Super League Game of the Week: Shock from St. Louis Sees London Handed a Loss
In a packed long weekend of basketball which saw high scores and plenty exciting results, the stand out fixture was a real David and Goliath story which proved highly unpredictable and unfolded in ways no one expected.
This was the story of April 12th, where the London Lightning hosted the St. Louis Griffins. The lesser-known club from Missouri who only joined the competitive ranks last year seemed to be heavy outsiders going up against Canada's most decorated team, but at the Gardens they signalled big things ahead when they performed above and beyond expectations.
After seven lead changes to start proceedings London finally got a foothold on the game and catching fire from three-point territory late on, which put them ahead by the end of an eventful first quarter.
They then controlled the pace into the second quarter and reached a double-digit lead but the Griffins were in hot pursuit. Nine points without reply made it a single possession game and the teams jostled for the lead in the last minute of the first half, at the end of which they were tied at 64 points apiece.
Ranell Crossland started the second half by putting St Louis in front, his team mates then all stepping up and keeping that advantage with London threatening to take the lead back. After six points without reply the Griffins were now in control of the game with David Franklin and NiSean Rigamaiden making their presence felt from all distances on offence.
London began the fourth quarter with seven points unanswered, which tied the scores and now the game started to hang in the balance. St. Louis tried to keep hold of the lead but after an 11-2 run the Lightning were now six points in front.
Chris Jones and Billy White combined to put London up by nine with three minutes left, it looked like they had done enough, but almost immediately Courtney Stockard hit nine in a row to tie. Each time kept trying to put more points on the board but kept coming up short, until Rigmaiden got a three to drop which finally sealed the shock win for St. Louis
Rigamaiden led all with a near-triple double: 33 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists; Stockard had 25 points 10 boards for St. Louis, while there were double-doubles for both Chris Jones and Billy White in the loss.
A truly inspired performance from St. Louis ended in one of the biggest shock results of the Super League season, one that will live on in the memories of all who were there to see it, disappointedly for those in London and fondly for St. Louis.
