Lions shade Kings at Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB - The RDC Kings held a ten point lead at half and despite a 32 performance from Spencer Klassen, the Lions crawled back into the game and edged the Kings 78-75 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. 

After a 23-13 Kings' lead at the end of the first quarter, back-to-back three-pointers from Spencer Klassen and a bucket from Anthony Harper helped RDC maintain that margin at the half. (43-33). 

The Lions' offence started to kick into another gear in the second half, scoring 45 points. The Kings responded with 32 and Ambrose University picked up a 78-75 road win. 

Clayton Pottinger, Kings Head Coach, saw several good things from his team for the majority of the contest but clock management was a factor late. "We were able to maintain a lead and control the game for three quarters," he says. "It's not a position that these guys are used to - playing with a lead, defending, managing the clock and those sorts of things. We didn't do a great job of that."

Spencer Klassen was deservedly named the Kings Player-of-the-Game, totaling 32 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block. Josh Daniel received the award for the Lions, stacking up 24 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. 

Spencer Klassen (21)  Picture - Tony Hansen

"Spencer was consistently showing leadership that we desperately needed," says Pottinger. "He was able to provide offence when we needed. As much as you like an individual performance, if we don't perform well as a group it doesn't matter."

Payton Baltzer (8) Colby Brochu Photography

Khurram Sultan scored 12 points in 33 minutes. Kevin Szymanek had 8 points and 7 boards. First-year Payton Baltzer played 8 minutes, adding a couple of points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 steal. 

Several Kings watched from the sidelines due to injuries and RDC only had three student-athletes on the bench. "We still have Cody White out with a concussion. Ramiro Martinez Quintanilla Jimenez, who we could have used tonight, is out with a really bad ankle sprain from the SAIT game. Andrew Cunningham is out with a torn ACL. It makes practice interesting when you're down to eight, maybe nine bodies."

On Saturday, November 24, the Red Deer College Kings (4-3) will take on the Kodiaks (4-3) in Lethbridge at 8:00 p.m.