There’s just something about the Briercrest College Clippers and huge comebacks throughout the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference playoffs this season.
And we’re not talking about just one sport here -- teams from the Caronport-based school keep finding ways to make things miserable for their opponents, regardless of the outcome.
The men’s hockey and women’s basketball playoffs on Friday night offered the latest example, as the Clippers hockey team scored three goals in the third period to take a 6-5 win over the NAIT Ooks in their quarter-final series and the basketball team nearly overcame a massive deficit before falling 66-63 to the Red Deer Queens in their semifinal.
For Clippers’ hockey, the win marked the continuation of a historic season for the local squad, as their victory at the Barkman Arena marked the first home playoff win for the club in team history.
And it was as dramatic as all get out, too boot.
Trailing NAIT 5-3 at the 8:47 mark of the third period, the Clippers would score three goals just over five minutes apart to take the lead for good. Halen Cordoni got things started at the 9:23, Reagan Poncelet tied the game 2:32 later and Theo Citrullo would put home the game-winner with 5:06 remaining o secure the win.
Alex Pellerin and Campbell Ens had given Briercrest a 2-0 lead in the first period, but NAIT outscored the Clippers 4-1 in the second period. Pellerin had Briercrest’s lone goal in the frame at 5:06.
Dominik Tmej had 30 saves in the win.
The Clippers can wrap up the best-of-three series on Saturday, with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. at the Barkman Arena. Game 3, if necessary, is set for 3 p.m. Sunday.
One day after pulling off the biggest upset in Clippers women’s basketball history, Briercrest nearly staged a comeback for the ages but ended up settling for the three-point loss to Red Deer.
The Queens took a 29-21 lead into the half and led 54-42 through three quarters before the Clippers started to claw their way back into things. A layup from Amber Fichtner with 1:19 to play got Briercrest within two points, but a time-out by Red Deer would stall the Clippers’ momentum and the Queens would hold on for the win.
Fichtner had an outstanding game, putting up 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting and tacking on 18 rebounds, 14 in her own paint. Sydney Latrace had 18 points, while Brooklyn Martens put up 15. Dori Sunderland had a good game defensively, bringing in 10 rebounds.
The Clippers still have a chance at coming home from Lethbridge with a medal as they take on St. Mary’s in the bronze medal game Saturday night.
Be sure to check out www.acac.ab.ca for all the up-to-date scores and results.
