The Nigara River Lions’ six-game Canadian Elite Basketball League winning streak came to a crashing halt last Saturday on the road with a 122-113 lost to the Ottawa BlackJacks.
Niagara (13-6) lead 64-58 at the half but Ottawa (7-10) outscored the River Lions 64-49 in the second half to grab sole possession of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
“We didn’t play well. We didn’t have TJ Lall and Jahvon Blair so we were a little bit undermanned,” Niagara head coach/GM Victor Raso said.
Lall was resting up nagging injuries while Blair was absent because his wife was expecting a baby.
“We did not defend very well. We scored 113 points but we gave up 122 which is crazy,” he said. “I was quite upset but it is a lot to ask of these guys to go there shorthanded and continue to play at the level we were playing at. They are fully aware of the situation (home date for semifinals clinched) and we definitely didn’t play the way we were playing.”
Raso will take it as a learning tool and move on.
“I hope it propels us forward. We are a good basketball team when we play good basketball. If we roll the balls out against teams who are desperate the way Ottawa was the other night, we are not going to have success.”
The River Lions conclude regular season action Saturday night at home versus Ottawa.
Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.
“The way we lost Saturday night left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. We were at their place and they absolutely needed a win and it was a huge win for them. The way they went about it after the game knowing we didn’t have our full roster there and knowing we had it locked up, I felt there were things that happened down the stretch that makes us excited to play them again Saturday.”
Top performers for Niagara were: Khalil Ahmad with 24 points, eight assists and five rebounds; Kimball Mackenzie with 22 points; Nathan Cayo with 21 points and 10 rebounds; Aaryn Rai with 18 points and five assists; and, Louden Love with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Leading scorers for Ottawa were Tevin Brown (27), former River Lions Lloyd Pandi (22) and Tyrrel Tate (22).
Making his debut for Niagara Saturday was 6-foot-10 Canadian forward Maurice Calloo. Niagara signed the Windsor native a couple of weeks ago but didn’t announce the deal until last week. The former Oregon State Beaver started the season with the Saskatchewan Rattlers, playing 10 games and averaging 14.1 points and 6.2 rebounds.
“He is quite a talented basketball player,” Raso said of Calloo, who played for Canada at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup
“He tore his meniscus three or four weeks ago and I signed him as an insurance policy. We never thought he was going to get minutes for us this year but it was more about him being a young Canadian. It was having him with our team and learning about who he is for the future. But he has been recovering really well and there was an opportunity the other night to play him for four or five minutes and build him up to have him as a potential insurance policy come playoff time.”
Calloo will practise with the team for the next two weeks and if he fully regains his form, Raso feels he could become an asset for the River Lions in the playoffs.
“Ultimately it wasn’t like we were replacing anyone. I am quite happy with the group anyways and he is an insurance policy. I have always liked him and I can see what he can be for next year.”
Raso is still awaiting word on when Omari Moore will return to the team. Last year’s starting point guard for the Toronto Raptors’ G League team finished with NBA Summer League Sunday night.
“I have been talking to him and his agent and they need to get things wrapped up in regards to whether he is going back to 905. We have to wait on all of that to clear up but the plan is still the plan and hopefully it works out.”