ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND - With the score tied at 91 and the target score set at 92, a turnover forced by Jermel Kennedy and a transition layup by Brandon Sampson, sealed the Growlers victory. The Newfoundland Growlers defeated the Saskatchewan Rattlers 93-91. The Growlers improve to 2-11 with the Rattlers 7-7.
The Rattlers started the first quarter forcing Growlers turnovers and getting out in transition. The Rattlers pushed out to an early 7-2 lead before the Growlers changed up their attack on offence and chipped their way back into the game. Pushing the pace and getting in transition before Saskatcheawn could set up their defence, Kennedy, Nysier Brooks and Sampson scored for the Growlers who tied the game at 12.
Following the tie, Newfoundland and Saskatchewan traded baskets including threes from Sebastian Aris and paint opportunities for the Growlers. Newfoundland attacked the paint and Saskatchewan controlled the boards, Newfoundland shooting 50 per cent, the Rattlers shooting 52 per cent and the Rattlers holding a 11-6 rebounding advantage. At the end of the first quarter, Saskatchewan led 24-19.
The Growlers started the second quarter by trimming the Rattlers lead to just two before Bernard put the Rattlers up 27-23. A free throw from Sampson followed by an offensive rebound put back by Brooks on Sampson’s second free throw made it a one-point game and from then on it was back and forth. A lot of the offence from either team came at the rim as the guards found lanes to drive and the post players created spacing to get the ball into them. Carr scored seven points in the second quarter and Thomas scored six. Blake Francis had an opportunity to take the lead at the buzzer but missed a three-pointer which made it 38-36 Saskatchewan going into halftime.
Newfoundland started the third quarter with intensity on offence, coming from Junior Cadougan creating opportunities for his teammates. Newfoundland pushed the pace and Brandon Sampson scored five early points to put the Growlers up 43-38. After a series of free throws, Newfoundland came away with a three-point lead, 48-45 just over three minutes into the third quarter. A series of layups from Thomas and Sampson with a three from Francis kept the Growlers run going as they led 55-47 with 5:38 remaining in the third quarter.
Three Growlers were in double-digit points at the end of the third. Led by Sampson with 12 points on 57 per cent shooting, both Thomas and Brooks scored 12 points on 50 and 75 per cent shooting. Brooks led the Growlers with seven rebounds. On the side of the Rattlers, Carr led the scoring with 22 points on 66 per cent shooting and Bandoo scored 12 points. Bandoo led the Rattlers with six rebounds, tied with Bernard who also had six. At the end of the third quarter, Newfoundland led 64-61 over the Rattlers.
Carr and Bandoo were the two primary options on offence for the Rattlers through the first three quarters, and that continued into the fourth. Bandoo started the fourth with a layup to put the Rattlers within one, he made a jumper and Carr hit a three to constantly keep the Rattlers within one possession of the Growlers. The Growlers led 72-70 with 6:03 left in the fourth quarter. Going into Elam time, a series of Growlers transition opportunities fueled by defensive rebounds put the Growlers up 83-78. The target score set at 92.
Bandoo started Elam time with a three-pointer to put the Rattlers two away from tying the game. Brooks responding with muscle inside the paint, Carr hitting a floater, and Kennedy hitting a three, Elam time started with a fast pace. The Growlers led 88-83 and Tshimanga put it down to make it 88-85. A three-pointer from Lindsey tied it at 88 with both teams four points away from a win.
Sampson drove the lane and finished through contact to give him a chance at a three-point play which he converted. With the Growlers up 91-88, Carr knocked down a three-pointer and it was 91-91, target score 92. A turnover forced by Kennedy and a layup from Sampson in transition sealed the Growlers victory. Newfoundland won 93-91.
Sampson led the Growlers with 22 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Thomas scored 20 points to go with nine rebounds, four assists and a block. Kennedy scored 12 points, got four rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. Brooks finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Bandoo finished with 19 points to lead the Rattlers, complimented by Lindsey with 15 points. Bandoo accompanied his points with seven rebounds and five assists, Lindsey adding two rebounds, an assist and a pair of steals.
Nysier Brooks talked about the flow of the Growlers when they’re making a lot of passes and sharing the ball, “when we play team basketball and share the ball inside out, with my force on the inside it gives our perimeter players the ability to shoot a bit better. It’s better basketball, we have fun as a team, we trust each other and we’re still picking up players, we’re still figuring out how to play with each other and play for each other. That’s more important, play for each other.”