Rustlers guard/forward Andre McFadden shows some grit on Saturday night at the Lakeland gym as the Rustlers defeated the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves 74-70, advancing them to the ACAC final four at Keyano College this weekend. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source Photos
A major win is always better on home-court hardwood.
It was all cheers for the Lakeland College Rustlers men’s basketball team after a tight 74-70 win over the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves on Saturday night, advancing them to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) final four.
The ACAC finals will be played this weekend at Keyano College with the Rustlers first facing the St. Mary’s University Lightning tomorrow at 6 p.m.
The gold medal game will be played at 6 p.m. on Saturday with the bronze-medal game being played at 3 p.m.
Currently sitting second in the ACAC standings with a 12-8 record, the Rustlers have 24 points for the season, have scored 1,651 points and allowing 1,593.
Rustlers men’s basketball head coach Sheray Thomas gives the boys some guidance on Saturday night at the Lakeland gym as the Rustlers beat the NWP Wolves to advance to the final four.
Saturday’s team effort saw Rustlers guard/forward Andre McFadden rack up 22 points, making three of four three-point attempts in 31 minutes on the court.
Chance Samuel played 21 minutes and made seven of eight field-goal attempts, earning himself 13 points for the night.
Samuel was closely followed in points by teammate Bahaeddin Salma, who totalled 12 points in 36 minutes of play.
Rustlers guard Bahaeddin Salma drives the net on Saturday as the Rustlers beat the Wolves 74-70 in ACAC playoff action.
“It was do or die on Saturday, and we’ve had a few close games like that,” said head coach Sheray Thomas.
“Credit to NWP, they made some tough shots and made it really close at the end.”
With St. Mary’s being the overall number-one seed in the ACAC and third in the country, Thomas knows the boys have their work cut out for them this Friday, but he’s confident in their ability.
“St. Mary’s is a senior-led team and I believe they have the two leading scorers in the ACAC,” he said. “We have a tall task ahead of us, especially on the defensive end.”
