rebounds, while Artemus Rapada added 21 points; Austin Nzige-Nyambok added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The two teams was evenly matched throughout; the Broncos emerged from the first quarter with a 19-13 lead. The second quarter saw the Kings claw back slowly, eventually taking a 43-38 lead into halftime. Red Deer continued to extend its lead in the third, getting it up to 13 midway through the frame, though the Broncos closed the gap to 66-59; the fourth saw the Broncos get to within three late, but they would get no closer.

Both teams will hit the road next weekend, with the Kings battling the NAIT Ooks while the Broncos travel to Grande Prairie to play the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves; both matchups will begin at 8 p.m. on Friday.