River Lions close out season with big win
Joe Raso says it was the best defensive effort his team put together all season long.
The Niagara River Lions head coach is more than pleased his team is heading into the playoffs on a winning note, after the Lions roared past the St. John’s Edge 99-88 Monday night in Newfoundland.
“It was a hard win,” Raso said. “Guys stepped up without Kris (Joseph) and came off the bench and held the fort down.
“I think we’re playing harder, and we didn’t shoot the ball really well (42.2 per cent from the field) but we just kept working.
“We were the hardest-working team on the court, and that’s how you win.”
Despite trailing 24-22 at the end of the first quarter of play, Niagara outscored St. John’s 27-15 in the second quarter and never looked back.
The River Lions also committed a seasonlow six turnovers in the victory.
Guillaume Boucard, who’s been battling the flu, led the Lions with 20 points, while Devonta Pollard added 19 as Niagara wrapped up the regular season with a 17-23 record.
“G (Boucard) has been sicker than a dog,” said Raso. “It was good for G, and you know the secret for G is simple: When he just worries about defence and takes care of that end, the other end takes care of itself automatically.”
Niagara’s fourth-place finish in the National Basketball League of Canada Central Division standings sets up an opening-round playoff series against the first-place London Lightning, 27-13.
“You can’t let London steal your confidence,” Raso explained as the River Lions were 0-6 against the Lightning this season.
“You can’t let them beat you with their reputation. You have to go in there and make it a basketball game. You can’t make it an athlete for athlete, or throw your resumes on the table, it’s got to be a game, and you have to outwork them.
“Teams that beat them, and the games they lost were when teams outworked them.”
After Monday’s win, and with his team’s effort over their past three games, Raso offered this to his team heading into the postseason:
“There’s no time in the season that I’d like to be going into the playoffs more than right now.”
Lion Pride: Kris Joseph (ankle) did not dress for Niagara but could have, according to Raso ... Joe Rocca is still battling a touch of the flu and played only three minutes in the win ... Torrence Dyck Jr. suffered an ankle injury and his status is unknown for the playoffs ... St. John’s Carl English needed 30 points to win the league scoring title, but was held to just seven in 23 minutes of action ... London’s Royce White, 24.7 points per game, claimed the title.