Looking for that Mile One Edge

St. John’s closing in on home-court advantage for first round of NBLC playoffs

The St. John’s Edge’s desire for home-court advantage when the National Basketball League of Canada playoffs begin next month must have been emphasized by the turnout for two weekend games at Mile One Centre.

The expansion Edge averaged about 4,250 fans as they split two games with the defending champion London Lightning. That’s well more than twice the league median attendance of around 1,950.

Given that sort of support, the Edge — who sit second in Central Division standings and third overall in the league — will want to get as much of it as possible come the post-season.

St. John’s magic number for clinching home-court advantage in the first round is three, based on any combination of Edge victories and losses by the Windsor Express, who are third in the Central Division.

St. John’s (22-13) can knock that magic number down to one with a win over the Express (17-15) Saturday, when it opens a three-game road trip in Windsor.

As for home-court advantage beyond the first round, St. John’s would have to overtake the Lightning and Halifax Hurricanes.

The Edge, Lightning and Hurricanes all have 44 points, but London (22-12) and Halifax (2211) have games in hand on St. John’s.

Vaulting over London and/ or Halifax might be a bit easier if the Edge faced those teams again during the regular season, but that’s not the case. Then again, beyond the Express, none of the St. John’s remaining games are against teams with winning records.

After taking on Windsor Saturday, the Edge the last-place KW Titans (5-27) in Kitchener Ont., on March 21 and the Niagara River Lions (13-19) on March 22. St. John’s finishes up its regular-season schedule with a couple of home games against the River Lions over the Easter weekend.