CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The Island Storm has a short bench that got even shorter on Friday.
The team announced Friday night it had released forward Jarion Henry, who averaged six points, six rebounds and 2.6 assists in 16 games with the team. Head coach Tim Kendrick would not disclose a reason for the decision when contacted by The Guardian.
The team cannot add a player to its roster at this point in the season. The squad has been banged up most of the season and will be missing a couple of key guys Sunday in its final home game of the regular season.
Guard Tyler Scott will be out seven to 10 more days while recovering from an ankle injury while Guard Chris Johnson is rehabbing a finger injury, but is expected back in the lineup within a week. Johnson is away from the team to attend a family member’s funeral.
Forward Meshack Lufile is expected to return to the lineup Sunday as the team plays the second of three straight games with the Saint John Riptide. The Storm dropped Thursday’s game in Saint John, N.B., 118-96.
“We’ve been tested, let’s see how we respond,” Kendrick said. “I am looking really forward to Sunday myself. I think you’re going to see us come out and play Island Storm basketball, play hard and play well for 48 minutes. I have a lot of confidence in my team.”
He said his players were down after Thursday’s game, but Kendrick said he reminded them nine other teams in the league who would take being 8-1 in their last nine games.
“We have to play better, we understand it. We have to do everything better.”
The Storm is 18-17 and the Riptide is 17-17. Each team plays 40-games schedules, meaning the Storm will finish with four road games.
