Game 1 loss to London had English in a foul mood

The London Lightning may have defeated the St. John’s Edge in the National Basketball League of Canada’s Central Division final, but Edge star Carl English were there for the taking.

He goes back to Game 1 of the series, a 140-133 London victory in double overtime, a game English believes St. John’s should have won. In hindsight, he says, it was the series turning point.

The Edge were in a position to win the game in the first extra session, with a three-point lead and 18 seconds left on the clock.

The Lightning had ball possession and eventually London’s Kyle Johnson nailed a three-pointer with four seconds left.

English said the Edge should have fouled before it got to that point, arguing the best the Lightning could have done was sink two free throws, with the Edge taking possession with four, five or six seconds left and up by one.

“That’s the decision our coaching staff made there. They don’t believe in that (fouling), but that’s a difference of opinion. My opinion, obviously,” English said, with a clear shot across coach Jeff Dunlap’s bow.

“That set the tone, in my opinion, for the rest of the series. We controlled that whole game and to me that changed the whole series.

“That’s a classic mistake of people not used to playing professional basketball. I’ve played in Europe for 14 years and if you don’t do that, you’re probably not on the team the next day.”