River Lions ending season with four at home

The math is simple now. The Niagara River Lions are three games out of a playoff spot with exactly four games, all at home, left.

The River Lions finished the road portion of their regular season schedule Sunday afternoon in Cape Breton, and dropped a 127-109 decision to the Highlanders.

The loss followed Saturday’ s 102-92 setback to the Halifax Hurricanes.

The Lions now sit at 11-25 overall, while the Orangeville A’s — the team they’re chasing — sport a 14-21 record.

The good news for Niagara is that two of their final four games are against the A’s.

“My message is the same as it has always been,” Niagara head coach Keith Vassell said when asked what his message will be to his players over the final four regular season games.

“We have to play tough defence to give us a chance to win at the end of the game. And we have to take advantage of what their (opposition) defence gives us.”

Sunday afternoon the River Lions scored a season high 38 points in the second quarter to take a 65-58 lead into halftime.

But Cape Breton outscored Niagara 69-44 in the second half, including 35-14 in the fourth quarter.

“We had a hard time getting a flow going in the fourth,” explained Vassell.

Scoop Jardine played his best game in a River Lions uniform draining a team-high 26 points, dishing out five assists and recording five steals, but seven Highlanders scored in doubledigits to lead the home side to victory.

“He (Jardine) finally played the way I know he can,” Vassell said.

Cape Breton nailed 19 three-pointers in the victory.

Niagara welcomes Moncton Friday night and Orangeville Sunday afternoon in what will be the most important game of the season for the second-year National Basketbal League of Canada franchise.

“Since being here I have coached, I think, five different River Lions teams,” said Vassell. “Leadership changes, different go-to players, and offensive systems.

“The players have been fantastic and have adapted to different situations while trying to win.”

Lion Pride: Both Clinton SpringerWilliams and Billy Rush are former River Lion players.

Cape Breton improved to (11-22) on the season with Sunday’s victory … Niagara is 2-3 vs. Orangeville this season. The tie breaker (if needed) is head-to-head games.