(Photo courtesy Lethbridge College Kodiaks Athletics on Twitter @LC_Kodiaks)

By Justin Goulet

Kodiaks basketball players receive season awards

Mar 11, 2022 | 11:21 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A handful of Lethbridge College Kodiaks have been rewarded for their hard work.

Three basketball players and two coaches have each received awards from the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC). Courtney Deemter, a first-year nursing student, helped power the Kodiaks women’s team to a second-place divisional finish. Deemter took home two pieces of hardware for the 2021-2022 season.

She received the ACAC south division Rookie of the Year award and was named a south division first team all-star. Over the course of the season, she averaged 18.8 points per game, which was the second highest mark in the conference. She also made 64 free throws during the campaign, the second highest total in the conference. Deemter forced 47 steals, the third highest mark in the conference.

Deemter’s cousin Kirsten Barwegen was named a first team all-star alongside the star rookie. Playing in her graduating season, Barwegen averaged 14.8 points per game, forced 37 steals and led the Kodiaks women’s team with 165 rebounds. This is the second time Barwegen has been named a first team all-star, after receiving the nod for the 2019-2020 season.

For the men’s basketball team, Orin Porter Jr. capped off his career with the Kodiaks with his third all-star selection and second consecutive first team all-star nod. He led the Kodiaks in scoring, averaging 16.4 points per game. He knocked down 28 three-pointers this season, which was seventh most in the conference. Porter Jr. also ranked ninth in the conference in assists, dishing out 54.

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Both Lethbridge College Kodiaks head coaches were recognized for their work guiding their teams.

Ken McMurray led the women’s squad to a record of 11 wins and five losses in his first full season. This placed them second in the ACAC south division. McMurray received south division Coach of the Year honours.

Ryan Heggie was named the south division Coach of the Year for the men’s side. The award was his second in as many seasons and third overall. He received the award for both the 2015-2016 season and 2019-2020 year. He helped lead the Kodiaks to a 13-3 record this season.

Both Kodiaks teams fell in the ACAC playoff quarterfinals on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The women’s team lost 65-60 against the SAIT Trojans, while the men’s club lost 86-76 to Red Deer Polytechnic.