National Basketball League of Canada Weekly Report
Published on January 2, 2012 under National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada) News Release
NBL TEAM REPORTS
Halifax Rainmen
1888 Brunswick Street, Suite 611
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3J8
Phone: (902) 444-RAIN, (902) 444-7246
Fax: 1-866-424-4267
Head Coach: Josep Claros
Home arena: Halifax MetroCentre
rainmenbasketball.ca
Last week, the Halifax Rainmen set an NBL Canada scoring record, amassing 125 points in a road win against the Oshawa Power. One week later, the Nova Scotia Crew welcomed Oshawa to the Metro Centre, and once again set a new NBL Canada scoring achievement, with a 133-99 win over Oshawa. Leading the way in scoring for Halifax was Lawrence Wright, putting 28 points on the scoreboard - including going 6-for-8 from 3-point range. Tyrone Levett added 19 points, and Eric Crookshank scored 15 points. Halifax went 13-for-22 from beyond the 3-point arc; as opposed to Oshawa's 3-for-16 3-point shooting.
London Lightning
358 Horton Street E.
London, Ontario N6B 1L7
Phone: (519) 433-0634
Fax: (519) 433-9849
Head Coach: Micheal Ray Richadson
Home arena: John Labatt Centre
lightningbasketball.ca
In what could very well be a postseason preview, the London Lightning traveled to Quebec City for a Tuesday afternoon post-Christmas battle with the Kebs. However, this time the Kebs proved to be the victor, snagging a 94-79 win over London. Shamari Spears came off the bench to lead London in scoring with 18 points; DeAnthony Bowden added 17 for the Lightning. Gabe Freeman had a double-double of 13 rebounds and 10 points for London.
Next up for London was a trip to New Brunswick, to take on the Saint John Mill Rats on Thursday night. On this night, Gabe Freeman scored 20 points; Rodney Buford scored 20 points; and London cruised to a 104-93 victory to remain atop the standings. Freeman had a double- double with a team-high 17 rebounds; while Buford amassed two steals. Tim Ellis had seven assists; while DeAnthony Bowden amassed 6 assists and 18 points.
Freeman's scoring improved on Sunday afternoon, as London beat Moncton 103-83 at the John Labatt Centre for the Lightning's league- leading 14 th win. Freeman scored 30 points and pulled down nine rebounds in the win. Tim Ellis had 17 rebounds for London; Taylor King had 11 rebounds as well.
Moncton Miracles
740 Rue Main Street
Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 1E6
Team phone: (506) 204-7730
Team fax: (506) 204-7840
Head Coach: Mike Evans
Home arena: Moncton Coliseum
miraclesbasketball.ca
Mike Evans' Moncton Miracles, winners of two of their last three games, hoped to keep the momentum in their favour on the road in Oshawa. But in one of their roughest performances of the season, the Miracles were shut down 94-71 against the Power. Kevin Francis' 15 points and 11 rebounds led all Moncton players in those categories. Sylvania Watkins had 13 rebounds and 8 boards.
Moncton's fortunes did not improve as they finished their Ontario swing; on Sunday afternoon, in a game against the London Lightning, Moncton was stopped 103-83. Trayvon Lathan finished with 21 points and 9 rebounds, while Andrew Francis added 17 points.
Oshawa Power
99 Athol St. East
Oshawa, Ontario L1H-1J8
Phone: (289) 315-0520
Phone: 1-877-554-8457
Head Coach: Robert Brickey
Home Arena: General Motors Centre
powerbasketball.ca
With new coach Robert Brickey at the helm on Thursday night, the Oshawa Power defeated Moncton 94-71, as Morgan Lewis returned to score 20 points for the Power. Lewis also had two blocked shots and two steals in the game. Akeem Wright had 17 points and 9 rebounds, while Omari Johnson had 15 points and 9 boards. The win ends Oshawa's 6-game losing streak.
One day later, the Power welcomed the Quebec Kebs to the General Motors Centre. Although Omari Johnson scored 29 points, 27 points for Brandon Robinson and 21 points from Tut Ruach, Oshawa could not stop the Kebs, and lost 104-96. Omari Johnson's points included 10 rebounds, while Ruach went 13-for-13 from the free throw line.
The Power hoped to start 2012 with a win; however, despite 21 points from Brandon Robinson and a 13-point, 11-board double-double from Omari Johnson, the Power lost 133-99 on the road in Halifax. The 133 points are the most ever given up by an NBL team this season.
Québec Kebs
300,rue Métivier
Quebec City, Quebec G1M 3Y9
Office: 418-780-4850
Fax: 418-683-3232
Head coach: Rob Spon
Home arena: Pavillon de l'éducation physique et des sports de l'Université Laval
kebsdequebec.com/en (English)
kebsdequebec.com (Français)
The Quebec Kebs played two weekday afternoon games this week, a rarity for the National Basketball League of Canada. However, their first home game - a Tuesday afternoon battle with the first-place London Lightning - saw the Kebs race out to a 94-79 triumph for les bleu, rouge et blanc. Ralphy Holmes continued his chase for the NBL scoring title, as he racked up 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Kebs. Jermaine Blackburn added 27, while James "Boo" Jackson pulled down a team- high 14 rebounds.
