Storm Open Atlantic Finals Tonight in Halifax
Published on March 19, 2015 under National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Island Storm News Release
(Charlottetown, PE) March Madness, Prince Edward Island style, continues tonight in Halifax when the Island STORM and Halifax Rainmen open their best of seven NBL Canada Atlantic Division Finals at Scotiabank Centre at 7 o'clock which will be televised live on Eastlink TV. Game two in the series will also be played in Halifax on Friday night before shifting back to Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown for games three and four on Sunday afternoon and Tuesday night respectively.
It's the third year in a row the STORM have made it to the Atlantic Finals. This year the STORM pulled of a thrilling best of five first round series win over the Saint John Mill Rats in a series that came down to the final second in the final game of the series as Mike Williams hit a buzzer beating, game winning basket in the fifth and deciding game sending the STORM on to the second round.
After losing their opening first round game to the Moncton Miracles at Scotiabank Centre, the Halifax Rainmen came back to win the next three games in the best of five to take the series in four games.
Nick Okorie is leading the STORM attack in the post season scoring over 18 points per game on 48% shooting from the floor while also leading the team in assists at 6 per game. NBL Canada rookie Rashad Whack is also having a nice post season with over 16 points per game on 51% shooting from the floor. While the STORM have yet to see the best of Brandon Robinson in the playoffs, he HAS scored 13 points per game and leads the team in rebounding with 8 per game. Robinson was the STORM player who spotted Williams for his game winning shot against Saint John which has turned into the biggest assist in STORM history.
For the STORM to be successful against the Rainmen in this series they will also need good work from center Nick Evans and power forwards Mike Williams, Mike Martin, and Louis Birdsong. The Rainmen have been lead in their playoffs by power forward Kevin Young and center Liam McMorrow. Young is scoring at 22 points per game while McMorrow at 18 points per game and between them they have averaged over 25 rebounds per game. Cliff Clinkscales leads the Rainmen with over 8 assists per game so the STORM will be looking to keep the left handed point guard in check.
As a team, the Rainmen scored nearly 119 points per game against Moncton while shooting 52% from the floor but just 33% from behind the arch. The STORM averaged 109 points per game against Saint John, shooting 48% from the floor and just 27% from the three point line in a tough series which went the limit.
As mentioned earlier, Eastlink TV will televise tonights game live from Halifax at 7 o'clock and are scheduled to do the next three after tonight. Eastlink will broadcast Friday nights game on a tape delay basis starting at 9:30pm while doing games three and four at Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown live.
Tickets for games three and four at Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown are on sale now at the Eastlink Centre box office or by purchasing by phone or online.
Island STORM Fan John O'Connor has put together a STORM Fan Bus for Game Two of the Atlantic Division Finals in Halifax Friday. The cost is $35 a seat and includes a game ticket. The bus will leave the Sears Parking Lot in Charlottetown at 2:30pm on Friday afternoon and arrive back in Charlottetown at 1am following the game. There are just a very few seats available and if this is something you'd like to do, contact John O'Connor at johnnyr063@icloud.com or call 902-940-4245 to book your seat.
National Basketball League of Canada Stories from March 19, 2015
- Halifax Takes Game One in Convincing Fashion - Halifax Rainmen
- Storm Drop Opening Game of Atlantic Division Finals in Halifax - Island Storm
- Storm Open Atlantic Finals Tonight in Halifax - Island Storm
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