Broncos drop second straight to Rattlers

Though they fought hard in the second half, on Saturday afternoon the Olds College Broncos (4-5) dropped their second straight contest to the second place Medicine Hat College Rattlers (8-2) by the score of 89-79. 

Samuel Willis III and Dyson Surmik both played good games for the Broncos, scoring 17 and 18 points respectively. Linden Jackson also scored 18, shooting 7-12 from the floor. 

Meanwhile it was the Rattlers bench that did a lot of damage to the Broncos, specifically Vince Munoz who scored 16 points in just 17 minutes of action. 

The Broncos started the contest off in more control than the previous evening, generating scoring from four different players in the early stages of the game to keep the contest close.

The Rattlers shooting though was as hot as it was the night before, shooting 10-18 from the floor as a team in the first quarter to take a 28-17 lead into the second.

The Rattlers did a nice job spreading the floor, with seven players contributing for points by the mid-point of the second quarter, leading 32-20 as Mike Stevens called for a Broncos timeout.

The Broncos would tighten up on defense from there, getting a few key stops and defensive rebounds, transitioning well down the floor as Samuel Willis III contributed with lay-ups on back-to-back drives to get the Broncos within eight.

However, late in the half Aaron Cameron would nail a three-pointer, followed by a Vince Munoz jumper to put the Rattlers up 45-33 going into the second half.

The Broncos picked up their defensive game in the third quarter, forcing steals and transitioning well to pick up points off the turnovers. Off a Rattlers missed shot midway through the quarter Willis sent a dime of a pass to Linden Jackson who converted a three-pointer to get the Broncos within ten points as the Rattlers called a timeout.  After the third quarter the Rattlers led 67-55.

Early in the final quarter Willis III made his second three pointer of the game to get the Broncos within seven points, nine after two Osato Obaseki free throws. A Linden Jackson jumper would make the score 71-64 with five minutes remaining.

Abe Murray and Paulo Soto-Parente would score on back to back possessions before Josh Magpantay drilled a three pointer, making the score 78-71.

Stephen Jones would make a clutch layup on the next drive, and would add a free throw to put the Rattlers up 81-73 with a minute left, icing the game for all intents and purposes.