MONTREAL – A big second quarter by the visiting Summerside Storm proved to be the turning point in Saturday night’s National Basketball League of Canada game against the Montreal Jazz.
After the Jazz jumped out to a 24-21 lead after the first quarter, the Storm outscored Montreal 24-9 in the second period to take a 45-33 advantage into halftime. The Storm outscore the Jazz by 10 points, 37-27, in the third quarter en route to a 108-96 victory.
The win improved the Atlantic Division-leading Storm’s record to 19-12 while the struggling Jazz fell to 2-30.
It was a big game for the Storm after a 110-106 home-court loss to the Moncton Miracles on Thursday night. And with the tough Saint John Mill Rats visiting Eastlink Arena Monday at 2 p.m. for an important matinee division matchup on Islander Day, the Storm did not want to go into that game on a two-game slide.
In fact, the Storm has not lost back-to-back games since Dec. 23 and 26, and has won 10 of 13 games since then.
Against Montreal, the Storm received a balanced offensive attack as all 11 players scored and Summerside’s bench outscored the Jazz 36-15. Five Storm player – Omari Johnson (20), Antonio Ballard (19), Chris Cayole (19), Brandon Robinson (12) and Greg Plummer (11) – scored in double digits. Ballard also hauled in 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Manix Auriantal poured in a game-high 33 points for the Jazz.
