Game Day Recap: June 12th

Wednesday night was not the River Lions’ night.

Their five-game winning streak was broken at the FirstOntario Centre, falling 107-95 to the Hamilton Honey Badgers (5-3) in their second meeting of the season. The River Lions’ offense, normally the best in the CEBL, struggled heavily, shooting only 41% from the field and 29% from behind the arc.

“We always walk about how we are going to have nights where we don’t shoot the ball well, and what it will take to win the game,” said head coach Victor Raso. “Tonight… we didn’t shoot the ball nearly as well as we can, and we didn’t do what we needed to defensively to win the game. We let some of their main guys feel too comfortable which allowed them to feel good about themselves and make shots.”

The Honey Badgers, collectively, shot 53% from the field and 42% from behind the arc while generating 22 assists and 50 points in the paint.

Their offensive onslaught was led by Demetrius Denzel-Dyson, who scored 24 points on eight of 15 shooting and four of seven from behind the arc. Denzel-Dyson also grabbed four boards and was a +9.

Perhaps most impressive for the Honey Badgers was their team effort to rally after starting point guard Ricky Tarrant Jr. was ejected after two technical fouls midway through the third quarter.

Tarrant Jr. finished with 18 points, four assists and three rebounds in 22 minutes.

“When he got ejected, we definitely felt like we could take advantage and hopefully make a run,” said point guard Trae Bell-Haynes. “Next time I think we need to be tougher, when we needed one rebound or one stop, we couldn’t get it. And that stems from mental toughness.”

The River Lions were down by as many as 16 in the third quarter, and after Tarrant Jr. was ejected they
got as close as 90-89 in the fourth quarter.

The River Lions were handed another great opportunity to make a run after Honey Badgers forward Ryan Ejim fouled out with 3:15 left, and yet didn’t capitalize on their opportunities late to complete the comeback.

The game was a physical, chippy affair, and one that strengthens the idea of a rivalry brewing from Saturday’s game.

“The rivalry is there,” said forward Doran Pinson. Pinson led the River Lions with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three three-pointers. “It’s (tied at) 1-1 and they were more physical today and (they) poked their chest out a little bit. We will remember it when we face them again.”

With 7:20 left in the first quarter, Denzel-Dyson went over to the River Lions bench and exchanged words with Raso after a foul call.

In the second quarter, Ryan Ejim had some choice words for the River Lions bench after hitting a tough face-up jumper in the post over Yohanny Dalembert.

Even Tarrant Jr.’s technical fouls were a product of trash talk. After a tough basket, he turned to his left and flexed. After getting hit with a technical, he protested with the refs and was hit with another one immediately.

“There is definitely a rivalry brewing between us and Hamilton,” Raso said. “We beat them pretty good at our place and they responded well tonight. They are a talented, physical team and if you let them be comfortable… they’re hard to beat.”

The first quarter was very even, finishing 25-25, while the second quarter saw Hamilton take a 13-point heading into the break.

The second half was catch-up for the River Lions, before the lead ballooned to double digits again in the final two minutes.

The River Lions next game is Friday at home against the Guelph Nighthawks.

By Nicolas Bueno