Late Storm Surge Buries Power 124-118
January 30, 2015 - National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Mississauga Power News Release
Mississauga, ON - Mississauga suited up for redemption to make up for the 103-109 loss in their last meeting with the Island Storm. The Power led the game in the first three quarters but couldn't close out P.E.I.'s strong interior game and a 38 point performance from Brandon Robinson. Mississauga lost 124-118 despite Tut Rauch being lights out from the field shooting 60 per cent and going 5-for-6 from the perimeter. National Basketball League of Canada Player of the Week Warren Ward led the squad with 19 points and nine boards.
Guard Tyrone Garland got the Power rolling with five points in the quarter. Meanwhile forwards Travis Releford and Marcus Capers established a strong presence on the glass and threw down a few dunks for the Hershey Centre crowd. The Power were playing confidently on their way to a 22-12 lead highlighted with tight defence and a denial from forward Brian Oliver. It took the Island Storm a few minutes to score their next basket, ending the first quarter with a 29-19 Mississauga lead.
The Island Storm locked in for seven points in the paint. Capers and centre Paul Cooper held their ground and grabbed a combined four boards but most importantly challenged every play that came through the paint. Guard Tut Ruach lit up the court for his first three of the game and gave Mississauga a nine point edge over P.E.I. going into a media timeout. Strong, Ward, Oliver and Rauch dug a hole for the Island Storm with five three pointers in the final three minutes to end the half with a 61-48 edge.
The Power had to duplicate their tight defence which forced eight P.E.I. turnovers in the first half. At halftime Rauch said the squad was trying to speed up the pace of the game to tire out the Island Storm but P.E.I. caught their second wind and tied the game at 70 points. Rauch was dangerous from downtown and led Mississauga making three of the team's eight three pointers in the game. Strong and Rauch each added an extra pair of three's plus a six point surge from Cooper that sent the Power ahead 94-87 at the buzzer.
Mississauga couldn't shake P.E.I. as they chipped away to create a one point game within three minutes of the final frame. Garland played phenomenal defence and pressured the Island Storm for four turnovers. That intensity carried into his offense and Garland broke the tie with a sweet cut to the basket plus one at the free throw line. Just when the Power moved up to a 103-99 lead the Island Storm tied it back up again. P.E.I. stormed to take a four point lead with three and a half minutes remaining and the Power had to bring back that first quarter intensity. Ward racked up 10 points to keep Mississauga's hopes alive but the Power's sharp shooting cooled down when they needed it most. The Island Storm completed the comeback with a 124-118 win over the Power.
The Power will have a break until their next match up when the London Lightning visit the Hershey Centre on Feb. 8 at 2 p.m.
• Discuss this story on the National Basketball League of Canada message board...
National Basketball League of Canada Stories from January 30, 2015
- A's Drop Second in a Row to Lightning - Orangeville A's
- Lightning Defeat A's - London Lightning
- Storm Win Tough One in Mississauga - Island Storm
- Late Storm Surge Buries Power 124-118 - Mississauga Power
- Parham Dealt to Windsor for First Rounder - Windsor Express
- Rainmen Sign Forward Jermaine Dailey - Halifax Rainmen
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.
