Basketball

Halifax misses chance to win Game 3 but aiming for Game 4 victory Saturday in Charlottetown

The Island Storm will host the Halifax Hurricanes in a very important playoff game in the National Basketball League of Canada at Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown on Saturday night. The Storm leads the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final 2-1, and will be looking to take a commanding 3-1 lead before returning to Halifax for Game 5 next week.

The Halifax Hurricanes seemed poised to win Game 3 of the Atlantic Division final against the Island Storm Thursday in Charlottetown.

That didn’t happen and the Storm took a 2-1 lead in the National Basketball League of Canada best-of-seven matchup.

Halifax, down four points to the Island Storm with 1:46 left in the fourth quarter, had the momentum. Renaldo Dixon had just hit his second straight three-point shot and eighth point in a minute and a half to cut the Storm’s lead to 95-91. Storm head coach Joe Salerno called a timeout to stop the bleeding.

And the Storm, as its had several times earlier in the game, closed ranks and contained the Hurricanes before the run expanded.

For Storm forward Tirrell Baines, that must continue when Game 4 goes Saturday. Game time is 7 p.m. at Eastlink Centre.

“We knew they would make their runs during the game. We have to have the same game plan (Saturday), defend hard and everybody rebounding as a group,” said Baines.

Out of the timeout, Al Stewart forced a foul at 1:28, hit two free throws and gave the Storm a 97-91 lead.

Dixon missed a three-point attempt on the next possession and Jahii Carson grabbed the rebound. Carson missed his shot on the other end, which Dixon corralled, but it had taken the clock down to 53 seconds. On the subsequent possession, Storm guard Rashad Whack drew a charging foul and a turnover on the Hurricanes Antoine Mason at 45 seconds. Whack then hit a two-pointer

20 seconds later for a 97-91 edge. Joey Haywood’s two-point attempt missed and from there Halifax was forced to foul to stop the clock

But Baines and Carson each made two free throws which salted away the game.

Halifax head coach Mike Leslie said aside from the late game misses the Hurricanes were in Game 3 and the outcome won’t

affect his team’s outlook for Game 4.

“We’re going to try and win the ball game. I’m ok with where we’re at. I liked the quality of shots (in Game 3). I liked the looks. I thought we were playing good,” he said.

Game 5 is a Monday matinee in Halifax, N.S. Tipoff is 2 p.m. Game 6, if necessary, is Tuesday, at 7 p.m., at the Link.