Getting a win was almost a reality for the St. Augustine Kings senior basketball team who played against the Rimbey Spartans Monday, Feb. 23.
The Kings were behind at the end of the first half but a burst of energy and calls that went their way helped them rebound from a 10-point deficit to tie up the game 46-46 at the end of the third quarter.
The home crowd was excited and the team was rejuvenated, especially after a big three point shot before the quarter ended.
“The five guys on the floor, they were just going. It seemed like they were just in sync and playing 100 per cent both ways in defense and offense,” said coach Adam Bowie.
All that changed after the third quarter break and Rimbey players regained their composure and took the lead.
Much of the last quarter was spent with the Kings losing focus of the game. Their attempts to sink three-pointers did not work and rather than adjust their play to get closer to the basket, they continued on that course, eventually losing points due to unnecessary turnovers. The Kings ended up losing 57-70.
“I think more in the fourth quarter, a couple of people were on board and there was a couple people not quite on board,” said Bowie, of the players’ performance.
“They’re (Rimbey) going to go to playoffs and we’re not, which kind of shows us where we should be instead of where we are,” he added.
Queens
As for the girls, the match against the Spartans proved to be a tough and physical game. The majority of ball possession was held by Rimbey with the Spartans forcing the Queens to commit errors.
There were times Ponoka could not even get a chance to score and as a result it was 9-2 for Rimbey at the end of the first quarter. Their only saving grace was that the Spartans had a hard time sinking baskets despite taking control of the game.
They seemed to be everywhere at once and their full-court press was a major challenge for the Queens, who managed to sink a few baskets by the end of the first half, which ended 24-10 for Rimbey. Had the Spartans completed more shots the score deficit would have been even greater.
The Queens lost 56-35.