NBL Canada Playoffs Review - St. John's Edge vs Windsor Express
Image: NBL Canada
Both St. John's Edge and Windsor Express had shown they deserved to be in the playoffs behind conclusive performances throughout the regular season. There would be only one spot in the Central Division finals, though, and neither was going to give up the chance without a fight.
Game one saw Maurice Jones and Chad Frazier combine in the paint to give Windsor a double-digit lead just after the second half got underway. They led comfortably until a seven-point run from the Edge reduced the gap to three early in the fourth, and after tying the scores on three consecutive possessions, the Edge finally went into the lead by one. Not wanting the lead to get away from them, Windsor kept finding points in the paint and a layup from Maurice Jones tied the game at 97s with thirty seconds left. Grandy Glaze had two attempts to seal the win for the Edge, but they both fell short, and overtime was needed.
Windsor looked confident after Chad Frazier put them up by three in OT, but Jarryn Skeete later replied with a game-tying three of his own. Still nothing could separate the two teams and the game continued. The Edge went five points in front in the second overtime period, only for Windsor to make it a one-possession game with a minute on the clock. Jarryn Skeete put up a three for St. John’s, Maurice Jones and Sefton Barrett responded from the field, making it a one-point game with seconds left. Carl English hit two from the foul line to put the Edge up by three, and Maurice Jones attempted a last-second three, but missed. This breathless and unforgettable battle was won by the St. John's Edge.
The teams were tied at the end of the first quarter in game two, but St. John’s were able to get ahead behind their exceptional three-point shooting. For a long time in the third quarter a single point separated the teams, with Maurice Jones and Shaquille Keith making the most of Windsor's offensive plays. Coron Williams began a scoring burst for the Edge which was capped off by Carl English, who put them up by twelve just ahead of the buzzer.
Williams then opened the fourth quarter with eleven points in a row, giving the Edge a lead that they were able to maintain to the end, despite constant pressure from Braylon Rayson, who finished with 17 points off the bench for Windsor. English led all scorers with 28 points, which included five threes, and St. John’s bench contributed 57 points as the team won their second playoff fixture in a row, 119-107.
With their hopes handing by a thread, Windsor got off to the best start in game three, scoring twelve points in the last two minutes of Q1 to take a double-digit lead over the Edge. Charles Hinkle responded for the Edge, leading the team on an amazing offensive show while bagging a team-high 24 points for himself. The Edge took the lead as the second half got underway, and though Windsor’s front court were on form, St. John’s kept managing to find open looks to keep themselves on top. Maurice Jones had 37 points in the contest, but even that would not be enough to put a stop to the Edge.
The visitors to the WFCU Centre had an outstanding game, making over two thirds of all their attempts from the field, 13 out of 21 three point attempts and 100% from the foul line. With a comfortable victory in game three, 124-117, the St. John's Edge's sensational inaugural season continues as they advance to the division finals with a clean sweep over the Windsor Express.
Keep coming back for regular reports on the NBLC Playoffs, while all the latest news and updates can be found on the official NBLC website.
