A new Lethbridge College Kodiaks basketball season begins this weekend, as the Kodiaks host Briercrest College on Saturday.
Questions surround both the women’s and men’s teams as each has large holes to fill following notable offseason departures, but both teams feel they will be in the mix by the time the ACAC championships tip off.
Last season, the women’s team returned to the ACAC playoffs following a one season absence. However, neither of the team’s ACAC all-conference team selections – Juhee Anderson and ACAC south division rookie of the year Jocelyn Neilson – are with the Kodiaks to begin this season. That leaves plenty of minutes and opportunity for the rest of a very young, but talented roster. Simpson had a strong recruiting class that leaves the Kodiaks with nine true freshmen, and only six players with previous post-secondary playing experience.
“When your roster is more than half rookies, there's going to be some learning process on how to bring it every single night,” says Deanna Simpson, Kodiaks women’s basketball head coach. “But we have a group that will never quit and they are not satisfied with just winning by a few points. They want to control play and impose their will, and I expect they will put everything they have into every game and put themselves in a position to win every night.”
A late-season slide cost the Kodiaks men’s team a playoff spot in 2018-19, as the Kodiaks finished tied with Ambrose University for fourth place in the ACAC south division, but missed the championship tournament by a tie-breaking process. Last season, almost everything on both sides of the ball ran through the trio of Lincoln Anderson, Michael Clemons and Orin Porter Jr. Only Porter returns this season, but the Kodiaks have a strong mix of returning veterans and rookies who are expected to produce immediately.
“When you don't get to playoffs and you don't perform in playoffs, it feels like, ‘let's get next year going quickly’ and that’s where we’re at now,” says Ryan Heggie, Kodiaks men’s head coach. “I think we can play with anybody on any given night, so the goal is to get to playoffs and win in playoffs, so we can get back to nationals.”
The Kodiaks open the ACAC season at home against Briercrest on Saturday. The women’s game is at 6 p.m. and is followed by the men’s contest at 8 p.m. in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.
Admission is free to students with Lethbridge College ID cards; $10 for adults; $5 for seniors, youth and alumni; and $4 for college employees and students with University of Lethbridge ID cards.
Learn more about the Kodiaks at gokodiaks.ca and follow along all season on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. High-quality photos are available to download from the Kodiaks Flickr account.
HEAD COACH:
Deanna Simpson (third season)
ASSISTANT COACH:
Craig Price
2018-19 REGULAR SEASON:
13-8, 26 points, third in ACAC south division
oints for: 1334 (fifth in south division)
Points against: 1302 (third in south division)
2018-19 LEADERS:
PPG: Juhee Anderson (14.8), Jocelyn Neilson (10.7), Matlin McMurray (7.5)
Rebounds: Jocelyn Neilson (115), Shayna Mathison (111), Courtney Peterson (110)
Assists: Juhee Anderson (69), Matlin McMurray (50), Courtney Peterson (34)
2019 PLAYOFFS:
Lost 75-57 to Keyano College in ACAC quarterfinal
Lost 76-36 to Medicine Hat College in consolation semifinal
DID YOU KNOW?
Before joining the Kodiaks, newcomer Denajha Kie played for the College of Southern Idaho and was
a member of the United States Army.
KEY RETURNEES:
Kirsten Barwegen (third year, post, Justice Studies – Bachelor of Applied Arts, Lethbridge)
Karli McLachlan (fourth year, guard, General Studies, Lethbridge)
Matlin McMurray (third year, guard, General Studies, Cardston)
KEY ADDITIONS:
Denajha Kie (third year, guard, Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Las Vegas, Nev.)
Emily Greeno (third year, guard, Interior Design Technology, Calgary)
Natalie Hoyt (first year, guard, General Studies, Barnwell)
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Montana Berezay (first year, wing, Practical Nursing, Magrath)
Berezay spent the past two seasons playing for legendary former Kodiaks coach Brad Karren at
Magrath High School. A natural shooter, she has drawn some comparisons to former Kodiaks
national championship MVP Sunder West. Berezay has shown an enthusiasm and willingness to
learn from veterans early in her Kodiaks tenure.
