Lightning take rematch over Kings as graduating student-athletes recognized

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB – The Red Deer College Kings were within a point of the St. Mary's University Lightning at the half. Some good plays mixed with inconsistencies in the second half allowed the visitors to score 48 points, pushing the Lightning to an 11 point decision (92-81).

"I thought the guys played decent. I thought our defence was good in the first half," said Kings Head Coach Darren Graham. "It wasn't enough to get the win in the second half. We moved the ball okay in the first half. We didn't move the ball efficiently enough to get high percentage shots in the second half."

Szymanek (11) had nine points and eight rebounds

The St. Mary's University Lightning had a 44-43 edge at the half.

Spencer Klassen led the Kings with 14 points at the break.

Over two quarters, Caleb Jipp and Ryan Morck had 12 each for the Lightning.

St. Mary's outscored RDC by seven (27-20) in the third and by three (21-18) in the fourth, finalizing a 92-81 road decision.

"Maybe last night's win took a little energy out of us and we didn't really bring it to the best of our abilities tonight," said Graham.

Spencer Klassen was selected the Collegiate Sports Medicine Kings Player-of-the-Game The fifth-year accumulated 24 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals in his final regular season contest at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

Harper (4)

RDC's Tyronn King had a double-double (17 points and ten rebounds). Ramiro Martinez Quintanilla Jimenez finished with 13 points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. Andrew Cunningham scored five points and Anthony Harper added three.

Kevin Hammer picked up the top player award for the Lightning, totaling 15 points, three rebounds and one block. Jordan Britton sank 19 points and Caleb Jipp added 18 for the Lightning.

The visitors won the battle on the boards (57-48).

The RDC Kings shot 38.6 per cent from the field. The Lightning were 40.5 per cent effective.

The Kings (10-11) and Lightning (10-11) finished even in the standings with 20 points, although the Kings won the season series 2-1. The RDC Kings will grab the fourth and final playoff spot in the south. 

Graduating Kings

Spencer Klassen, Ramiro Martinez Quintanilla Jimenez, Anthony Harper and Andrew Cunningham played their final regular season game in a Kings uniform.

"Part of the legacy and tradition of the Kings is that blue collar mentality. Guys that come here work really hard. They work on their game. They got better each year. Spencer started as a red shirt and apexed as one of the premier scorers in the whole league. Born and bred here in Red Deer," said Graham.

"Ramiro and Anthony brought their skills from Spain and the USA. They kept refining their games to the point of becoming elite scorers and defenders in the league. Andrew is really smart guy, a local kid out of Lacombe. The fact that he's continuing his education in medicine shows his IQ and he brought that IQ and his work ethic to the court to help our program for the last two years."

Harper, Klassen, Jimenez, Cunningham and Coach Graham