Raso: River Lions must ‘ play to win’
Niagara players need to be ‘ more accountable’ after pro hoops team loses fourth in a row
Make no mistake, Joe Raso’s words were calm but pointed Saturday night at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.
After the National Basketball League of Canada team’s fourth straight loss, the Niagara River Lions head coach held a 15- minute, closed- door meeting.
“We have to get past the point where we’re playing because we’re getting paid,” he said following the meeting and 107- 104 loss to the St. John’s Edge.
“We have to play because we want to win.”
Niagara, 12- 17, has lost its last three games by a total of seven points.
“You’re getting paid to play, but it’s not a 9- to- 5 job,” Raso said. “Your effort, your attitude — you have to play to win.”
What made Saturday’s loss even tougher was the fact Niagara played a tremendous second half, taking a 16- point second quarter deficit down to a single point with 1: 12 left in the fourth quarter.
With the visitors from Newfoundland leading 106- 104 with 15 seconds remaining in regulation, Lions point guard Jaylon Tate slipped off an inbounds play causing a turnover and Sam Muldrow committed a foul — his sixth of the contest — and fouling out of the game.
Alex Johnson would make one of two free throws to round out the scoring, and send a raucous 2,354 fans home disappointed.
“The way we played in the second half had some stuff in it like effort, desire and accountability,” Raso said. “Those three things were missing in the first half.”
Tate’s line on the night was impressive: 23 points, including shooting 12- of- 12 from the free throw line, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
Guillaume Boucard led Niagara in scoring with 25 points to go along with nine rebounds, while Adam Klie netted 11 points, pulled down seven rebounds and dished out five assists.
Canadian Basketball veteran, but National Basketball League of Canada rookie, Carl English led St. John’s, 17- 10, with 22 points.
The River Lions wrap up a threegame homestand next Sunday against the London Lightning, before travelling to Windsor on March 3. The Lions will then play seven straight home games in March.
With the league trade deadline set for Monday at midnight, Raso had this message: “After the second half tonight, now here’s the standard level that’s accepted. We have to hold you ( players) accountable. That’s the standard level, and we’re not allowing that standard level to change at practice, we’re not allowing that standard level to change anywhere.
“And if you don’t want to be a part of that, this is not the place for you.”
Lion Pride: Matt Marshall, a former Brock Badger, made his season debut for the River Lions late in the first half … Carl Hall did not play in the second half for Niagara … The third quarter has been the Lions Achilles heel of late, but the team shot 56 per cent from the floor during the third quarter Saturday night … The 37- year old English is a Canadian basketball legend of sorts. The St. John’s native has represented Team Canada for 18 years and has played professionally in Italy, Croatia, Spain and Greece.