Rustlers Basketball Gaining Momentum

The Rustlers Basketball teams played a rare Thursday/Friday series this past week against two different opponents.

Thursday night the teams traveled to Edmonton to compete against the Kings University Eagles followed up with a home game night against the Concordia Thunder on Friday night.

The Rustler Women started Thursday night off against the Eagles building a 25 – 11 lead after the first quarter and increasing it to 49 – 23 at the half.  When the final whistle blew to end the game the Rustlers added another victory to the win column defeating the Eagles 76 – 55.  Sarah Ducuycuy had a solid game for the Rustlers dropping in 10 points and pulling down 5 rebounds for the Rustlers and veteran Tori Dugan added 22 points to lead all Rustler scorers.

Friday night at home against the Thunder the visiting team came out firing on all cylinders building a 19 – 11 lead after the first quarter, but the Rustlers regrouped in the second and went into the dressing room at the half with a 33 – 30 lead.  The Rustlers outscored the Thunder in the next 2 quarters on their way to a 66 – 56 victory.  Player of the Game Hailey Somers turned in a great performance for the Rustlers contributing 17 points and corralling 10 rebounds for the Rustlers.

The Rustlers men started strong Thursday night against the Eagles and did not look back on the way to the victory.  The men built a 19 point lead at the half on their way to an 80 – 65 victory.

Jean Baptiste Otshudi lead all Rustler scorers with 17 points and Artavis Holiday and Michael Shelast led on the defensive side pulling in 10 rebounds each.

Friday night at home against the Thunder the Rustlers once again jumped out to a solid start building a 43 – 28 lead at the half on their way to a 102 – 67 victory.  Player of the Game Michael Shelast performed well for the second night in a row contributing 17 points and added  11 rebounds for the victory while Shaquai Manswell led all Rustler scorers with 27 points.  The men are sitting in third spot in the north and poised to host at least one playoff game in March

The basketball teams will be making up some games over the next couple of weeks.  The men will head to Edmonton on  Tuesday to challenge the NAIT Ooks for the first time this year.  On Friday both teams will be heading to Augustana to take on the Vikings and then host NAIT on Saturday.