Dinos Sweep Pronghorns
Game 1: DINOS 90 Horns 78
Led by an impressive brother act, the Calgary Dinos surged to a 25 pt. 3rd quarter lead, and coasted in for a 90-78 win over the Pronghorns in Lethbridge Friday. Henry Bekkering led Calgary with 25 pts., while his younger brother Ross added 22 pts. and snared 10 rebounds, for yet another double-double.
Coach Dan Vanhooren subbed liberally with 10 players playing at least 10 minutes, and the Calgary depth sunk the hapless ‘Horns, who dropped their 5th straight league game despite 26 pts. from a hot-shooting Quinn Van Gaalen, their impressive freshman guard.
The Dinos dominated inside as Lethbridge had no answer for the Bekkerings, Robbie Sihota, 11 pts., 7 boards, and Joe Schow, another Southern Alberta HS League grad (Magrath - ‘03), 6 pts., 5 rebs. Calgary won the rebounding battle 47 - 36 , although ex-Dino Greg Jobagy grabbed 10 boards for the ‘Horns, who were also outshot 55% to 39% on the night.
The Dinos go to 4 - 1 in Canada West play. The two teams go at it again Saturday in Lethbridge, and Calgary will look to solidify a hold on top spot in the Central Division, and keep pace with Alberta, who beat Regina 79-71 in Edmonton.
Game 2: DINOS 94 Horns 66
After letting the Lethbridge Pronghorns back to the surface after nearly drowning the home team with points in the 3rd quarter Friday, the Calgary Dinos left little to chance in demolishing Lethbridge 94-66 Saturday. Once again, Ross Bekkering was huge for the visiting Dinos as he racked up 23 pts. and 17 big rebounds, showing Southern Alberta fans how much he has progressed from his high school days at W.R. Myers just down the road in Taber.
Rob Sihota also recorded a double-double with 13 pts. and 11 boards, while Henry Bekkering hit for 18 pts. to help Calgary stay tied atop the Central Division at 5-1 with the Alberta Golden Bears, who stopped the previously unbeaten Brandon Bobcats 106 -93 in Edmonton. The Dinos host the Bears next weekend in a pair of games.
Calgary shot the ball well for the 2nd night in a row, hitting on 31/40 free throws, as they took it to the overwhelmed ‘Horns in the paint, and they were 49% from the floor, with 9/17 from beyond the arc. Lethbridge got another good game from point guard Richard Steed, 24 pts, 5 assts., but Quinn Van Gaalen was held in check, shooting only 3/15 from the field in scoring 10 points. Jeff Price dished out 7 assists for Calgary, and the Dinos crushed the ‘Horns 50-29 in the battle on the boards.