Game Day Writeup: July 5th

The River Lions play the Saskatchewan Rattlers for the last time this season tonight.

Wrapping up their first season series, the River Lions currently lead it three games won to zero. They met the Rattlers in Saskatoon on opening night (they won in a thriller, 99-97), went back to the SaskTel Centre on May 24 (they won convincingly 108-91), and hosted them for the first time just under a month later (winning 94-83).

The River Lions are coming off a difficult loss at the hands of the Edmonton Stingers 105-99 and sit at first place in the CEBL standings at 9-3. Before the loss at Edmonton, the River Lions won eight of their last nine games going back all the way to opening weekend.

“We battle, we don’t ever give up,” said forward Dorian Pinson about the team’s mentality. “We’ve got a group of guys in that locker room that are ready to lay their body on the line for games. That makes us tough to beat even when we get behind early. We know we’ve got enough firepower to win the game, sometimes we just come up short or the ball doesn’t bounce our way.”

Coming back from a double-digit deficit has been a plus for the River Lions squad this year, also dating back to opening weekend. They battled from a Saskatchewan double-digit lead to steal a win in Saskatoon and came back from down big the next night to force overtime in Edmonton.

The Rattlers, on the other hand, haven’t had things as easy recently. After starting the year 6-3 and sitting at 2nd place, they’ve lost two straight (including handing the Fraser Valley Bandits their first win of the season) and sit at 4th place behind the Edmonton Stingers.

Mind you, there is still a lot of ball to be played, but the Rattlers must be looking to bounce back after eight days off.

Perhaps their recent transaction should help. Earlier yesterday afternoon, they announced the signing of big man Ali Haidar. Haidar, a Windsor, Ontario native, stands tall at 6’8” and his experience with the Lebanon national team should be a huge asset for the Rattlers moving forward.

“Every game gives us something different,” said guard Ryan Anderson. “Sometimes if you win all the time when you get to the end you haven’t been through any adversity, and when confronted (it) more than likely will cost you a championship in the end.”

Something of note is the River Lions defense while playing the Rattlers. In each of their three matchups the Rattlers have been held to under 100 points, and every game they’ve played their points total has gone down.

The River Lions are 6-0 at home this season and have already won at the Meridian Centre vs head coach Greg Jockims and the Rattlers.

Tonight marks the River Lions’ opportunity to be the first team to 10 wins in the CEBL, close out their series against Saskatchewan and improve to 7-0 at home.

A chance for a productive Friday night, indeed.

Tip-off is at 7PM.

By Nicolas Bueno