NBLC Recap: December 16th
Some of the biggest names in the NBL Canada were on show on Sunday, and putting on some amazing performances, they did not disappoint.
With a good showing from the Saint John Riptide starters – who put up 63 of their total points – they led the Moncton Magic by 10 in the first half of their visit to the Avenir Centre. When the game resumed, Corey Allmond and Doug Herring Jr combined to turn the game around and put Moncton in the driver's seat. The two finished as the game’s top scorers with 22 and 18 points respectively, with Herring also grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing 10 assists.
After a closely-fought start to the fourth period, the Magic strung together a run of eleven unanswered points to put the result beyond doubt. The Riptide saw a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds from Chris Early, but that would not be enough. Winning 93-86, the Magic get off to their best season start with their record standing at 10-0.
Sampson Carter had 28 points and 10 rebounds for the Island Storm, who also saw 25 points from both Russell Byrd and Alex Campbell. The St. John’s Edge, meanwhile, saw an amazing performance from Desmond Lee, who finished with a game-high 31 points, as well as seeing 42 points from their bench players.
With more accurate offence and better ball movement, the Edge were able to lead for much of the way through this game, by as much as 15 points. They move to third in the Central Division after a 123-116 defeat of the Island Storm.
The Halifax Hurricanes saw good bench production early on – mostly from Tyrone Watson, Malcolm Duvivier and Jordan Washington – but for the rest of the way the Sudbury Five were in control. Braylon Rayson was the standout with 31 points in the game for Sudbury, while Adam Blazek had 20 off the Five's bench and Grandy Glaze scored 15 and grabbed 15 total rebounds while also not starting.
Joel Kindred tried to force the issue for the Hurricanes in the second half, where he scored 19 of his team-high total 24 points, but with 15 threes and superior defence, Sudbury stayed in control when it counted. Finishing ahead by ten points, Sudbury stay on top of the Central Division standings. Halifax, meanwhile, continue to struggle mid-table in the Atlantic Division.
