Tate leads Lions to second
Last week Joe Raso was talking about his team coming together on the road and picking up their first victory away from Meridian Centre. Mission accomplished.
The Niagara River Lions improved to 6-4 on the season and 2-1 on their current seven-game road trip with a thrilling come from behind 113109 overtime win against the Cape Breton Highlanders Sunday afternoon.
The River Lions trailed this game by 18 points midway through the second quarter.
“This has been a gruelling trip,” said Raso, the Lions’ first-year head coach.
“Geography has been horrendous. Starting in P.E.I. then going to Saint John (New Brunswick), and then driving all the way up here (Nova Scotia).” Jaylon Tate, making his second start of the season at the point-guard position, led Niagara, and all scorers, with 25 points to go along with eight assists.
“I’m seeing a ton of confidence in Jaylon, and seeing a guy who wants to get a whole lot better,” Raso said.
“And more importantly, when he makes a mistake he owns it. And the good thing is he doesn’t make the same mistake twice.”
And while Tate was putting up a career high in points, veteran Omar Strong was his crafty self chipping in with 23 points off the bench.
“Often we’ll play Omar off of Jaylon, because Omar has played the two (shooting guard position),” said Raso.
The River Lions trailed 60-50 at the half, but held the Highlanders to just 14 thirdquarter points.
“I thought at halftime we needed an attitude change, more than anything else,” Raso explained.
“We just starting stepping up, and gutting it out. It was a great
win.”
The Lions continue their play
away from home Thursday night in Windsor before travelling to London on Friday.
“You’re not looking too far down the road,” said Raso.
“We were looking at this as a three-game road trip and then next this week as a two-game road trip. I think that’s the best way of handling things.”
Lion Pride: The River Lions were playing without forward Dwayne Smith due to injury and lost Marvell Waithe in the third quarter after he was elbowed in the nose … Guillaume Boucard and Connor Wood both fouled out of this game for Niagara … The Lions’ six wins are the most in the league, but they’ve played the most games (10).