NBL Canada Playoffs Review - Moncton Magic vs Saint John Riptide
This looked to be the most unpredictable of the this year's NBLC playoff match-ups: Moncton Magic have the strength and composure for success, while the resourceful Saint John Riptide are known to dig deep and always find the resolve to win. The Halifax Hurricanes awaited the winner of this hotly contested Atlantic division semi-final, but it was anyone's guess who that would be.
At the end of a tight first half in game one, Moncton went on a twelve-point run to take a double-digit lead over Saint John. The Magic worked well as unit on offence and added a lot to their score tally, while the Riptide had to find open chances when they could. Aly Ahmed put in the best show for the visiting team, on his way to 21 points in the game.
The Riptide fought back in the fourth with a ten point run to bring the gap down to six, and though Terry Thomas tried to get Moncton’s momentum back, two shots in a row from Mariek Isom made it a one-point game. Moncton maintained their lead from the foul line, and a late layup from Thomas would put the game out of reach for the Riptide who, despite their best efforts, could not find another shot in open play. Moncton took game one, winning by 82 points to 77.
Terry Thomas got the scoring underway in game two with a three-pointer after thirty two seconds, after which Moncton would lead for the remainder of the game. Saint John’s three-point shooters responded after going ten down early in the first, with Jeremiah Mordi hitting most of all from long-range. With Moncton picking up steals and Thomas and Juan Pattillo combining for 41 points, they remained in control throughout the game. Winning 99-90, the Magic went 2-0 in the series and Saint John were left with a lot of ground to make up.
Moncton began the third game in the series with two three-pointers, and led by eight late in the first quarter. They couldn’t make this early form last, and eleven consecutive points from Malcolm Miller saw Saint John go into the lead. This and good work from the team’s three-point shooters saw them hold off comeback attempts by the Magic. A great performance from Juan Pattillo with 25 points and 9 rebounds would not be enough to lift the Magic. Finishing as the game’s top scorer with 26 points, Miller was helped out on offence by Aly Ahmed, who had 19 to his name. With an intermittent double-digit lead throughout the latter part of the game, the Riptide saw out a five-point win which gave them a 2-1 lead in the series.
Image: NBLCanada.ca
Game four was tight from start to finish, with the teams never more than six points apart from one another. A three-point shot from Brent Jennings gave Moncton the lead which was maintained with continued shooting success from top scorer Juan Pattillo, who finished with 23 points. After continued offensive pressure from the Riptide, Aly Ahmed finally gave them the lead mid-way through the third. Following a long deadlock, Jeremiah Mordi put Saint John up by two, and Mareik Isom made a three to give the Riptide their largest lead of the game at five points.
Moncton levelled up, and the teams exchanged baskets until the final minute, when Malcolm Miller made a three to give the Riptide a one-point lead. Holding on to possession as much as they could in the remaining time, the Riptide forced a deciding game in the series with a great victory, 81-80.
Unchecked Saint John led by fourteen after the first seven minutes of game five. Throughout the first half, every time the Magic moved to close the gap, the Riptide just pushed it out further. The Riptide were bolstered by sensational play in the field from Aly Ahmed, as well as Malcolm Miller hitting four threes on his way to a game-high 25 points.
Juan Pattillo and Anthony Anderson made the most ground for Moncton, and eight points from the Magic late in the third helped them narrow the gap to three ahead of the deciding period. As the back-and-forth final quarter wound down, Anthony Anderson gave Moncton their first lead of the game, which became six after a three and a layup from Terry Thomas. Saint John attempted to not the let the game get away from them, but Moncton maintained their composure in the heated final minutes.
A final basket from Malcolm Miller was small compensation for the Saint John Riptide. Winning 105-93, the Moncton Magic also win the series and take a step closer to the NBLC Finals. They will face the Hurricanes in the next round, while the other end of the bracket will see a playoff between the London Lightning and the St. John's Edge.
Regular reports will appear heare as the results come in, while all the latest news and updates can be found on the official NBLC website.
