Four NBLC Games on January 2nd - Full Recap
All eight teams were in action in the first NBL Canada games of 2020, and everyone was looking to get the new calendar year off to a good start when their respective games tipped off.
St. John's Edge vs Moncton Magic
After neither team could break the deadlock in the first quarter, Karrington Ward and Tyrone Watson lifted the Edge to a five-point half time lead. When the game resumed the Magic completely turned it around, taking a double-digit lead which went as high as twenty points. The Edge kept looking, but couldn't find an answer.
Karrington Ward had 27 points for the Edge in the loss, while Montay Brandon very nearly scored a double-double off the bench (16 points, 9 rebounds). Meanwhile, victorious Moncton saw 12 points and 10 rebounds from Ronald Delph, one of five Magic players to finish in double digits, the leader being Jeremiah Mordi, who had 30 in his team's 104-86.
Island Storm vs Halifax Hurricanes
Led by Antoine Mason on offence, the Hurricanes took an early lead over the Storm, but in the second quarter Alex Campbell led the fight back for the visitors There was no let up from Halifax in the second half, but the Storm and sank the dagger down the stretch and saw out the win, 111-99.
Antoine Mason led the Hurricanes with 25 points while Marvell Waithe had 14 points and rebounds in the loss, while three Storm players recorded double-doubles: Antwon Lillard (17 points, 13 rebounds), Robbie Robinson (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Campbell (27 points, 15 rebounds).
Windsor Express vs London Lightning
London enjoyed a comfortable lead for much of the first half, Mareik Isom and Garrett Williamson providing the firepower which saw go in front by twenty points. The Express gave them a scare when they made up the difference and tied the game early in the fourth quarter, but Xavier Moon - almost singlehandedly - gave London the lift they needed to capture the win, which they did 102-93.
Moon led London with 27 points, while Mareik Isom had 21 of his own to go with 10 rebounds and AJ Gaines posted 20 off the bench. Shaquille Keith was the standout for Windsor in the loss, with a game-high 27 points scored.
Sudbury Five vs KW Titans
With superior shooting and tougher defence, the Sudbury Five led the KW Titans from start to end on their visit to the Aud in Kitchener. Despite five players finishing in double digits, led by Jared Nickens with 18 points, the Titans could not do anything to save themselves against Sudbury in rampant form.
JR Holder wowed with 30 points off the bench, while Jaylen Bland totalled 26 points and 9 rebounds in Sudbury’s first win of the season, 118-91 over the Titans.
Picture: Jeff Parsons
