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NBL Canada National Basketball League of Canada

NBL Canada Weekly Report

November 18, 2018 - National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada) News Release


Cape Breton Highlanders Head Coach: Bernardo Fitz-Gonzalez Home arena: Centre 200 Highlandersbasketball.ca

In their third season in the NBL, the Cape Breton Highlanders look to complete a winning season and make a playoff run. And they started their third season on a good note, with an opening night Saturday victory over the Island Storm, followed by a close loss on the road to Moncton. Veterans Bruce Massey (27.5 ppg), Jamal Reynolds (25.0 ppg and Ta'Quan Zimmerman (21.0 ppg) were the top scorers for the Sydney crew; Kenny Jones averaged 8.5 rebounds in the two Highlander games.

Halifax Hurricanes Coach: Mike Leslie Home arena: Scotiabank Centre halifaxhurricanes.ca

Halifax played the Moncton Magic in a home-and-away series, but unfortunately for the Nova Scotia crew, the Hurricanes lost both games to finish the week uncharacteristically in the second tier of the standings. Rookie Joel Kindred led all Hurricanes in scoring with 18.5 points per game, with Kedar Edwards not far behind at 12.0 ppg. Edwards and Mike Poole were the top rebounders for Halifax, averaging 7.0 rpg apiece.

Island Storm Head Coach: Tim Kendrick Home Venue: Eastlink Centre stormbasketball.ca

Nothing like having your opening weekend crammed into two games in 24 hours ... the Storm's home opener on Thursday night was postponed due to a snowstorm; and although they lost the first game of the series to Cape Breton, they came back Sunday afternoon for a close victory over the Saint John Riptide. Veteran Russell Byrd and newcomer Samson Carter both averaged 20.5 points for the Charlottetown crew, while Alex Campbell finished the week with a double-double of 12 ppg and 10.5 rebounds per game.

KW Titans Head Coach: Cavell Johnson Home arena: Kitchener Memorial Auditorium kwtitans.com

Despite 24 points from the returning Flenard Whitfield and 20 points from Ed Horton, the KW Titans lost their home opener on Sunday afternoon, 115-112 to the Sudbury Five. Also of note - this was the first game in NBL Canada league history in which two former NBL Canada players were now NBL Canada head coaches and facing each other (Sudbury coach Logan Stutz, KW coach Cavell Johnson).

London Lightning Head Coach: Keith Vassell Home arena: Budweiser Gardens lightningbasketball.ca

With AJ Gaines scoring 30 points, followed by newcomer Xavier Moon with 18 on the scoreboard, the London Lightning took their home opener over their rival St. John's Edge, 107-103. Marcus Capers balanced a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds in the Lightning victory.

Moncton Magic Head Coach: Joe Salerno Home arena: Centre Avenir monctonmagic.ca

With a new venue in Moncton, Centre Avenir, the Magic have turned into an early-season powerhouse. They took three victories this week, including two in the friendly confines of their new barn. Veterans Jahii Carson (28.0 ppg) and Corey Allmond (22.7 ppg) led Moncton on the scoring attack, while Denzell Taylor was the top rebounder with a 10.7 rpg average.

Saint John Riptide Head Coach: Nelson Terroba Home Venue: Harbour Station sjriptide.ca

A tough opening-night loss for the Riptide, as they fell 96-95 on Sunday afternoon on the road to the Island Storm. In the loss, new face Randy Phillips (19 pts) and veteran Jeremiah Mordi (18 pts) were the top scorers for the Port City crew, while NBL Canada draftee Chris Early led Saint John with 7 rebounds.

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St. John's Edge

Head Coach: Doug Plumb Home Arena: Mile One Stadium sjedge.ca

In their first match since their epic playoff series against the London Ligthing, the Edge came close to a win - only to fall 107- 103 in a Sunday road game against the Lightning. Diego Kapelan paced the Edge with 22 points, while Guillaume Payen- Boucard threw 19 points in the cylinder. Dez Lee (14 rebs) and Keith Wright Jr. (12 rebs) were the top board-gatherers for the Edge.

Sudbury Five Head Coach: Logan Stutz Home Arena: Sudbury Memorial Arena thefive.ca

They may think no more of INCO on a Sudbury Saturday night, but the Sudbury Five are making noise with their big 2-0 start in heir maiden NBL Canada season. Their big sharpshooter, Jaylen Bland, averaged 33.5 points - including a 43-point outburst in a Sudbury victory over Windsor on Opening Night. Grandy Glaze averaged a double-double of 10.5 points and 13.0 rebounds for the Five.

Windsor Express Head Coach: Bill Jones Home Venue: WFCU Centre Alt venue: Caessars Windsor windsorexpess.ca

Despite leading Sudbury by more than 30 at one point in the Express' home opener Saturday night, Windsor lost the lead and fell 126-123 to the expansion Sudbury Five. In the loss, Ryan Anderson led all Expressmen with 30 points on 11-for-22 shooting, including 8-for-16 from three-point range. Juan Pattillo had a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.

Game reports compiled via team press releases, and from articles appearing in newspapers from the teams' home locations.

NBL CANADA PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The National Basketball League of Canada is pleased to announce that Jaylen Bland of the Sudbury Five has been named Player of the Week for the week ending November 18, 2018.

Bland, a 6'3" shooting guard who played collegiately at the University of California-Riverside, averaged 33.5 points in his NBL Canada debut, including going 16-for-32 from 3-point range in two Sudbury wins. His big game came on November 17, when he scored 43 points, including running 11-for-19 from beyond the arc, in Sudbury's win over Windsor.

"Jaylen's a special player," said Sudbury head coach Logan Stutz. "I looked at every player in every league who could hit five three-pointers or more in a game, and when I saw that Jaylen was on that list, I knew I had to get him for our team. His shot is unbelievable, he's one of the best shooters I ever saw, his shot just settles into the net, it's something you just have to see."

NBL CANADA CANADIAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The National Basketball League of Canada is pleased to announce that Gentrey Thomas of the Moncton Magic has been named NBL Canada Canadian Player of the Week for the week ending November 18, 2018.

Thomas, a 6'4" guard from Halifax who played collegiately at the University of California-Riverside, averaged 17.0 points per game in Moncton's first three games of the season, all Magic wins.

"Gentrey is a true rookie who has a lot of talent," said Magic head coach Joe Salerno, "he's a Canadian that we've had our eye on for two summers now, he's fit in seamlessly with our style of play, and we expect good things from Gentrey over the course of the season."

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National Basketball League of Canada Stories from November 18, 2018


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