NBLC Highlight Games: Storm vs Halifax, February 5th
Both the Island Storm and the Halifax Hurricanes had seen struggles in the 2019-20 NBL Canada season and both came to the Scotiabank Centre on February 5th with very similar records. Both were seeking to change their fortunes, and a win would have done it for them - the ensuing game showed just how much both teams wanted it.
Alex Campbell opened the scoring for the Storm, who soon found themselves with an early eight-point advantage. In response, Halifax saw two players score six successive points: first CJ Washington, who made it a point game, then Antoine Mason, who put the team up by four. Campbell quickly cut that lead down and Jalian Haslem made a jump shot on the final possession to put the Storm up by one at the end of the opening period of play.
Ta'Quan Zimmerman and Chris Johnson came off the bench to lift Halifax, they went on to a double-digit lead at half time and then take the highest lead of the game - fifteen points - shortly after the start of the third quarter.
After many baskets were exchanged between the teams, the Storm got to within three on two occasions, before Lewis Diankulu put them up by one ahead of the final period, which would prove to be a heated and dramatic conclusion to what had already been a frantic game of basketball.
The fourth began with five lead changes, at the end of which the Storm's three-point shooters had put them up by five. Ta'Quan Zimmerman responded for the Hurricanes by levelling the scores, after which Kyle Arsenault took the lead for Halifax, only for Diankulu to take it back moments later.
Zimmerman and Mason were still in search of the points needed for the win and in the final minute Halifax went from down by four to up by one. With five seconds left, Johnathan Loyd sent CJ Washington to the foul line and he hit both, putting the Hurricanes up by two. Loyd had one last chance to save the game for the Storm on the other end, but came up short. Everyone in white and blue breathed a big sigh of relief.
Alex Campbell led the scoring for the visitors with 29 points, while five other Storm players finished in double digits. For the home team, Washington finished with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, Ta'Quan Zimmerman had 24 off the bench and Mason led everyone with 43 points in a 2019-20 match-up to remember for Halifax, who clinched a heroic and dramatic win over the Island Storm by 120-118.
