Stand up and cheer
Vipers hoping home cooking is right recipe to help get team back in win column
The Valley Vipers will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak Friday, May 5, when they hit the floor at Acadia University.
The Vipers (1-5) host the Moncton Motion (4-3) at Stu Aberdeen Court before the Bathurst Bears (1-7) come to town on Saturday, May 6. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. both nights.
Vipers head coach Eric Perry said it could use strong fan support as it defends home court.
“Through thick and thin, we need our fans. They’re going to help us more than they know with their energy and cheering us on,” he said.
A month into the season, the Vipers lone win came April 16 in Charlottetown. The team struggled early with its starts, but Perry said the squad has improved in that area in recent contests.
“Guys are really starting to buy in to the defensive end,” he said.
The team continues to build chemistry with 10 guys from across North America playing together for the first time.
“We’re going through our growing pains,” the bench boss acknowledged. “And that’s OK because at the end of the day, once we go through those and everybody knows how to play with each other, the results will take care of itself.”
The Bears defeated the Saint John Union 105-96 May 1 for their first win of the season.
RECENT GAMES
Valley closed out April with a pair of road losses.
The Vipers lost 114-101 to the Union April 30 in the Port City.
Mikey Rodriquez led Saint John with 25 points. Anthony Ottley had a game-high 28
points for the Vipers while Alex Muise scored 23 and JoBreil Power chipped in 18.
Saint John led 59-48 at halftime.
The Motion defeated the Vipers 102-81 April 27 at the Avenir Centre in Moncton.
Robbie Robinson led the Motion with a game-high 36 points.
Power paced the Vipers with 18 points while Muise and Ottley added 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Moncton held a 44-41 lead at halftime before holding Valley to 13 third-quarter points.
Muise, an Acadia Axemen graduate from Bedford, has made a nice transition to the pro ranks in the first-year league.
“He’s learning on the fly how to be a point guard,” Perry said, noting he’s shooting the ball well and getting the rock to his teammates in good scoring positions. “He’s been a great addition to this team.”
Off the court, he’s also helped his teammates adjust and find their way around the local community.
“He’s been awesome and that’s someone you can’t take for granted,” Perry said.
HOME COURT
The Vipers were supposed to play their home games at the Kings Mutual Century Centre in Berwick, but a flooring issue has meant the team has not played there this season. There has been no announcement when they will move to Berwick.