Peaking at right time
Island Storm playing its best ball of season as it prepares to host Saint John in NBL playoff action this weekend
The Island Storm played possibly its best game of the season Thursday to earn a split of the opening two National Basketball League of Canada quarterfinal games.
They defeated the Saint John Riptide with a convincing 103-79 victory. And they did it without standout guard Terry Thomas.
The Storm has been a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type of club this season, playing like champs one night and terribly the next. The Storm with a little luck could have won both games in the Port City this week, as they held a small fourth quarter lead in the opener before losing by five. Playing two back-to-back solid games on the road must be encouraging for head coach Joe Salerno and owner Duncan Shaw as the scene now shifts to Eastlink Centre for Games 3 and 4 tonight at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Two reasons for the Storm’s inconsistent regular season could be the line-up has undergone more changes than any other team in the NBL and the team has had more than its share of injuries to key players. Right now, they’re playing like a team that’s starting to put all the pieces of a successful playoff club together and it couldn’t happen at a better time. The Storm has a solid club team with a superlative backcourt in Jahii Carson, Thomas, Al Stewart and Rashad Whack.
Six-foot-six forward Akeem Ellis appears to have taken over as the emotional and spiritual leader and the big man has a nice touch too. In Thursday’s win Carson, Whack, Stewart and forward Al Richter as well as Ellis helped make up for the loss of Thomas, who is not just a great scorer but the Storm’s best defender.
Most fans, whom regularly follow the Storm, will tell you they’re much better than their 16-24 regular season record indicates and I’m one of them. If they wish to put away Saint John, who finished second in the Atlantic division at 22-18, they’ll need to continue their great play. The Storm held Saint John standout Anthony Anderson, the league’s best pure shooter, to nine points but that’s not likely to happen again. The Riptide has another sharpshooter in Gabe Freeman and depth in Darin Mency and pair of ex-Storm forwards in Olu Famutimi and Brian Addison.
If the Storm can win both home, the team advances to the Atlantic final against the winner of the Halifax-Moncton series.
The Storm is starting to live up to their pre-season hype, and you can see for yourself what the excitement is all about.
Condolences
Terry Allen, who worked tirelessly as a volunteer with P.E.I. tackle football league and served in numerous capacities with soccer in this province, passed away in British Columbia. He was a sports broadcaster in Cape Breton before moving to P.E.I. where he lived and worked for about 30 years. He was a good guy and he’ll be missed.
Metros
Former Sherwood Parkdale defenceman Steve Gallant will be joining ex-Metros star and New York Rangers forward Darren Langdon at the Faceoff Against Cancer hockey tournament later this month with a host of ex-NHL stars. The many ex-Metros out there should be putting in a team with Gallant as coach. Come on boys join. Contact Margaret at mwilton@ pei.cancer.ca or 566-1713.
Harness racing
Live harness racing continues tonight with a 14-dash card starting at 6 p.m., so get there early as the Storm is in action tonight and the shared parking lot will be crowded.
The $2,400 feature goes in Race 14 and the two favourites Mr Irresistible and Adkins Hanover will start from the outside in the eight-horse field.
Today is Kentucky Derby day and the afternoon simulcast card from Louisville looks like a dandy.
At the Meadowlands tonight, Western Fame (Mark MacDonald) has the rail in one of the $50,000 graduate events. This afternoon, MacDonald is at The Meadows with Blood Line, a Takter Little Brown Jug hopeful.
At Mohawk earlier this week, Bettim Chris stepped to a new lifetime best of 1:53:2 for trainer Richard Moreau and driver Louie Philippe Roy in an $18,000 overnight. The Brandons Cowboy colt is co-owned by Jeff Lilley, Dan Purcell and Blair MacLauchlan.
At Yonkers tonight, Takter’s Great Vintage has the rail in the $55,000 open, while Barn Doll has been assigned the outside spot in the $55,000 open trot.
I’ve just received word of the passing of longtime CDP paddock judge Butch Ward, who had been a fixture at the city track for 30-plus year. He was a top goaltender in the city in his youth, drove and trained horses and looked after the paddock in a professional manner. He was a great guy and will be missed. My condolences to all connected to this gentleman.