Keyano stays perfect in Medicine Hat
The Undefeated Keyano Huskies headed into the Snake Pit in Medicine Hat to take on the Rattlers. Forcing an early turnover, the Rattlers struck first scoring inside. Keyano came back down to answer with a 3. A second Rattler basket and another Keyano 3 saw the visitors up 2, 6-4. The Rattlers responded with a 3 of their own and another stop. The Rattlers struck again and opened up a 9-6 lead. Keyano made 2 free throws and trailed by one. Another Huskies 3 saw them re-take their lead only to be answered by the Rattlers tying it at 11. With the teams trading scores again, the game remained tied and the Rattlers took a timeout with 4 minutes on the clock. The Rattlers scored 5 quick points and opened up an 18-13 lead with just over 2 minutes on the clock. With the Huskies going on a 7-2 run in the last 2 minutes saw them tie the game at 20.
The second quarter opened with a miss on both ends. The Huskies struck first making a layup and getting to the line for the 3 point play. The Rattlers responded with a quick jumper but the Huskies came right back with another 3 pointer. The Huskies added to their lead going up 28-24. Another 3 pointer extended the Keyano advantage as the Rattlers continued to look inside for scoring. The Rattlers added a 3 of their own into the mix and closed the Husky lead to 2. The Rattlers got the ball back on a Husky miss and tied it at 31 before making a steal and taking the lead. Adding another fast break basket, the Rattlers extended their lead to 4. The Huskies hit a 3 and added another quick bucket to take the lead 38-37 late in the half. Adding a single from the stripe the Huskies were building momentum late. Quickly back down off a turnover, the Huskies made another basket making the lead 4. At the half the Huskies led 41-37 in a very competitive game.
The second half started with the Huskies drilling a 3 to start. Coming away with a quick steal as well the Huskies looked to push adding another quick basket. The Rattlers finally answered with 2 of their own. From here the defence on both ends clamped down not allowing anything significant. With 5:09 on the clock the Rattlers took a timeout down 41-54. The Huskies had very slowly expanded their edge as the Rattlers went cold on offence to start the half. Playing very aggressive D the Huskies were creating more chances for themselves, causing turnovers and forcing the Rattlers to take low percentage shots. This allowed them to add 5 more to their total, making it 59-41. The Rattlers had a player foul out with 2:50 left in the third but came back down to score 2 straight. Keyano again started to push late in the quarter. Up 68-44 with a minute on the clock, the Huskies ran the floor and dunked a breakaway. The Rattlers scored late and made the score 70-46 at the break.
The fourth opened up with the Huskies again coming out aggressive. They looked for steals and quick baskets in transition. But the Rattlers looked to match. The back and forth play continued with both teams struggling to make baskets through the beginning of the quarter. The Rattlers turned to the 3 in an attempt to make back ground, but were coming up empty. The Huskies pulled further away, going up 89-57 with 2 minutes left. The benches came on with the game all but over and the final ended 90-59 for Keyano.