Clippers Win ACAC Championship At Home In Pots And Pans Classic
Story and Photos by Robert Thomas
Led on by an estimated 700 screaming fans at the hangar the Briercrest Clippers are the 2025 ACAC (Alberta College Athletics Conference) Men’s Basketball Champions after defeating the reigning Canadian champions the Keyano College Huskies 79 - 73.
The Clippers came out on fire quickly grabbing the lead. A lead they would hold throughout the entire game.
It was a hard fought physical game the Clippers controlled on the court.
While off the court the Clippers hockey team dug out the pots and pans to dominate the noise right behind the Huskies bench.
Briercrest Clippers Oroma Bongomin jumps to make a shot over Keyano College Huskies player - MJ Independent photo
The Clippers would score nine points to start the First Quarter before the Huskies started to hit the scoreboard.
The Clippers employed a shoot for a basket but win the fight for offensive rebounds.
Whenever he was on the hardwood the Clippers Oroma Bongomin worked the Huskies defence setting up his teammates for baskets. Or he would make jump shots with rebounds gobbled up by his teammates.
The score at the end of the quarter was Clippers 20 and Huskies 8.
The Second Quarter saw the Huskies regain ground- The score at Halftime was Clippers 38 - 32.
Briercrest Clippers Jude Shepherd-Hills (right) goes up to block a shot by Keyano College Huskies Keenan Caribou - MJ Independent photo
The Third Quarter saw the Clippers gain a slight edge on the Huskies going ahead by 10 points.
A big play came when Zach Martens jumped and blocked what was a sure Huskies basket. The play drew a loud response from the fans and fired up the Clippers.
The Huskies dug deep and managed to grab numerous defensive rebounds.
The score at the end of the quarter was Clippers 60 and Huskies 50.
The Fourth Quarter had a dramatic finish as the Huskies scored 15 points on three point field goals to close the gap.
The last minute was a pressure cooker as the Huskies tried to line up more field goals to close the points gap.
The final score was Clippers 79 and Huskies 73.
Briercrest Clippers Zach Martens lines up a shot - MJ Independent photo
Jude Shepherd-Hills scored 20 points for the Clippers.
Tournament MVP Francis Dogani added 15 points for the Clippers.
Huskies Keenen Caribou and Omeechi Williams each scored 23 points.
A member of the Briercrest Clippers hockey team beats on a pot and cheers. The hockey team sat behind the Keyano College Huskies bench and were by far the loudest group at the game - MJ Independent file photo
Clippers forward Oroma Bongomin said he played his heart out.
“I think I played as well as I could with the time I was given. That’s the theme of all season just trying to help the team out as much as I can,” Bongomin said.
He said when he is on the court he drives for the basket but above all he tries to help out his teammates as much as he is able to.
“I kick out to my teammates to get things moving.”
Asked to describe how the team played in the final Bongomin described it as “fantastic.”
“Throughout this whole tournament guys have been trusting what has been working all season.”
Briercrest Clippers Corbin Gengenbach (center) jumps to stop the ball from going out of bounds. Keyano College Huskies Omeechi Williams (right) fights to prevent Gengenbach’s attempt- MJ Independent photo
Regarding what was key to the Clippers championship game victory Bongomin said “the key to tonight’s victory was just sticking together and keeping it calm.”
Having the lead throughout the entire game took a lot of pressure off of the Clippers.
“The first two games we did not have the lead and we weee just fumbling around with it. Tonight we had the lead the whole game and we just kept it going.”
Having the lead throughout the entire game took”felt comfortable.”
“It felt comfortable. We weren’t stressing about going back and forth, tit for tat,” he said.
Getting the early lead allowed the Clippers to use a strategy to wear down the Huskies starters because they were trailing all game.
Briercrest Clippers Zach Martens fights for the ball under the backboard - MJ Independent photo
“That’s what I started to do, that’s what I started to do. Then once they get tired our second unit comes in and takes care of business,” Bongomin said.
The Clippers can employ the strategy due to their depth of talent.
Asked about the crowd and the noise they produced he said “oh my goodness.”
Regarding what group was the loudest he answered without a pause it was the hockey team seated right behind the Huskies’ bench.
“The hockey for sure (were the loudest) “ he said, adding at next weekend’s ACAC hockey playoff game the basketball team would return the favour.
The noise generated by the hockey team helped in the win. It’s something the loud boisterous crowds did all weekend.
