It wasn't the revenge the Olds College Broncos were looking for.
The men's first team went into Thursday's game with the Canadian University College Aurora seeking some retribution for losing the Alberta College Athletics League final last season, but a dismal final quarter doomed the locals to another defeat at the hands of their rivals.
A total of only eight points in the last 10 minutes helped hand the defending champs a 76-56 win over the Broncos in the first league meeting between the two sides at the Ralph Klein Centre.
For head coach Bob Murray it was simply a matter of the young team not doing enough things to earn a win.
ìThe biggest thing is they have the depth. Their scoring was deep into their bench Ö and we didn't have much depth tonight,î he explained. ìWill Hickey going down with that ankle injury kind of took away that person that was an offensive presence for us and our shooting went quiet for us in the second half. We had six threes in the first half and in the second half we might have had one.î
However, Murray was quick to credit the Aurora for playing a tough zone that the Broncos had trouble breaking down with any consistency as well as for attacking the offensive glass and taking advantage of their size.
He said that's something that'll need to be corrected as the team moves forward into the season.
ìWe gave up way too many chances Ö you can't give that up, so we'll go back to the drawing board and work on some rebounding,î Murray suggested.
Hickey ended up leading the Broncos in scoring with 15 points, while Will Belliveau was the only other Bronco in double-digits with 11.
The youth of the team, sporting only three veterans on the roster, may have played a role in Thursday's final outcome, but ultimately they'll have to rise to the occasion if they want to have a shot at the league banner.
ìThey knew it was going to be a big game and they rose to the challenge in the first half, but they shut down in the second half simply as young guys,î Murray said.
With most of the schedule back-loaded when the Broncos will see CUC again and other favourites, St. Mary's, twice, the interim will be used to make sure the OC roster is as healthy as possible when the stretch drive arrives.
While Taylor Kolonic continues to be listed as done for the season, forward Jonathan Gasirabo should be back in the lineup in the coming weeks as he recovers from a knee injury. Murray said Hickey's injury shouldn't keep the Golden, B.C. vet out of the lineup.
The Broncos did recover from the loss, however, to post a convincing 85-33 win over Prairie the next evening. The Broncos II squad had the week off from league play while the women blasted Prairie 68-28, also on Friday night to stay unbeaten on the season so far.
This weekend, both Broncos men's teams will welcome the schools from Saskatchewan, Millar College and Great Plains College, for a set of four games. The Olds II team will face Great Plains on Friday evening at 8:30 p.m. and Millar Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. while the Olds I team play Great Plains Saturday at 4 p.m. and Millar at 8:30 p.m.
The women will play Millar on Saturday at 6 p.m. Great Plains doesn't have a women's team in ACAL.
