NBL Canada Weekly Report

Published on February 20, 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

Halifax has a playoff berth; now they're trying to snag home-court advantage in the first round of the NBL playoffs. If Sunday afternoon's 104-78 clobbering of the London Lightning has any message, it may be that the Rainmen are going to be tough to defeat in the playoffs. Lawrence Wright was the top scorer for Halifax, with 27 points; Eric Crookshank led the team in rebounds with 10.

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

The London Lightning's short in-season layoff seemed to have rejuvenated the team, as Micheal Ray Richardson's squad dispensed with the Saint John Mill Rats 93-89 on Thursday night in front of 3,214 appreciative fans at the John Labatt Centre. Gabe Freeman put up another strong double-double of 23 points and 14 rebounds, while Shamari Spears added 17 points in the win.

Unfortunately, the Lightning's winning streak was interrupted by the Halifax Rainmen, who pounded London 104-78 on Sunday afternoon. In the loss, Eddie Smith scored 34 points - nearly half of London's total output. Gabe Freeman had 12 points and 8 rebounds.

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

The Moncton Miracles and Summerside Storm faced each other in a home-and-home series, as both teams hope to finish out the season on a strong note. The Miracles gave their fans a Valentine's Day win by defeating Summerside on Tuesday night, 103-97. Darrell Wonge has made a strong argument as Moncton's Most Valuable Player, finishing the night with 31 points; Sylvania Watkins added 17 points and 13 rebounds in the Miracles' win.

Unfortunately for Moncton, the Storm retaliated on Thursday night with a 103-95 triumph over the Magnetic Hill crew. Terrence Woodyard's 22 points and Trayvon Lathan's 21 tallies were not enough to pull Moncton out of defeat. Lathan and Sylvania Watkins finished with 13 rebounds apiece.

Then after that, the Miracles hosted the surging Oshawa Power on Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum. And although Akeem Wright poured 35 points into the basket, it wasn't enough to help Moncton win; the Miracles were defeated in a heartbreaker, 101-100. Trayvon Lathan scored 18 poitns and grabbed 12 rebounds.

The National Basketball League of Canada Weekly Report Page 3 of 15

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

The Oshawa Power's last regular season home game was one to remember - as the Power held off the Saint John Mill Rats in overtime, 120-119, keeping their playoff hopes alive. In the victory, the Durham Region Crew's "Big Three" of Brandon Robinson (37 pts), Omari Johnson (23 pts, 17 rebs) and Morgan Lewis (21 pts, 12 rebs) continued to keep Oshawa in the postseason hunt with the win. The victory makes Oshawa 5-1 in overtime contests this year.

The Power followed up that win with their fourth in a row on Sunday afternoon, a 101-100 nail-biting victory over the Moncton Miracles at the Moncton Coliseum. Brandon Robinson was again the top scorer for Oshawa, notching 19 points. Tut Ruach put 18 in, including going 8- for-12 from the free throw line; Ruach also had 8 assists. Marcus Johnson's 17 points included four steals.

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

Home arena: Pavillion de la Jeunesse

kebsdequebec.com/en (English)

kebsdequebec.com (Français)

The Quebec Kebs did not play this week.

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

The Saint John Mill Rats faced the Oshawa Power at General Motors Centre, and a win would help the Mill Rats move closer to the fourth and final playoff spot. Saint John was able to tie the game at 115-115, but in the overtime stanza, the Mill Rats could only score four points - and lost 120-119. Isaac Kuon was one of seven Mill Rats players to score in double figures; he had 21 points. Darren Duncan and Steve DeLuca finished with 17 and 15 points, respectively.

Saint John's fortunes hoped to change the next night, as the Mill Rats traveled down Highway 401 to London for a game against the Lightning. Even with 20 points off the bench from Anthony Anderson, 16 points from Darren Duncan and 13 from Stanley Ocitti, the Mill Rats were trounced 93-89 for their third loss in a row and fourth in their last six contests.

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

The Summerside Storm's hopes for a playoff run were dashed in a 103- 97 Tuesday night road defeat against the Moncton Miracles. February 14th must have been an important moment for Summerside, as four players - Mike Williams, Al Stewart, Stephen McDowell and Julian Allen - each scored 14 points.

The Storm returned the favour to Moncton on Thursday night, with a 103-95 win in front of 2,579 fans at Credit Union Place. Mike Williams scored 21 points and pulled down 12 rebounds; while Troy Jackson and Julian Allen each added 19 apiece. Game reports compiled via team press releases, and from articles appearing in newspapers from the teams' home locations.

NBL CANADA TRANSACTIONS

February 14, 2012 - Saint John Mill Rats signed Stanley Ocitti.

February 15, 2012 - London Lightning signed Jamar Abrams. Released Kyle Julius.

February 16, 2012 - Oshawa Power signed Jushay Rockett.

February 17, 2012 - Halifax Rainmen signed Darnell Hugee. Released Darrin Dorsey.

February 17, 2012 - Saint John traded rights to Antoine Tisby to Quebec for the rights to Jermaine Blackburn. Signed Jermaine Blackburn to active roster. Released Drew Stratton.

February 17, 2012 - Quebec Kebs signed Quinnel Brown.

NBL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

With a light schedule in the NBL, as teams gear up for their postseason runs, the National Basketball League of Canada is pleased to announce that Brandon Robinson of the Oshawa Power has been named Player of the Week for the week ending February 19, 2012. This is Robinson's second time as Player of the Week.

Robinson was the leading scorer in two of Durham Team's victories this week, including notching 37 points in Oshawa's 120-119 overtime win against Saint John on Wednesday, February 15 - a win that kept the Power's postseason hopes alive. Robinson also led the Power in scoring with 19 points in a 101-100 win over the Moncton Miracles.

Robinson also leads the NBL with 17 points per game.

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.

January 8, 2012 - Stephen McDowell, Summerside Storm.

January 15, 2012 - Morgan Lewis, Oshawa Power.

January 22, 2012 - Darren Duncan, Saint John Mill Rats.

January 29, 2012 - Brandon Robinson, Oshawa Power.

February 5, 2012 - Shamari Spears, London Lightning.

February 12, 2012 - Morgan Lewis, Oshawa Power.

February 19, 2012 - Brandon Robinson, Oshawa Power.

NBL COACH OF THE MONTH

November, 2011 - Micheal Ray Richardson, London Lightning.

December, 2011 - Josep Claros, Halifax Rainmen.

January, 2012 - Micheal Ray Richardson, London Lightning.

National Basketball League of Canada Stories from February 20, 2012

• Mill Rats Set Team Record for Margin of Victory by Beating Halifax Rainmen 121-99 - Saint John Riptide
• Rainmen Fall to Mill Rats - Halifax Rainmen
• Storm Doesn't Take Game, But Gives Plenty Away - Summerside Storm
• National Basketball League of Canada & Halifax Rainmen to Honour Konchalski - Halifax Rainmen
• Oshawa Power's Brandon Robinson Named Player of the Week - NBL Canada
• NBL 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.