‘ Bad lulls’ hurt Lions
Niagara can’t weather Island Storm after slow start, poor third quarter to start east coast trip
Basketball is usually a game of runs, and that was very evident for the Niagara River Lions Thursday night in Charlottetown.
The River Lions, 4- 4, trailed the Island Storm 36- 14 at the end of the first quarter of play, only to battle all the way back and take a 66- 64 lead early in the third quarter.
However, the Island Storm, 5- 2, would outscore the Lions 58- 36 the rest of the way on their way to a 122- 102 final.
“I was very disappointed we started that way,” Niagara head coach Joe Raso said. “Our compete level, our effort level, I don’t feel good about that.”
Marvell Waithe led the River Lions with 25 points, while Guillaume Boucard recorded the double- double, scoring 23 points and coming down with 10 rebounds.
“We took so much energy to get ourselves out of the hole, and then it was almost as if we forget how we dug ourselves out of that hole,” Raso said. “We had two really bad lulls, one at the beginning of the game, and one in the third quarter.”
The first- year coach said he may have to tinker with starting lineup for the second time this season.
“Leadership – or that starting group, whatever it is – they’re just not coming out intense and maybe I’ve got to make a change,” he said. “We made one change ( already this season) when I brought ( Adam) Klie in, and maybe I’ve got to look at making another change, too.
“I am just dumbfounded with our starts.”
This was the first of seven straight road games for Niagara who fell to 0- 3 away from Meridian Centre.
“One of the things this team needs is that bonding, it needs that trust factor, and we can hopefully
get here on the road,” said Raso, who did add the team held a lengthy meeting after Thursday’s game.
“We just have to be better, and we need to win on the road.”
The Lions road trip continued Friday New Brunswick with night game against the Saint John Riptide. They visit the Cape Breton Highlanders for a 2 p. m. tipoff Sunday in Sydney, N. S.
Results of last night’s NiagaraSaint John game were unavailable at press time. A story is posted Shooting percentage: Niagara, 44.4; Island Storm, 45.9
Rebounds: Niagara, 49; Island Storm, 52
Turnovers: Niagara, 21; Island Storm, 21
Free throws, made- attempted: Niagara, 17- 21; Island Storm, 21- 25 Attendance at Harbour Station: 1,844
Next games for Niagara: last night, at Saint John Riptide; Sunday, at Cape Breton Highlanders, 2 p. m.
online at niagara falls review. ca and wellandtribune. ca.
Lion Pride: Every player except Connor Wood found the scoresheet for Niagara … The Island Storm led 57- 52 at the half, and 90- 79 heading into the fourth quarter … The River Lions have signed Jaywaun Hill. Hill, just won a championship playing professionally in Vietnam, and played college basketball at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. The 6- foot- 7 forward had two points and two rebounds in six minutes Thursday night.