Rattlers announce annual basketball award winners

After closing out their college careers together, Medicine Hat Rattlers women’s basketball players Morgan Muir and Paige Cooper shared one last moment in the spotlight together this weekend.

While they were unable to be in the same room due to social distancing measures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rattlers announced Saturday that Muir had earned the team’s annual players’ choice award, while fellow graduating player Cooper took home the Megan Kondor Rattler Award.

Muir spent five years with the Rattlers and closed out her final season with an average of 14.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and

4.1 assists per game.

Cooper averaged 6.5 points per game in her fourth and final year with the team, as well as 4.3 rebounds per contest.

Guard Tatiana Dutka took the nod for most improved after averaging 8.5 points — up more than six from last season — and 8.2 rebounds — a jump of nearly seven — per game this season.

The Rattlers finished fourth in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference South with an

11-10 record before settling for a fifth-place finish as hosts of the championship tournament in March.

On the men’s side, guard Kieron Burgess earned players’ choice, while David KentCanalejo was named most improved and Josh Magpantay took home the Rattler Award.

Burgess led the Rattlers with an average 19.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, while Magpantay posted an average 6.3 points and 3.4 assists per game. Kent-Canalejo finished with an average of 7.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

The Rattlers men’s basketball team struggled in a rebuilding year this season, closing out the campaign at 4-17.