NBLC Recap: December 21st
An eventful night in the NBL Canada saw plenty of head-turning results and amazing performances.
The Cape Breton Highlanders got off to a good start at the Centre 200, leading the Moncton Magic by nine early on. Doug Herring Jr and Isaiah Tate then responded for the Magic in the second, putting up a combined 25 points which saw the scores tied at the half.
In the second half, Bruce Massey and Deshaunt Walker erupted for the Highlanders, their superior play in the field lifting the team to a 30-point lead. Despite 20 points from Herring and 19 from Tate, Moncton could not find their rhythm when they needed it. Meanwhile, Massey finished with a double-double, 25 points and 12 assists, while Walker finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds, and Aaron Redpath had an impressive 19 points for Cape Breton.
Moncton’s unbeaten streak is over, and it came at the hands of the Cape Breton Highlanders, by a convincing margin of 114-84.
The KW Titans had an amazing 42 points in the first quarter away to the London Lightning, after which London spent the rest of the game playing catch-up. London saw double-doubles from Garrett Williamson (25 points, 11 assists) and AJ Gaines (13 points, 11 rebounds) off the bench, as well as 20 points from both Jelan Kendrick and Marvin Phillips. Despite all this, it still wouldn’t be enough to help the team come out on top.
KW dropped 17 total threes and saw 26 points from starter Akeem Ellis, as well as 30 points and 8 rebounds off the bench from Joel Friesen. They took down the Lightning in a statement performance, winning 129-123.
The Sudbury Five were on the warpath early and throughout their home encounter with the Island Storm - Braylon Rayson, Cory Dixon and Travis Releford all combined to give Sudbury a 32-point lead in the first half. Sampson Carter and Russell Byrd gave their all to try and save the Storm, with Carter putting up 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Byrd finished with 23 points and 8 boards. The Storm also saw 18 points off the bench from newcomer Kareem Canty.
The superior offensive side, Sudbury had control of the game. Three of their players finished with double-doubles - Rayson (29 points, 10 rebounds), Dixon (21 points, 11 rebounds) and Grandy Glaze (11 points, 16 rebounds) in limited minutes. Sudbury ran out winner 130 points to 108, the fourth straight loss for the Island Storm.
