By Austin Driedger

October 26 marked the 2012-13 season home opener for the Briercrest College men’s basketball team. A large turnout of fans along with loud cheering from the Briercrest students created a lively atmosphere, as always. Quick points from James Wohlgeshaffen and Gradyn Childerhose brought pressure on the visiting Lakeland College Rustler, forcing Lakeland to call a timeout after five minutes of play, with Briercrest leading 14-11. Great play came from Matt Myers in the first quarter scoring six points as well as taking a charge on defence. Childerhose finished the quarter with ten points to help Briecrest build a 25-19 lead.

Briercrest did not slow down the pace in the second quarter scoring a quick 12 points with fast break finishes from both Kenny Boese and Wohlgeshaffen, along with tough scoring down low from Gradyn, forcing the Rustlers to call a timeout again with the score at 37-27 in favour of Briercrest. Briercrest continued with hard work and strong rebounding and outside shots from Myers. Wohlgeshaffen kept the fast pace going with an out of bounds save of the ball to Lucas Mannes for the easy lay in down low. Great rebounding efforts from Myers and Childerhose provided second chance opportunities for the team. Gradyn Childerhose finished the half with 16 points pacing Brieercrest to a 49-45 lead at the half.
The second half started with a three pointer by Matt Myers to lead it off, followed by a put back from Childerhose to add another two points. More extra effort plays from Wohlgeschaffen who saved a ball going out of bounds that led to a quick pass to Boese who hit a three pointer. Immediately after, followed a fast break layup from Kenny Boese along with a three pointer, with Boese getting eight points in a row. Briecrest alumni Habib Habib, now playing for Lakeland, drove the hoop getting fouled, hitting the lay up as well as the free throw afterward. Mannes, a rookie on the team, was fouled on a three-point attempt and made two out of three free throws as a result. The third quarter finished at 75-70 for Briercrest.

Fourth quarter brought a comeback from Lakeland with the score being within three points back and forth nearly the entire quarter. With 34 seconds left in the game, Briercrest coach Rod Adrian called a timeout with the score at 92-91 in favour of the Briercrest Clippers. After the timeout, the Rustlers were not able to make any more shots, and Wohlgeshaffen put in two free throws for Briercrest with the final score being a nail-biter at 94-91.

Player of the game for Lakeland Rustlers was Camil Brown with 22 points, one rebound, six assists and three steals. For the Briercrest Clippers the player of the games was Gradyn Childerhose with a game high 29 points, eleven rebounds, one assist and two steals. Other notable numbers: Kenny Boese – 25 pts. Matt Myers – 19 pts. James Wohlgeschaffen – 14 pts.

"Solid first win of the regular season," said coach Rod Adrian. "Up tempo action kept Lakeland on their heels as we scored fast break points which elevated our shooting percentage as a team to 54% from the field."

The next home game for the Briercrest men’s basketball team is October 27 at 8:00pm versus the University of Alberta, Augustana Vikings.

For highlights of the game go to: http://youtu.be/piE77GNltfo