NBL Canada Playoffs Review - London Lightning vs Niagara River Lions
Image: NBL Canada
This playoff series looked to settle one of this season's biggest rivalries in the NBLC. Top-seeded London Lightning had the advantage and have shown they can handle expectations, but Niagara River Lions had got the better of them before, and had the determination and tenacity to do it again here, where it matters most.
London completely dominated in the field against Niagara in game one, with an amazing 90 points in the paint and eight players scoring in double figures. Great defence from Mo Bolden and Royce White also went a long way to shutting out the River Lions. White had an amazing game with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Niagara did not give up and contested every shot they could, but London were on the warpath and could not be stopped. Dwayne Smith led the River Lions with 19 points off the bench and Devonta Pollard put up a double-double (12 points and total rebounds), but London took the opening game with a high-scoring win, 151 points to 115.
A three-pointer from Guillaume Boucard put Niagara up 16-2 after four minutes in game two. Mo Bolden led the way as London tightened their defence in the second quarter, while on the offensive end, good, high-percentage play in the paint saw the team tighten the gap. The Lightning went in front with a ten-point run early in the second half. The River Lions’ responded from beyond the arc, only for London to then go into a double-digit lead late in the third.
A ten-point run put London ahead by twenty in the fourth, and were able to maintain their form, putting the result beyond doubt. Bolden was the stand out in the game with 19 points and 12 rebounds for London, but it was Royce White who led the team's scoring with 24 points. Jaylon Tate had 25 points for the River Lions, but unable to handle the Lightning’s defensive pressure, Niagara dropped game two, 124-98, to London.
Image: NBL Canada
Game three was equally high scoring as the previous two, but with a newfound vigour to the River Lions it was nowhere near one-sided. Julian Boyd put London up by one at the end of the first quarter, to which Niagara’s three-point shooters responded. They helped
the team to a big lead which grew to double-digits just after the start of the third. Royce White led the Lightning on both ends of the floor, he finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds, but Niagara matched London on both ends, leaving no way back for their opponents.
It was an exceptional performance from Niagara, who made over half of all attempts at basket in the game. Their bench made a big contribution, as did Guillaume Boucard and Kris Joseph who both had 25 points in the contest. Playing well as a team, the River Lions scored a nine-point win and kept themselves alive in the series.
A great early showing from Kris Joseph in game four put the River Lions up by seven in the first quarter. London went in front after a ten-point streak, and with continued effective play from the field, the Lightning had a seven-point lead at half time. Niagara then had to play catch up, and got as close as two in the fourth, but with London hitting from all spots on offence they gave the Lions an increasingly hard target to meet.
Royce White took care of London’s offence while Mo Bolden had an amazing show on defence with 17 defensive boards and two blocks in the game. Guillaume Boucard had 20 points and 11 rebounds, but it would not be enough to keep the River Lions in championship contention. Winning this series 3-1, London advance to meet the Windsor Express for a place in this year's NBLC Finals.
There will be more from us on the NBLC Playoffs as the results come in, while all the latest news and updates can be found on the official NBLC website.
