11/06/2011 - For a long time the nickname of Westwood Community High School gymnasium was “The Abyss.”

That is what the Keyano College Huskies men’s and women’s basketball teams found themselves in yesterday when they hosted the Medicine Hat Rattlers in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference regular season play.

Usually the Huskies play all home games at the Syncrude Sports & Wellness Centre but had to find a new court due to the fact that Keyano was hosting its annual fundraising gala.

Unfortunately there was no festive celebrations for the Huskies as the men los 91-83 and the women 86-68.

Rattlers rained three-pointers in the first half of the women’s contest dropping an incredible seven for 12 from downtown to secure a 44-33 advantage. A first half that saw Huskies rookie sensation Nicolle McKenzie drop in 18 points, grab six rebounds and block three shots.

“Coming out we knew they would be shooting threes and we defended them well but they came out banging,” said Huskies coach Dwayne Vigilance. “They were just hitting their shots.”

The Rattlers changed their defence in the second half, collapsing on McKenzie or denying her the ball and holding her to six points.

“We knew they would come out and double team her (McKenzie),” said Vigilance. “We worked on that with her giving the ball back to the girls that was open but we just could not finish.”

McKenzie finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks. Jeylane Dubielew added 15 points and point guard Vanessa Wideman had six assists.

Vigilance’s squad has five players not in uniform due to injury which leaves him with three subs: “It may be a blessing in disguise to only have eight or possibly nine players as it gives the younger players more playing time as they have to step up.”

Tianna Holt led a balance Rattlers attack with 18 points.

Huskies are now 2-4.

Huskies men led the game majority of the 40 minutes until some hot shooting from the outside gave  the Rattlers the lead on a Tyrell Samuels three pointer late in the fourth quarter.

“We didn’t do a good job managing the game…especially in the last three minutes….and we did some uncharacteristic things on defence and we didn’t take good shots on offence,” said head coach Mike Connolly. “We have to learn from this and move on.”

The third quarter was highlighted by the windexing of the glass by Huskies Demaine Nelson who had nine boards and 14 points in 21 minutes on the hardwood….shooting an impressive eight for 10 from the free throw line.

“He rebounded well and became a presence on the floor,” said Connolly.

Huskies’ Zach Waldher who had 18 at the half, finished with a game high 25 points.

Samuels led the Rattlers with 21 points and Jamar Coke with 20.

Huskies are now 3-3.

Huskies next games are at home Nov 18 vs. Lethbridge Kodiaks and Nov 19 vs Mount Royal Cougars.

11/05/2011 - The question entering last night’s game between the host Keyano Huskies and Briercrest Clippers in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference play was the status of Huskies star rookie Nicholle McKenzie.

McKenize, averaging 19 points and nine rebounds coming into the game, had tweaked her knee the previous week in an overtime loss to the host NAIT Ooks.

Her knee appeared fine, instead it was foul trouble that sent her to the bench two minutes into the third with her team leading 32-24.

Veteran Vanessa Wideman took over the scoring load with two quick steals and sub sequential lay-ups and added  a three-pointer within a five minutes span to hold the lead, Huskies winning 68-57.

Wideman scored a game high 17 points while McKenize and Cassandra Gilmore had 14.

Huskies were limited to eight players with five out with injuries.

Gilmore had the highlight play of the evening at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre following up on her missed three-point attempt to get the offensive rebound and put back for two points.

Valerie Robinson had 14 points for the Clippers.

Huskies now stand at 2-3 and host the Medicine Hat Rattlers at 6 p.m. today at Westwood Community High School.

Vanessa Wideman showed leadership in last nights 68-57 win.

Photo by Erwin Kuhr

By Trevor Howlett, Fort McMurray TODAY

11/04/2011 - The Keyano Huskies basketball teams are playing back-to-back games again this weekend, but with a slightly different twist: this time, they will take on two different opponents with two different playing styles.

The women's team are up first, playing 6 p.m. tonight and Saturday, first against Briercrest Clippers and Saturday against the Medicine Hat Rattlers. The team's approach right now is just to worry about one game at a time.

"It's a difficult thing to try to prepare for. Right now we're just concentrating on the Briercrest game because that's the game we can win if we come out and we play well," said women's coach Dwayne Vigilance.

"All our concentration right now is for that game. We'll have adjustments obviously for Saturday, a different team, a much better team. Medicine Hat is a lot like NAIT, but right now we'll worry about the first game."

10/30/2011 - Anytime you shoot nine for 50 from the field you are not going to win basketball  games.

Anytime you lose a star player, change will put you in a temporary offensive hiatus.

Such was the case for the Keyano Huskies women’s basketball team after losing rookie sensation Nicholle McKenzie to a knee injury Friday against the host NAIT Ooks in Edmonton.

“We were up 12 at one time and near the end of regulation she (McKenzie) hurt her knee,” recalled Huskies coach Dwayne Vigilance of the eventual 74-67 overtime loss in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference play.

The following day, Saturday, the Huskies, without  McKenzie , lost 81-31 behind their poor shooting performance as mentioned at the start.

“Without her (McKenzie) inside presence being able to block shots or change shots, it has affected the team,” admits Vigilance pertaining to the 6-foot pivot from Ajax, Ontario. “She also gives us a lot with 16 to 20 points a game and 10 to 12 rebounds.

“We had to change our game plan for Saturday and the girls….we are a young team…had to regain their confidence.”

The status of McKenzie is unknown at this time.

Huskies Samantha Connolly was top scorer yesterday with 10 points. Game stats from Friday were unavailable.

Huskies return to the hardwood hosting the Briercrest Clippers Nov 4 and the Medicine Hat Rattlers Nov-5 at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre.

Keyano Huskies rookie sensation Nicholle McKenzie sat out Saturday's ACAC contest