One day later, Quebec's home court was packed with fans, and the Kebs welcomed Summerside to PEPS. But despite 20+ points from three of their stars, Ralphy Holmes (25), Royce Parran (22) and Jermaine Blackburn (20), the Kebs were not able to withstand the Storm, and lost 100-92. Holmes also led the Kebs with 12 rebounds; Parran had six assists.
On Friday night, the Kebs improved their position in the standings with a 104-96 road win over the Oshawa Power. With Ralphy Holmes sitting out the game with an illness, Rick Bodiford stepped up with a team-high 23 points, including 10-for-12 from the floor. Cedric Moodie also had a good game with 17 points; Ricky Volcy and James "Boo" Jackson had eight rebounds apiece.
Saint John Mill Rats
133 Prince William Street, Suite 9
Saint John, NB E2L 2B5
Office: (506) 214-4454
Fax: (506) 652-1562
Head Coach: Jaren Jackson
Home Venue: Harbour Station
millratsbasketball.ca
Although Anthony Anderson's 31 points and 11 assists Thursday night kept him in the running for the NBL's scoring title, he wasn't able to give the Mill Rats a much-needed win against London; and in the end, the Mill Rats were knocked out 104-93. Besides Anderson, only Steve DeLuca (18) and Kevin Francis (11) were able to get double figures for the Mill Rats. Antoine Tisby's 9 rebounds topped all Saint John board- gatherers.
Anderson had another team-leading night on Saturday, as the Mill Rats closed out 2011 with a 103-89 road victory over the Summerside Storm. Anderson had 24 points and 10 assists for a solid double-double. Isaac Kuon came off the bench to score 16 points for Saint John; Antoine Tisby pulled down a team-high 19 rebounds.
Summerside Storm
511 Notre Dame Street
Summerside, Prince Edward Island C1N 1T2
Phone: (902) 432-1234
Fax: (902)-436-4596
Head Coach: Joseph Salerno
Home Venue: Consolidated Credit Union Place
stormbasketball.ca
Don't look now, but Joe Salerno's Summerside Storm may still have some life left in them. On Wednesday afternoon, the Storm surged into Quebec City's home court and defeated the Kebs 100-92. In the victory, Mike Williams had 19 points, including going 11-for-14 from free throw range; Williams also added 11 rebounds. Louie McCroskey added 18 points, while Xavier Hansbro had 12 boards in the Summerside victory.
Hansbro continued his rebounding barrage, yanking down 14 boards in the Storm's 103-89 loss to the Saint John Mill Rats. In the loss, Troy Jackson led the Prince Edward Islanders with 22 points, while Al Stewart amassed 18 points; Mike Williams finished with 14 points and five steals. Game reports compiled via team press releases, and from articles appearing in newspapers from the teams' home locations.
NBL CANADA TRANSACTIONS
December 28, 2011 - Oshawa Power named Robert Brickey as new head coach.
December 28, 2011 - Saint John Mill Rats signed Drew Stratton. Released Will Blalock.
December 30, 2011 - London Lightning signed Braxton Dupree.
NBL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
The National Basketball League of Canada is pleased to announce that London Lightning forward Gabe Freeman has been named Player of the Week for the week ending January 1, 2012. This is the second time that Freeman has earned the honour this season. Freeman averaged a double-double of 21 points and 13.3 rebounds in three games, including two wins, for the first-place Lightning. His high scoring game came on January 1, 2012, when he scored 30 points in a 103-83 win over Moncton. One game earlier, he pulled down 17 rebounds in a 104-93 London win over Saint John.
Previous NBL Player of the Week Honours:
November 6, 2011 - Gabe Freeman, London Lightning.
November 13, 2011 - Joey Haywood, Halifax Rainmen.
November 20, 2011 - Anthony Anderson, Saint John Mill Rats.
November 28, 2011 - Chris Cayole, Summerside Storm.
December 4, 2011 - Ralphy Holmes, Quebec Kebs.
December 11, 2011 - Justin Johnson, Halifax Rainmen.
December 18, 2011 - Darrell Wonge, Moncton Miracles.
December 25, 2011 - Ralphy Holmes, Quebec Kebs.
January 1, 2012 - Gabe Freeman, London Lightning.
NBL COACH OF THE MONTH
The National Basketball League of Canada is pleased to announce that Josep Claros has been named Coach of the Month for December 2011. In December, Claros guided Halifax to a 7-1 record, the best winning percentage of any NBL Canada team. The 7-1 record includes a current 6-game winning streak.
November, 2011 - Micheal Ray Richardson, London Lightning.
December, 2011 - Josep Claros, Halifax Rainmen.
National Basketball League of Canada Stories from January 2, 2012
- Freeman Awarded His Second Player of the Week - London Lightning
- NBL Canada Names Coach, Player of the Month - NBL Canada
- National Basketball League of Canada Weekly Report - NBL Canada
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
