NBLC Game of the Week: An Action-Packed Crossover Clash

The last of the 2022 season's crossover games between the NBL Canada and The Basketball League was one of the most exciting seen in either of the two leagues.

Flying the flag for the NBLC, the Windsor Express had seen some struggles but had started to find some momentum as the end of the regular season draws nearer, helped out by late signings who had provided big dividends for them.

This week they hosted the Jamestown Jackals from New York, leaders of the TBL's Upper Midwest Division who arrived in Windsor winners of their last five games. The numbers seemed to be on Jamestown's side but would home court advantage help lift Windsor to a much-needed win?

The game began with Jamestown going in front early on, followed by Elijah Ifejeh giving Windsor their first lead with an and-one layup. Three-pointers from the Jackals put them back in front and leading by five, Windsor responded with a run of eight points unanswered to end an exciting opening period of play.

Jamestown's Irshaad Hunter and Thomas Garrick made it a one-point game in Q2 from beyond the arc, followed by team mates Glenroy Carr edging the Jackals in front and Jonathan Lee putting them up five. On the other end, threes from Nick Garth, Jachai Taylor and Akeem Ellis put Windsor back in front. Garrick returned the lead to Jamestown but a layup from Marcus Anderson layup made it a tie game at the half.

When the game re-started the Express made it a seven-point game courtesy of threes from Taylor and Will Claiborne in the lane. Jonathan Lee connected from both inside and out to prevent a Windsor breakaway, but still finding plenty of open looks the home team went into the final period leading by double digits.

After ten points in the first three mins of Q4, Windsor led 93-76. Jamestown needed to act and they did: a run of thirteen points unanswered from them and the gap was down to four as Windsor kept missing shot after shot. This led to a thrilling finish as this game, which not so long ago was one-sided, had become tight and unpredictable as time ticked down.

Majestic Grigg made it a one point game in final minute for the Jackals, in response Claiborne put Windsor up by three, which was followed by Garrick tying the scores with a three. With three seconds left a foul by Lovell Smith on Nick Garth added two from the stripe for the Express. Jamestown used their last timeout and Jonathan Lee had the last shot of the game, but fell short. Having felt the win was theirs, Windsor fought tooth and nail to not let it get away from them and prevailed with the W.

Six Windsor players finished in double digits, led by Claiborne who had eighteen points in just seventeen minutes. Ifejeh was near-perfect on offence as he closed out the game with seventeen, while Akeem Ellis posted sixteen off the bench in his return to the NBLC. Jamestown's Jonathan Lee led all with 36 and Garrick had nineteen including five threes, the most of anyone in a game where 23 total threes were made.

After this Windsor hoped to build on the win and improve their playoff standings, but came up short against the London Lightning. They will be hoping for better results in the scant few regular season games remaining before the post-season gets underway.