Strong second half lifts Kings Basketball over Kodiaks

Brent Forster – Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics

Red Deer, AB – The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings got better as the game progressed.

The Kings erased a five point deficit at the half and defeated the visiting Lethbridge College Kodiaks 90-83 to open the 2021/2022 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Basketball season.

"I thought it was a hard fought battle," said Darren Graham, Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Basketball Head Coach. "Lethbridge is an excellent offensive team. They run the ball. They push the ball."

At the half, the Kodiaks held a 45-40 edge. Toronto's Tyronn King led Red Deer Polytechnic with 16 points. Orin Porter was the spark for the Kodiaks, contributing 10 points over 20 minutes.

From the field, Lethbridge College was 44 per cent efficient over two quarters. Red Deer Polytechnic hit 39 per cent of its shots from the field.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings' offence ignited in the second half with 50 points. They also held the visitors to 38 points and sealed a 90-83 victory.

Crespo (12)

Kings six-foot-three forward Eduardo Crespo was part of that second half surge. The first-year from Brazil drove the lane effectively and scored 11 of his 14 points in the latter half.

"Eduardo got some key buckets down the stretch that gave us a little margin of error at the end," said Graham.

Kirklan Hall played 28 minutes for RDP to kick off his ACAC Basketball career. He not only defended well, but the Justice Studies student from Rocky Mountain House contributed seven points and three rebounds.  

"Despite giving up over 80 [points], I thought our defence was good. Orin Porter, a fifth-year guard out of the States, he's one of the best players in the conference," said Graham. "Our first-year Kirklan Hall D'd him up really well. Our team rotated and played team defence behind him really, really well."

Six-foot-five Hochhausen (23)

Brett Hochhausen and Antonio Benjamin had eight points apiece for Red Deer Polytechnic. Payton Baltzer scored seven.

Graham appreciated the Kings' ability to take advantage of their offensive looks.

"Offensively, when they applied pressure we just moved the ball really well," said Graham. "We got good shots and we looked to attack all the time. We were aggressive and took the right shots. We played as a team."

Six-foot-one King (5)

Tyronn King was named the North Star Sports Kings Player of the Game. The Legal Assistant student recorded 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

"I liked Ty's attack mentality. He's not scared of any moment, defence, or spotlight," said Graham. "Whether it was the first or fourth quarter, Ty was always a threat when he had the ball."

Orin Porter received the top player recognition for the Kodiaks, accumulating 23 points, four rebounds, one steal and a block over 34 minutes played.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings' field goal efficiency rose to 47.9 per cent over four quarters. Lethbridge College's dropped from the first half to 38 per cent over 40 minutes.

On Sunday, November 14, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings (1-0) will challenge the Kodiaks (0-1) on the road at 3 pm.

Six-foot-seven Benjamin (15)