No place like home for River Lions
Niagara sweeps Saskatchewan Rattlers in season series to remain undefeated at home
You can excuse the Niagara River Lions for confusing home court with the winner’s circle.
So far this season, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) team is a lights-out 7-0 at home, compared to a pedestrian 3-3 away from Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.
If familiarity breeds contentment on the hardwood, the lack of familiarity may contribute to opposite results.
“There are a few cases when we get on the road that we don’t get into the same routine. That might change our mindset a little bit,” Guillaume Boucard suggested after putting up 13 points and coming down with seven rebounds in a 97-89 victory over the visiting Saskatchewan Rattlers Friday night. “We’re not as aggressive at the start on the road, so I think there are a few things we need to correct.”
Niagara rebounded from a 105-99 road loss to the Edmonton Stingers to improve to 4-0 versus Saskatchewan and a leagueleading 10-3 overall.
Boucard, the River Lions’ player of the month for June, suggested the importance of having an opponent’s number in league play can’t be overestimated. He said seeds of doubt planted during the regular season could bear fruit come playoff time.
“It’s a mental game. We want to enter the playoffs not giving them the thought that they can beat us,” he said.
While the River Lions are playing their first season as one of six founding franchises in the fledgling spring-summer pro league, this is Boucard’s second time playing hoops in Niagara. He played with the River Lions in 2017-18, in their last season in the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC).
Last season, the 29-year-old Montreal native competed in the fall-winter NBLC with the Island Storm, in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Except for the flipped schedules, the six-six forward doesn’t believe there’s much difference between the two pro leagues.
“It’s a competitiveness mindset in both. You’re here to win,” he said. “You’re here to get better, so that stays the same.
“We have a great competitive group that challenges each other every day. They just keep going.”
The Carleton University graduate knew what to expect coming into the CEBL’s inaugural season as a member of the River Lions.
“I know the coach, because I played with him at Carleton, and we’ve known each other for a while now,” Boucard said.
“I was comfortable with the system that he was going to run, and I kind of knew what I was going to get into.”
He is finding no difference between Victor Raso the teammate and Victor Raso the coach.
“There’s not that much difference. He cares. He’s competitive,” Boucard said. “He wants the best for his players.”
CEBL rosters are stocked with players who opted to stay on the court after completing fall-winter seasons in North America and overseas.
Boucard intends the make the most of the opportunity to hone his skills.
“This is a great time to get better,” he said. “Obviously, you play to win, but you also want to get better and get ready for the playoffs.”
In the autumn, he will be returning to France to play professionally.
Boucard, who won five straight Canadian men’s university championships at Carleton, spent his first season after graduating from the Ottawa university competing in the French NM1 League.
Trae Bell-Haynes, with 21 points; Yohanny Dalembert, Ryan Anderson, 14 apiece; Alex Johnson, 11; and Sam Muldrow, 10; also scored in double digits for the River Lions over Saskatchewan.
Dalembert had a game-high 12 rebounds, Dorian Pinson and Boucard seven each.
Niagara outscored the visitors from Saskatoon 26-22 in points off turnovers, and 34-16 in fast-break points in the final game of the season series between the two teams.
Next Thursday’s schedule has the River Lions in Abbotsford, B.C., playing the Fraser Valley Bandits.
Their next home game is a 7 p.m. tipoff Saturday, July 20, against Fraser Valley.
Niagara is 1-0 versus the Bandits this season.
Niagara’s balanced attack on offence is reflected in the scoring stats.
Seven players are averaging double digits 13 games into the 20-game season: Boucard, 15.5; Bell-Haynes, 14.6; Anderson, 14.5; Pinson, 12.8; Nem Mitrovic, 11.9; Kassius Robertson, 11.3; Johnson, 10.2.
Pinson, with an average of 7.9 per game; Boucard, 7.3; and Dalembert, 5.5; are the top rebounders on the team.
Pinson and Johnson are averaging 4.2 and 3.9 assists. respectively.