Nighthawks return home for win over Ottawa
GUELPH – A little home cooking was just what the Guelph Nighthawks needed.
After dropping a pair of Canadian Elite Basketball League games away from the Royals City, the Nighthawks returned for an 86-79 victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks Thursday night at the Sleeman Centre.
The locals won despite a slow start that saw them trail by seven points midway through a low-scoring first quarter.
Guelph Nighthawks 86 Ottawa BlackJacks 79
The Nighthawks also had trouble putting Ottawa away early as they led by 14 points a minute and a half into the third quarter only to have the BlackJacks tie the score with 41 seconds to go in the quarter.
Ottawa had led 14-12 at the end of the first quarter before Guelph shot ahead 40-33 by the end of the opening half. The Nighthawks were up 63-60 after the third quarter.
Cat Barber led Guelph with a 26-point outing while Ahmed Hill had 16 and A.J. Lawson added 15. T.J. Lall hauled down nine rebounds while Barber had five assists, Madut Akec had four steals and Lall had two blocks.
The BlackJacks had five players reach double digits in scoring led by Walt Lemon Jr. with 19 points. Bernard Thompson had 14 while Shamiel Stevens had 11 and Jackson Rowe and Cody John both had 10. Rowe grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and also had two steals.
The Nighthawks used their speed as they had 30 points on fast breaks, twice as many as Ottawa. However, the visitors had 30 points from their bench while the hosts had 16 from their bench. Ottawa also won the battle under the bucket with 49 rebounds to 35 for the Nighthawks.
Guelph shot 53 percent on two-pointers, 25 percent on three-pointers and 89 percent on free throws while Ottawa shot 46 percent on two-pointers, 28 percent on three-pointers and 83 percent on free throws.
The win leaves the Nighthawks at 2-3 while Ottawa falls to 1-4.
Edmonton Stingers and Hamilton Honey Badgers are tied for the league lead at 4-1 while the Fraser Valley Bandits and Niagara River Lions are both at 3-2. The Montreal Alliance is at 3-3, Saskatchewan Rattlers are at 2-2, Scarborough Shooting Stars are at 2-3 and Newfoundland Growlers are at 0-3.
The game was the first of three consecutive home games at the Sleeman Centre for the Nighthawks as they’re to host Montreal Saturday at 4 p.m. and Newfoundland Tuesday at 7 p.m.
After a game in Ottawa next Thursday, the Nighthawks are to play three more at home before playing a stretch of seven games with six of them on the road.
- Guelph Sports Journal
Nighthawks return home for win over Ottawa
GUELPH – A little home cooking was just what the Guelph Nighthawks needed.
After dropping a pair of Canadian Elite Basketball League games away from the Royals City, the Nighthawks returned for an 86-79 victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks Thursday night at the Sleeman Centre.
The locals won despite a slow start that saw them trail by seven points midway through a low-scoring first quarter.
Guelph Nighthawks 86
Ottawa BlackJacks 79
The Nighthawks also had trouble putting Ottawa away early as they led by 14 points a minute and a half into the third quarter only to have the BlackJacks tie the score with 41 seconds to go in the quarter.
Ottawa had led 14-12 at the end of the first quarter before Guelph shot ahead 40-33 by the end of the opening half. The Nighthawks were up 63-60 after the third quarter.
Cat Barber led Guelph with a 26-point outing while Ahmed Hill had 16 and A.J. Lawson added 15. T.J. Lall hauled down nine rebounds while Barber had five assists, Madut Akec had four steals and Lall had two blocks.
The BlackJacks had five players reach double digits in scoring led by Walt Lemon Jr. with 19 points. Bernard Thompson had 14 while Shamiel Stevens had 11 and Jackson Rowe and Cody John both had 10. Rowe grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and also had two steals.
The Nighthawks used their speed as they had 30 points on fast breaks, twice as many as Ottawa. However, the visitors had 30 points from their bench while the hosts had 16 from their bench. Ottawa also won the battle under the bucket with 49 rebounds to 35 for the Nighthawks.
Guelph shot 53 percent on two-pointers, 25 percent on three-pointers and 89 percent on free throws while Ottawa shot 46 percent on two-pointers, 28 percent on three-pointers and 83 percent on free throws.
The win leaves the Nighthawks at 2-3 while Ottawa falls to 1-4.
Edmonton Stingers and Hamilton Honey Badgers are tied for the league lead at 4-1 while the Fraser Valley Bandits and Niagara River Lions are both at 3-2. The Montreal Alliance is at 3-3, Saskatchewan Rattlers are at 2-2, Scarborough Shooting Stars are at 2-3 and Newfoundland Growlers are at 0-3.
The game was the first of three consecutive home games at the Sleeman Centre for the Nighthawks as they’re to host Montreal Saturday at 4 p.m. and Newfoundland Tuesday at 7 p.m.
After a game in Ottawa next Thursday, the Nighthawks are to play three more at home before playing a stretch of seven games with six of them on the road.
- Guelph Sports Journal