NBLC Game of the Week: Fight Back Leads to Late Drama in Kitchener

The best game of five in an NBLC week bursting with energy was another entry in the big rivalry of 2022. The league's best team touched down in Kitchener looking to get back in the win column and cast off any doubts over them, but the home team proved tenacious opponents and flipped the script on them late.

After a white hot start to the season, the London Lightning had hit a rough spot: after two straight losses, they arrived at the Aud in the middle of a roster overhaul, as such only seven players suited up for them on the night. The Titans were at full strength and looking to build on their win of two days prior, also at home. It was hard to say how this one would unfold and who would emerge victorious at the end.

A few minutes into the game, London stamped their authority with new signing Ryan Taylor and breakout star Jermaine Haley both finding open looks from all distances, with Abednego Lufile connecting from three-point territory early on.

The Titans kept trying to instigate a fight back after London took a double-digit lead in the second quarter, but doing so would mean containing Haley, who kept the Lightning firmly in front with fourteen points in the period, key to the team leading by thirteen shortly before half time.

With London now on their biggest lead of the game, KW started to snap into action, with eight players making a bucket in the third quarter and the gap started to close. London responded with a 7-2 run, rebuilding their double-digit lead, but Jesse Jones and Eric Ferguson were both there to knock it back down again.

On-target from beyond the arc and in the lane, KW went from down six to making it a single possession game before finally edging in front down the final stretch. Jones and Joel Kindred tried to put the game to bed ahead of the final minute, but Amir Williams knifed through the lane and got a layup to drop, leaving just a point standing between the teams.

A three from Ryan Taylor was followed by a free-thrown from Williams, putting London up 106-103, which would be the final score. KW threw the final result into doubt and were so close to snatching it, only for the Lightning to snatch it back from them with seconds left in an exciting end to proceedings.

Taylor led all on the floor with 24 points for London, who also saw 21 from Haley and Terry Thomas.

Marcus Ottey had his first NBLC start and was a rebound and assist short of a triple-double having put up 12 points in the contest. Five Titans players finished in double digits in the loss, with Chad Frazier the leader with 21.

The all-important win was London's and this one guaranteed them the number one seed in next months' playoffs. There's more to come since then and more analysis of the 2022 season, keep up to date with all the NBL Canada action over on their official website.