NBLC Recap: February 14th
There was no love loss on between the four teams who faced off in two heated games on Thursday in the NBL Canada.
A few three-point shots were all that set the Moncton Magic apart from the visiting Cape Breton Highlanders in the first half of their match-up. The Magic then took their biggest lead of the game, nine points, late in the third, helped out in a big way by Billy White, who led all scorers with 30 points in the game.
Down the stretch, the Highlanders were able to tie the scores and Bruce Massey did well to draw fouls and convert from the free-throw line, giving Cape Breton a late three-point lead. Corey Allmond missed two last-second chances to salvage the game, leaving the final result 105-102 in Moncton's favour.
Massey had 21 points and Jamal Reynolds put up 24 off the bench as the Highlanders end their losing streak against their biggest rivals in the Atlantic Division this season.
Hosting the Island Storm, the Saint John Riptide outscored their guests 31-13 in the first quarter, going on to lead by 24 points in the second. The reinvigorated Storm ate away at their lead throughout the second half, shooting well from both long and close range - most of all Sampson Carter and Malik Story, who both finished with 21 points while Daniel Dingle added 17 in his debut for the Storm against his former club.
Still finding scoring chances late in the game, Saint John were able to hold on to their lead, with double-doubles recorded by three starters, TJ Maston (26 points,10 rebounds), Frank Bartley (25 points, 14 rebounds) and Bryce Washington (12 points, 10 rebounds), as they handed the Storm their fourth straight loss, 99-93.
