CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Remove the third quarter and the Island Storm might be up 2-1 instead of down 2-1 in its Atlantic Division semifinal with the Halifax Hurricanes.
For the second straight game, the Storm scored just 18 points in the third. Meanwhile, Halifax drained 33, broke open a tight contest and won 110-96 on Thursday in Charlottetown.
The Hurricanes can clinch the best-of-five series with a win in Game 4 Saturday at Eastlink Centre. Start time is 7 p.m.
For Chris Anderson, who valiantly contributed 14 points including 8-for-10 from the free-throw line, the game came down to the Storm’s slowness out of the break and its shooting.
“I think we just started off slow, came out sluggish in the third quarter. Shots weren’t falling,” said Anderson, adding the short bench didn’t hurt the Storm as much as poor shooting. “Guys are letting the missed shots affect them. It may look like fatigue, but it’s more about confidence in our shooting.”
Tyler Scott and Chris Johnson returned to the Storm lineup after missing Game 2, giving the Storm 10 players versus Halifax.
Neither team shot out of the gate as it took seven minutes for one team (Halifax) to reach 10 points. That changed later in the first as the teams closed out the frame with the Storm leading 25-23.
Halifax had a small edge in the second (26-21) and led 49-46 at the half.
Then came the third and the Storm’s wheels wobbled. Halifax heated up, put things more or less out of reach at 82-64, and despite a fourth quarter won by the Storm (32-28), had enough cushion to earn the win.
Mike Leslie, Halifax head coach, said his guys adjusted well after the half to what the coaching staff drew up.
“I think we looked at what worked well and what didn’t. A lot of it was on the defensive end. We got some stops, loosened them up and hit our shots in the third,” said Leslie. “When we were going well in the first half we were moving the ball. So, we said, ‘let’s see if we can get their legs out from underneath them and make them defend’.”
Halifax’s Tyrone Watson led all scorers with 28 points, while Billy White chipped in 24 and Ta’Quan Zimmerman added 19. White also snagged a game-high 12 rebounds.
Johnson led the Storm with 21 points. Kemy Osse and Carl Hall each went for 18 points. Franklin Session grabbed 11 boards.
The Storm finished hitting 45 per cent of its shots. Halifax shot 50 per cent from the floor.
Game 5, if necessary, is Wednesday, April 18, in Halifax.
Highlight reel
A look at Thursday's National Basketball League of Canada playoff game at the Eastlink Centre.
The Outcome
Halifax 110
Island Storm 96
Top Three Scorers
Halifax – Tyrone Watson, 28, Billy White 24, Ta’Quan Zimmerman.
Island Storm – Chris Johnson, 21, Kemy Osse, 18, Carl Hall, 18.
Top Three Rebounders
Halifax – Billy White, 12, Tyrone Watson, 7, Rhamel Brown, 7.
Island Storm – Franklin Session, 11, Kemy Osse, 9, Chris Anderson, 5.
Three-Point Shooter
Halifax – Ta’Quan Zimmerman, 5-for-10.
Island Storm – Chris Johnson, 3-for-4.
Most Assists
Halifax – Ta’Quan Zimmerman, Mike Poole, 6.
Island Storm – Franklin Session, 6.
Free Throws
Halifax – Billy White, 3-for-3.
Island Storm – Chris Anderson, 8-for-10.
Next Up – The Storm host Halifax in Game 4 on Saturday. Game time is 7 p.m. at Eastlink Centre.
Attendance – 1,422.
50-50 – $420.50.
