Ottawa SkyHawks on the Hunt for a Win against Windsor Express
January 12, 2014 - National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Ottawa SkyHawks News Release
The Windsor Family Credit Union (WFCU) drew their biggest crowd of over 2000 fans to see this exciting match up. The Ottawa SkyHawks enter the game battling a mental game first, having never won against the Windsor Express in their 4 match ups to date, starting back to their home opener back in November.
It's not the domination the record indicates however, previous games were all too close for the SkyHawks to let another one slip away.
Windsor entered the game tonight with having lost only 1 of their last 8 games to London.
The first quarter was intense with a lot of back and forth that ended up in a draw at the end of the first with 17-17. Push came to shove in the second and Windsor lead 40-35 at the half.
Ryan Anderson, the SkyHawks top scorer, looked to make up for a scoreless first half, puts down the first 2 points at the start of the third with two free throws. Belleville Ontario's own Jamie Vanderbeken made his court presence known instantly when he started in the third quarter hitting a 3 pointer as part of the SkyHawks 5-0 run right off the bat.
The SkyHawks remained close throughout the fourth leading 82-79 with 4 minutes left in game, then things turned around. With less than a minute to go, the SkyHawks were down one possession 88-85.
A controversial `no-call' shot clock violation ending with the question as to whether Mike Rose gained full possession of the ball on a steal that would have alleviated the Express of a shot clock violation or whether he did not have full possession, which would have seen the SkyHawks get the ball with about 6 seconds remaining in the game. Nevertheless, the game came to an end, Windsor comes out with its fifth win against the SkyHawks with a final score of 88-86.
It was a back and forth lead and another nail bitter of a game going up against the National Basketball League of Canada's top scorer, Stefan Bonneau, who averages 24 points per game.
Coach Jackson says "Very tough loss tonight. The guys played their hearts out and the bench contribution was great with Mike (Rose), Fred (Sturdivant) and Jamie (Vanderbeken)".
Tirrell Banies gets another Double Double leading the SkyHawks scoring with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Next game on the road:
Thursday, January 16th, 2014 against Mississauga Power
Next home games at Canadian Tire Centre:
Thursday, January 23rd, 2014 at 7:30 against Brampton A's
Saturday, January 11th, 2014
Arena: Windsor Family Credit Union Centre (WFCU)
Final Score: Ottawa 85, Windsor 88
Ottawa's Record: 12-14
Windsor's record: 19-7
Leading Ottawa Scorers: Tirrell Baines (17 points)
Leading Windsor scorers: Stefan Bonneau (34 points each)
Leading Ottawa rebounders: Tirrell Baines 10 rebounds
Leading Windsor rebounders: DeAndre Thomas with 15 rebounds
Leading Ottawa Scorers: Tirrell Baines with 23 points
Leading Windsor Scorers: Stefan Bonneau with 33 points
Leading Ottawa rebounder: Tirrell Baines and Sturdivant, Fred with 10 rebounds
Leading Windsor Rebounders: Darren Duncan with 11 rebounds
National Basketball League of Canada Stories from January 12, 2014
- Windsor Soars over Skyhawks - Windsor Express
- Ottawa SkyHawks on the Hunt for a Win against Windsor Express - Ottawa SkyHawks
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