SEASON OUTLOOK:
The Kodiaks start the season without both ACAC first team all-star Juhee Anderson and ACAC rookie
of the year Jocelyn Neilson. Needing to reload, head coach Deanna Simpson was able to recruit
players with previous post-secondary experience on both sides of the border who should be able to
step in and play key minutes immediately as the Kodiaks focus on returning to the playoffs for a
second-straight season.
COACH IN HER OWN WORDS:
“I expect us to make playoffs. I think our goal has to be to make playoffs. We have a young group of
talented players who, if they come together and figure out how to play basketball as a group, should
be able to make playoffs and make some noise there.”
– Deanna Simpson
LISTEN:
Deanna Simpson discusses the upcoming Kodiaks women's basketball season
HEAD COACH:
Ryan Heggie (ninth season)
ASSISTANT COACHES:
Taylor Jetten, Michael Clemons
2018-19 REGULAR SEASON:
12-9, 24 points, tied for fourth in ACAC south division
Points for: 1803 (fourth in south division)
Points against: 1670 (third in south division)
2018-19 LEADERS:
PPG: Lincoln Anderson (20.6), Orin Porter Jr. (18.8), Michael Clemons (12.1)
Rebounds: Lincoln Anderson (142)**, Orin Porter Jr. (100), Michael Clemons (86)
Assists: Michael Clemons (245)*, Orin Porter Jr. (54), Lincoln Anderson (51)
*1st in ACAC south division, **2nd in ACAC south division
2019 PLAYOFFS:
Missed playoffs due to tiebreaker
DID YOU KNOW?
Twelve of the 15 players on this year’s roster are from southwestern Alberta.
KEY RETURNEES:
Jett Stef (third year, forward, General Studies, Stirling)
Trey Bohne (second year, guard, Business Administration, Raymond)
Jackson Kasko (fourth year, guard, General Studies, Coaldale)
KEY ADDITIONS:
Tim McMahon (first year, guard, Business Administration, Magrath)
Chase Bohne (first year, guard, Business Administration, Raymond)
Brock Dewsberry (first year, guard, General Studies, Raymond)
Chris Thomson (fourth year, forward, General Studies, Chilliwack, B.C.)
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Orin Porter Jr. (fourth year, guard, Computer Information Technology, Incline Village, Nev.)
In his first ACAC season last year, Porter was a secret weapon for the Kodiaks, finishing top three on
the team in points, rebounds and assists, while leading the conference in blocked shots. This
season, the Nevada product won’t surprise anyone and will have to adjust to tighter defenses as the
focal point of the Kodiaks offense. Porter is a strong player on both ends of the court.
SEASON OUTLOOK:
Last season, the trio of Michael Clemons, Lincoln Anderson and Orin Porter Jr. led the Kodiaks in
nearly every statistical category. With only Porter returning this season, there is plenty of opportunity
for other players to step up. Freshmen Tim McMahon and Chase Bohne are rookies who are both in
their 20s, so head coach Ryan Heggie believes they are mature enough to step in and play
immediately, while fellow rookie Brock Dewsberry and Chris Thomson, who previously played for the
team in 2016-17, have had strong preseasons. They’ll support a small but strong group of returnees
as the team looks to return to the playoffs after missing out due to a tiebreaker last season.
COACH IN HIS OWN WORDS:
“We're going to be fast and we're going to probably shoot more threes than the style I usually like to
play, but you have to play to the strengths of your personnel. We've shown that we can pressure
teams and play some really good defense. It's been a fun preseason so far, going 5-1, so we're
looking forward to this season.”
– Ryan Heggie
LISTEN:
Ryan Heggie discusses the upcoming Kodiaks men's basketball season