A dream come true
Muise, Powell enjoy playing pro with ECBL's Valley Vipers
Alex Muise rose up and hit a trey in a gym he has spent countless hours in during the past four years.
But this shot was different. He wasn’t wearing an Acadia Axemen jersey but playing professional basketball for the Valley Vipers of the Eastern Canadian Basketball League (ECBL).
“I know these rims well, so it was nice to see that first shot go down,” he said following the April 23 game at Stu Aberdeen Court.
The shot came midway through the first quarter and gave the home side an early 13-6 lead in their home opener against the undefeated Truro Tide. But the Vipers couldn’t hold the lead and the Tide withstood a late push for a 115-99 victory.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” said Tide forward Tyrone Watson, who had a game-high 29 points.
The two teams played in the league’s first game on March 30 when Valley only dressed seven players.
“They still worked their butts off and they gave us a good game. They got some good players and they got some guys that can really score,” said Watson, a wellknown commodity from his time playing in the National Basketball League of Canada with Halifax and coaching with St. F.X. University.
“We knew they were going to be fired up. We have a target on our backs. We came in at 6-0, everybody wants to beat us,” the veteran added. “I keep telling the guys, ‘When you’re in first place, you can’t look past anybody. … Everybody is going to give us their best game.’”
Watson said the team has been able to quickly jell into a cohesive unit.
“Because of our bond and our unity, it has allowed us to mesh very easily.”
Tide head coach Pat Havard said he isn’t putting too much stock in being atop the standings at this point in the season.
“We have a long way to go and a lot of improvements (to make) if we want to be the top team at the end,” he said.
The Vipers held the early lead, but the Tide came back and held 32-29, 59-47 and 87-72 quarter leads. Despite falling behind, the Vipers kept pushing to get back during the game and cut the deficit to single digits in the fourth quarter.
It is one of the qualities head coach Eric Perry likes about his team.
“They don’t give up,” he said. “Even when we’re facing adversity … the guys will still fight to the very end.”
Perry said the team started better after finding itself down by double digits in the first quarter of previous games.
“We actually came out and threw the first punch,” he said. “We just need to go ahead and sustain it for four quarters and not just do it in spurts.”
HOME GAME
The Vipers (1-3) had to move the game from their home base at the Kings Mutual Century Centre in Berwick to Acadia due to a flooring issue. It was not immediately known when the team will be able to play in Berwick.
About 300 people attended the opener in Wolfville.
“It was good to see a lot of the youth come out and get a chance to watch some local pro basketball in their own town,” Perry said. “I am hoping these kids can find a player they can latch onto that they really like.”
Havard said he would like to see more fans in the stands.
“I think people are underestimating how good this league is,” he said, suggesting people give it a chance. “I don’t think there’s too many people leaving this gym today saying it wasn’t a good game.”
PLAYING PRO
Muise, who finished the evening with nine points, said it is nice to have the opportunity to play pro games.
“It’s something that I’ve dreamed about for a long time,” the Bedford native said. “After finishing up (at Acadia) this year, it’s nice to just keep playing, and keep progressing, in a game that I love.”
The fact that it comes close to home helps as he had friends and family in the stands at the home opener.
“My parents were here tonight, which is huge. They haven’t missed a game that I have played in years.”
JoBreil Powell is also taking his first steps as a pro.
The Minneapolis, Minn., native played for Washburn University’s junior varsity team in Topeka, Kan. They played against junior colleges (JUCOs). He heard about the Maritime circuit through social media and reached out to league officials.
“This is my dream, this is what I work hard for and they gave me an opportunity,” he said.
“It’s really truly a blessing to be able to be out here and get an opportunity to play.”
Powell said he is enjoying taking part in community events and meeting the fans.
NEXT STEPS
Powell said improvements will come as the players get more comfortable with each other. The team’s final player arrived during the past week.
“We’re figuring out everybody’s role, we’re figuring out what we need to do to get better each and every day,” he said.
“Watch out for the Valley Vipers because we are coming. We’re going to be exciting.”
It is obvious to Perry where the improvements will come from.
“It’s our defence,” he said. “It’s something we will get better at because we can’t allow 100 points to a team every single night. It’s just not going to get it done.”