Executing the game plan
Storm rolls past Riptide with big fourth quarter
The Island Storm gained some momentum early in the fourth quarter and went on to a 104-92 win over the Saint John Riptide Wednesday in National Basketball League of Canada action at Harbour Station.
Rashad Whack scored 23 points to lead the Storm (15-19), while Gabe Freeman tallied 23 points and 10 boards for the Riptide (22-15), but the big man from Arizona played less than 25 minutes to manage his workload as the regular season winds down.
“I was pleased defensively, for sure,” Storm head coach Joe Salerno said. “I thought our guys got down and guarded. You have to run this team off the three-point line because they have so many weapons. That was part of the game plan and we executed it.
“We got outscored in the third quarter (22-17), but then for us to step up and score 33 in the fourth, it shows progress and I think we’re starting to peak at the right time.”
Horace Wormely connected from three-point land early in the fourth quarter, tying the contest 71-71. But Al Richter answered with a trey of his own to give the Island a three-point lead.
“Richter has hit some big shots for us all season,” Salerno said. “I just thought overall it was a good game for us. To hold Saint John to 92 points is something you’ll always take and always be happy with.”
The Storm led by five just past the midway mark of the fourth quarter. Wormely knocked down another triple to bring Saint John within six with two minutes left,
but Whack answered with two and the Storm got a big stop on
Saint John’s next possession. Mike Allison tallied two from the line for a 10-point lead with a minute left, essentially ending Saint John’s hopes of a comeback. Whack tacked on two more for good measure to complete the scoring.
“I give a lot of credit to P.E.I.,” Wormely said. “They played really good defence and they hit some big shots. They had a really good game plan.
“We actually got in the lane in the first half and got some good kickouts, but we just couldn’t make shots tonight. If you don’t make shots, you more than likely won’t win the game.”
Wormely will miss tonight’s game against the Cape Breton Highlanders. He’ll be in Birmingham, Ala., for the funeral of his paternal grandfather, Ralph Wormely, Jr. But the dynamic guard plans on being back for Sunday’s rematch with Cape Breton in Sydney, N.S.
“They hit big shots,” Saint John head coach Rob Spon said about the Storm.
“They hit a big three every time, but we also made a lot of mental mistakes. You’re not going to win many games with 17 turnovers, and they were at crucial times. They played tough defence, they played aggressive and they were the team that wanted it more.”
“I thought our guys got down and guarded. You have to run this team off the three-point line because they have so many weapons. That was part of the game plan and we executed it.’’ Island Storm head coach Joe Salerno