Lightning’s early lead too much for the Express
London keeps foot on gas, capturing third straight win in four nights
It wasn’t the typical nailbiting fourth quarter, but London Lightning fans can’t be too disappointed.
The Bolts (15-16) charged out to an early 31-2 advantage and never took their feet off the gas in a 132109 win over the Windsor Express (14-12) Sunday afternoon at Budweiser Gardens.
It was London’s third straight win after playing four games in five nights. Three of those were against the Express. The Lightning lost 121-88 in Windsor Wednesday and edged the Express 147-144 in double overtime Thursday in London.
Sunday’s win was also the Bolts’ second consecutive complete team effort after overwhelming the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans 134-108 Saturday night at the Bud. The Lightning were sharing the ball, being patient with their shots and they were also locked in on defence.
“I think we’ve had at least 30 assists for the last three nights and that’s what we have to play like to be successful,” Lightning coach Elliott Etherington said.
The coach said having a full and healthy roster has helped the Bolts open up the last couple games with greater intensity.
“Our starters are able to come out with passion and energy,” he said. “Not having to play a lot of minutes (Saturday) night certainly helped them and our bench was in a rhythm because they got to play a lot of minutes (Saturday) night.”
Maurice Bolden, who finished with 21 points, said the team has been talking all season about playing as a unit, but in the last three games, it’s actually started to happen.
“In practices we have been focused on things we need to get better at,” Bolden said. “Guys have actually been thinking about what they are doing — having some awareness of their game … communicating more.”
He added that the Lightning have been beating themselves too often by playing to the level of their competition instead of to their full potential.
“When we go out there and compete with ourselves and do what we are supposed to do, we should be in a position to win every game,” he said.
Bolden said the Lightning are looking to make plays for each other and foregoing good shot opportunities for great ones. “The ball movement has been so much better these last few games and that’s putting good energy on the ball and those shots are going in because the right shots are being taken,” he said.
Most importantly, Bolden said, the players have to love what they do.
“You have to be passionate about it defensively and offensively,” he said. “You have to stay mentally strong when times get tough because the game is an up-and-down game.”
AJ Gaines led the Lightning off the bench for the second straight night, scoring 25 points. Kevin Ware Jr. scored 18 points and had nine of the Lightning ’s 37 assists. Marcus Capers and Garrett Williamson scored 15 points and Marvin Phillips had 14.
Chris Jones was the top scorer for the Express with 32.
The Express pushed back in the second quarter, cutting the Lightning’s lead to 69-53 at halftime. Windsor made some runs but never came closer than 14 points. “Once you dig yourself a hole that deep, 44 points in the first quarter, it’s difficult,” said Windsor interim coach Aaron McDonald. “The shots weren’t dropping, but we didn’t sprint back on transition defence. Blocking out and rebounding, right now that’s our Achilles heel and it’s something we have to correct.
“We have to bounce back from it. This is one game. We can’t get discouraged. We have to go back — it starts in practice — and do all the little things, fundamentally, to keep moving forward.”
The Lightning will look to build on their new-found momentum when they play host Saturday night to the Sudbury Five and Sunday afternoon to Kitchener-Waterloo.
“We cannot be happy with three in a row because we are still below .500,” Etherington said. “So we have to keep pushing and grinding and figuring out a way to continue to get wins.”
When we go out there and compete with ourselves and do what we are supposed to do, we should be in a position to win every game.