One Point Loss Hard to Swallow

The bare facts would lead one to appreciate a quality effort from a Dinos team depleted by the loss of post players Joe Schow and Robbie Sihota. Calgary’s cold shooting from the field allows the Lethbridge Pronghorns to catch the visiting team in the final minutes. A patch - work Calgary lineup plays a tough game on hostile turf against a veteran Lethbridge squad.

All of that may be true, but it’s gut-wrenching to try and console a 19 year old who feels he has cost his team a crucial game in an arena full of his friends, family, and heckling Pronghorns fans. Ross Bekkering played 17 minutes in a game where his presence would have seemed critical for the Dinos to have had a chance against the home-standing ‘Horns. In the first half he was on the court for all of 4 minutes before he was whistled for a 2nd foul. After leading for most of the second half, and with 35 seconds left, the Dinos were clinging to a 1 point lead and had the ball, working for a good shot. Josh Feist, who finished the game with 27 points, got off a tough jumper, which grazed the rim with 6 seconds … Bekkering went up top secure the rebound, his arm is hooked by Lethbridge’s 5th year captain, Scott McKinnon … Bekkering loses control of the ball as he is pulled to the floor … whistle … foul … Bekkering … McKinnon to shoot two at the far end with 2.2 seconds left.

The free throws are both good … Lethbridge 76 - Calgary 75, the fans go wild, the refs sprint off the floor, and the Dinos are left to try and choke down a very bitter pill. A great team effort is nullified by a terrible decision by, ironically, a Calgary official. Yes , we should have done this or that, shot it better, or a number of other things, but, simply put, an official decides a game on a questionable call with no time left on the clock.

Nonetheless, some gritty efforts in this game by the Dinos …
Feist penetrates the ‘Horns defense time and again, giving them fits the whole game. Brian Finniss, forced into an unfamiliar role in the post, battles on the inside for the best weekend of the season from the 5th year captain from P.E.I. Chris Unsworth, a rookie who has been sparingly used , logs 19 minutes , snares 5 rebounds, and goes 3/4 from the line. The smaller Dinos rebound by committee with Cody Darrah - 7, Jeremy Odland - 7, Feist - 5, Finniss - 5 helping Sonny Khangura - 5, Unsworth - 5, and Bekkering - 7 out - board Lethbridge 43 - 34.

Finnis scores 12, Khangura 11, but the result is a Lethbridge win and a return to a deadlock at 5-9 in the Divisional standings. The remaining schedule is a challenging one where Calgary plays 6 different teams over the next three weekends …

Jan. 19 - Regina at Calgary
Jan. 20 - Brandon at Calgary
Jan. 26 - Calgary at Fraser Valley - Abbotsford
Jan. 27 - Calgary at Thompson Rivers - Kamloops
Feb. 2 - Calgary at Manitoba
Feb. 3 - Calgary at Winnipeg

Sihota, at times an unstoppable scoring machine for Calgary, will likely miss a week or so, while Schow will nurse a high ankle sprain for the better part of a month. The upside of their hurts would be the emergence of some other players whose role now needs to expand in order for Calgary to compete in the final weeks.

The Dinos finish the regular season with a pair of home games against the Saskatchewan Huskies on Feb. 9 and 10.