Men's Basketball Huskies split final exhibition games, turn attention to regular season

Another preseason weekend split left the Keyano Huskies Men’s Basketball team with plenty to focus on in their approach to the start of the regular season.  

This past weekend’s results, a win against The King’s University Eagles and loss to the NAIT Ooks, gave Head Coach Anthony Skepple his fourth and fifth looks at his new team as they prepare to try and top the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) North Division for a fifth-straight year.  
 
“There was some ups and downs,” Skepple said. “We took a step forward against King’s, which was really nice and then struggled a lit bit against NAIT, which was good to get into a game into a game like that. 
 
“Jaggar [Crossland] playing against King’s, his old team, he had 12 or 14 points. He was really energetic and doing all the right things for us, which was really good.”  

For right now as well, it’s not necessarily about the score but more so looking at each result as a part of progression and a new team building chemistry together.  

“The guys love being around each other,” Skepple added. “We’re still trying to figure out how to play with each other a little bit and just taking a little bit of time. In term of chemistry, the vibes around the team are great.  
 
“It’ll be good to get some more game play as we continue to grow together as a team.”  

That test will come early against a feisty Medicine Hat College Rattlers squad that was just on the outside of the playoff picture in the ACAC’s South Division. On their second night, they’ll face the defending ACAC Champion Briercrest Clippers in a rematch of last year’s championship game.  

“The big focus for us is ball movement,” Skepple said of the focus for the next week and a half ahead. “We’re a very talented team, which can stop our ball movement some times.  
 
“Medicine Hat is going to be very tough the first game and Briercrest second game, high-quality programs. You’re playing the reigning ACAC champions so it’s going to be a tough opening weekend for us so just making sure we’re getting down to business with our prep.”  
 
The Huskies open the 2025-26 ACAC Regular Season Friday, October 17 against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers before hosting the Briercrest College Clippers a day later. Tip-off times are on 6:00pm both nights with the Men’s game following the Women’s game.