MONvsHAL - Game 7
This was it. The game that would be deciding the Atlantic Division representative in this year's NBL Canada finals.
The Moncton Magic had the home court advantage for Game 7, but had faced stiff competition from the Halifax Hurricanes all through the series. With both teams just as strong on both ends of the court, there was little telling how this one was going to end up.
As the game got underway, Trey Kell and Corey Allmond combined on offence to give the Magic a twelve-point lead at the end of the first quarter. This was the lead at the end of the half as well, following an uneasy second quarter with neither team really finding their rhythm.
Halifax began the second half with nine unanswered points, closing the gap to three. Moncton kept finding scoring chances, but found it hard to contain Halifax's Terry Thomas on defence. Drawing the foul and making both free-throws, Thomas tied the game ahead of the final period.
Joel Kindred put up the first points of the fourth quarter, giving the lead back to Halifax, but the Magic quickly erased the deficit and a Jason Calliste three-pointer put them back in front.
Moncton re-enforced their lead after a nine-point unanswered run, but Thomas and Mike Poole responded, putting the Hurricanes up by two with three minutes to play. On two occasions Billy White closed the gap to one, and with thirty seconds to go Kell put Moncton up by one - a lead Calliste padded out to three from the free-throw line.
With the final shot of the game, Poole put up a three-pointer, which missed the target. Moncton grabbed the rebound and duly celebrated in front of their home fans.
Halifax could take some solace from Terry Thomas putting up 26 points and 11 rebounds for the Hurricanes, while Rhamel Brown also managed a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds), but they fell short of their ultimate goal.
Led by 21 points from Trey Kell, Moncton win the deciding game in the series 85-82 and earn the right to face off against the St. John's Edge in the 2019 NBL Canada finals.
