Slow start costs Basketball Kings at home

Brent Forster - RDC

Friday evening, the Red Deer College Kings Basketball team hit the hardwood against the Ambrose University Lions at RDC, and it was a tale of two different halves. After the Kings fell behind in the first half they tried to climb back into the game in the latter half, but the deficit was too large and the Lions picked up the road win. The Lions outscored the Kings 65-34 in the opening half. The RDC Kings picked up 53 second half points while the Ambrose University Lions scored 41 points, and the Lions won 106-87.

The Lions were ready to play from the opening tip-off and outscored the Kings 29-14 in the first quarter. Darien Valdes led the RDC Kings with 5 points in the quarter, while Josh Daniel scored 12 points for Ambrose University. 

In the second quarter, Ambrose University added 36 points while Red Deer College responded with 20, and at the half the Lions held a 65-34 edge. Omon Edobar contributed 5 points and 2 rebounds for RDC in the second quarter. Marcus Harris chipped in with 12 points for the Lions. 

The Kings started to show signs in the third quarter of their capabilities. RDC outscored Ambrose University 25-20 in the quarter. Omon Edobar stacked up 7 points, 1 assist and 1 rebound for the Kings. Josh Daniel led the Lions with 7 points.

In the fourth quarter, the RDC Kings added 28 points while the Ambrose University Lions put up 21. Omon Edobar led the Kings with 9 points. The first-year guard from Calgary added 1 rebound. Marcus Harris and Blake Seebach scored 6 points each for the Lions in the fourth quarter. At the final buzzer, the Ambrose University Lions won 106-87.

Omon Edobar was chosen as the player-of-the-game for the Kings while Josh Daniel received the honour for the Lions. Edobar recorded 23 points, 1 steal, 2 assists and 7 rebounds. Daniel finished with 30 points, 3 steals, 4 assists and 2 rebounds. As a team, the Kings picked up 44 rebounds and 16 steals.

RDC Kings Basketball Head Coach Clayton Pottinger was not pleased with the start and effort over four quarters. "It looked like we didn't come to play and we saw that early," said Pottinger. "Finally, when we woke up in the second half we had already dug ourselves too big of a hole." 

Pottinger would like to see a consistent effort on Saturday against the Kodiaks. "I'd like to see us play a complete game. That's what it would boil down to. If we can play our game for four quarters, we can compete with anyone in the league," said Pottinger. "When we have lapses where we don't play well, don't communicate and don't execute then it is a tough situation. Tomorrow, we need to do a better job defending, taking care of the basketball and staying engaged mentally, then we will see a better basketball game." 

The Red Deer College Kings (2-3) will host the Lethbridge College Kodiaks (4-1) on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. in the RDC Main Gym.