Weekend learning experience for Kings Basketball

With the regular season just around the corner, the Red Deer College Kings Basketball team travelled to Saskatoon to compete in the 18th annual Graham Construction Shootout Oct. 20-22, hosted by the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. The Kings played against three teams that compete within U Sports, formerly known as Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS). U Sports was launched this past Thursday.

Thursday the RDC Kings faced the University of Saskatchewan. The Huskies defeated the Kings 91-70. Shayne Stumpf contributed 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. The entire Kings team accumulated 33 rebounds and 12 assists.

The University of Calgary Dinos defeated the RDC Kings 110-62 on Friday. Shayne Stumpf and Ian Tevis led the Kings with 13 points. 

The Algoma University Thunderbirds defeated the Kings 97-69. Ian Tevis led the Kings with 26 points while playing thirty-two minutes. Tevis also added one block and one assist while going 3-for-9 from behind the three point arch.

Despite not picking up a win in the exhibition tournament, Kings Head Coach Clayton Pottinger felt the weekend was a great learning experience.

"On the weekend we had many of our deficiencies exposed," said Pottinger. "That is exactly what we were hoping for so we can go back to the drawing board and fix them. The team got more competitive as the weekend went on. It was a big learning curve and at this stage it is not all about winning. It's about the process."

The RDC Kings open the regular season at home Saturday, Oct. 29 at 8:00 p.m. against St. Mary's University.