Sharp shooting Jimenez leads Kings over Rattlers

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB – A strong RDC Kings' start and finish were the difference Saturday afternoon against the visiting Medicine Hat College Rattlers. The Kings knocked down 26 points in the first quarter and 29 in the fourth, capturing an 86-66 victory at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

"I thought it was really similar to yesterday's game," says Kings Head Coach Darren Graham. "We had a really good first quarter, scored a bunch of points and then a really good fourth quarter."

The Red Deer College Kings jumped out to an 11 point edge (26-15) after the opening ten minutes. The Rattlers chipped away at the deficit (22-18), but the home team led 44-37 at the break.         

RDC's Tyronn King was efficient, connecting on five-of-six from the field, one out of two from behind the arc and a perfect five-for-five from the free-throw line. Along with his 16 points, King added six boards and one assist.

King (13) played 34 minutes

David Kent-Canalejo contributed 12 points for the Rattlers.

As a group, the Kings sank 48.5 per cent of their field goal attempts. The Rattlers responded with 40.5 per cent efficiency.

The visitors took the third quarter by three points (16-13).

A Kings' 29 point fourth quarter included three triples from Ramiro Martinez Quintanilla Jimenez. Medicine Hat responded with 13 and the RDC Kings sealed an 86-66 home win.

"The catalyst in today's effort was Ramiro Martinez Quintanilla Jimenez," says Graham. "He was hitting from long range which stretches the floor and opens up gaps and lanes for other players."

Ramiro Martinez Quintanilla Jimenez was named the Collegiate Sports Medicine Kings Player-of-the-Game. The six-foot-six forward from Spain stacked up 22 points, four rebounds, two steals and one assist. He was on his game from the outside, going six-for-eight from behind the arc.

Rattlers Player-of-the-Game David Kent-Canalejo accumulated 15 points, three steals and two rebounds over 38 minutes. Teammate Kieron Burgess picked up 22 points and 15 rebounds.

Jimenez (9) and Kent-Canalejo (14)

"I thought our defence was better tonight, although there were only six points less we allowed. We did a better job adjusting and holding them off guard," says Graham. "I was impressed. It was one of their most complete games with a lull here and there in the second and third quarters." 

The RDC Kings connected on 50.8 per cent of their shots from the field. The Medicine Hat College Rattlers went 35.3 per cent.

The Kings held the advantage on the boards (46-35). Anthony Harper had ten rebounds. Tyronn King contributed seven and Brett Hochhausen finished with six.

"Another catalyst was Brett Hochhausen. He gave us some looks inside and that really helped spread the floor and open up the driving and passing lanes," says Graham. "He rebounded really well which helped us on the other end because they were kind of beating us up on the boards." 

On Friday, Feb. 7, the fourth place RDC Kings (8-7) and second seed SAIT Trojans (11-3) will clash in Calgary at 8:00 pm.

At the same time, the Medicine Hat College Rattlers (2-14) will play the Broncos (1-13) in Olds.