Two Keyano College Huskies players sit on the bench - MJ Independent photo
“All weekend it’s been amazing especially with those free throws. You know they missed and gave us the game. Tonight as well just having them on our side. Like they’ve been doing all season.”
The Clippers heading off to Montreal for the Canadian finals is something Bongomin is looking forward to.
“I’ve been on a plane one time so I don’t know what to expect in Montreal. But I know it’s going to be a fun time and we’re going to take care of business over there,” he said.
Working together as a team is why the Clippers have had success.
“It’s been just so fun to play with this group, with my brothers. I’ll quote what my dad said. If you want to go fast go alone but if you want to farther go together. That really speaks to our team how we’ve handled things thus far,” Bongomin said.
Keyano College Huskies head coach was emotional and very vocal along the sidelines - MJ Independent photo
“That was awesome. It’s always awesome when you win,” Briercrest Clippers head coach Shane Sowden told MJ Independent in a post game interview.
“It was a little less dramatic than the last two nights. But I’m super proud of the guys,” Sowden said.
The Clippers victory started earlier in the morning and continued throughout the game.
“You know we had a real good film session this morning. A really good walk through before lunch. You could just tell they were ready. Yeah the scouting report worked really well. Our defensive schemes worked really well and the guys bought in.”
Keyano tried but they were unable to overtake the Clippers.
“Keyano kept pushing back but they never did get over the hump though. You know the crowd was behind us the whole time. My goodness what an atmosphere,” he said.
The Briercrest Clippers bench - MJ Independent photo
Sowden admitted he once had doubts the Clippers would go so far this season.
“There was a time I wasn’t sure if we could do this. If this is possible and here we are. This is kind of crazy.”
He was happy to hold the lead the entire game.
“It’s a nice change. We haven’t done that for about a month so it was nice to play with the lead. This weekend is going to serve us very well. We get in with a solid seed in Montreal, And just the confidence of being able to play well under all sorts of circumstances,” he said.
“It just gives us more confidence going out East.”
Regarding the loud crowd Sowden said it was everywhere.
“The people that were here were loud but the hockey team sitting down there behind the Huskies bench it was fantastic.”
Briercrest Clippers Riley Seaborn (left) attempts to dribble around Keyano College Huskies Keenen Caribou - MJ Independent photo
The Hangar has likely never seen as many fans for a Clippers men’s basketball game. Playing against Central Collegiate 30 years ago was likely the last time the gym had such a large crowd.
The championship game was the largest number of people Sowden has seen in the gym for a Clippers’ game.
“What better way to spend your weekend with your home fans packed out. I think they said there was 620 people in here yesterday. I’m pretty sure they packed in more today. So we probably hit over 700 (fans) today.”
“It was an unbelievable showcase on the Prairies. Yeah this was fantastic. I want to do this again. All the teams loved it. What a weekend,” he said.
Asked what was the key to the Clippers victory he had one word to describe it - together.
Letting go of your ego and work as a team.
“That’s been our whole motto all season. We’re better together. Together, together, together and that’s what we did. We don’t care who gets the glory. We don’t care who gets the points and who gets the awards…pass to the open guy and trust each other.”
Briercrest Clippers Francis Dogani jumps in an attempt to score a basket under heavy coverage - MJ Independent photo
Regarding Francis Dogani winning tournament MVP Sowden said he was happy, He went on to state any team member could have won the awards given the Clippers player talent depth.
“Fantastic. He deserves it. All season you know we have so many guys who are MVP. We gave so many guys that were deserving of all conference. You could pick six guys on our roster who could have got votes for All Conference. We’re so deep,” he said.
The Clippers did a better job rebounding in the final.
“We were really frustrated yesterday we were missing been missing rebounds the last two games. We are one of the best rebounding team in the conference so massive emphasis in taking away their driving lanes and force the outside shot.”
“Rebounding is just an attitude,” he said.
A Briercrest Clippers player attempts to control the ball deep in the key - MJ Independent photo
Regarding the game he said it was aggressive and physical game.
“I complained about one call and the referee is like Shane this is a conference championship so back off. So I said OK here we go. So we knew pretty early what we were in for,” Sowden said.
He thanked everyone involved in the tournament as well as the fans who came out and those wishing him well.
“The amount of messages I’ve got from friends, family and people in Moose Jaw and surrounding area has just been overwhelming. So it’s been pretty cool.”
