Niagara Looks For Two in a Row, Rattlers Look to Bounce Back in Niagara
The Niagara River Lions look for a second win in a row as they host the Saskatchewan Rattlers on June 12 at 4 p.m. ET at the Meridian Centre. Niagara is 4-2 going into this matchup, Saskatchewan 2-3.
These two teams started the season against each other, and Saskatchewan took the win 92-89 over the River Lions. In that game, Khalil Ahmad scored 34 points for the River Lions while Scottie Lindsey scored 23 for the victorious Rattlers. Saskatchewan forced 14 River Lions turnovers and made the most of them with 22 points off of turnovers to the River Lions 13. Inside the paint, Saskatchewan won the rebounds 44-40 and their 14-8 offensive rebound advantage led to 12 second chance points. The River Lions led 83-78 at the start of Elam time but Tony Carr and Scottie Lindsey powered the Rattlers back with the help of Jordy Tshimanga to tie the game and eventually take a 90-89 lead off of a Devonte Bandoo three which led to a 92-89 victory.
Since then, Niagara has put together four wins and lost a close battle to Edmonton, and their veteran guard Philip Scrubb returned to the lineup. The Rattlers have went up and down, winning a home game against Fraser Valley and losing three games on the road.
Niagara bounced back after a 79-77 comeback loss to Edmonton to defeat the Newfoundland Growlers narrowly 98-97 on Friday. In the win, Khalil Ahmad continued to attack the paint and find opportunities for himself and his teammates. He was one of four guards who finished in double-digit scoring alongside Olu Ashaolu inside the paint. The ability to create for each other benefited the River Lions who jumped out to a 82-70 lead with eight minutes left in the fourth. Niagara closed the door on the Growlers with a basket by Ahmad and sealed off the victory that gives Niagara momentum going into the Rattlers matchup.
Ahmad and Scrubb have a matchup with Bandoo and Lindsey who are coming off of a loss but fueled the Rattlers offence in a game that was tight throughout the first three quarters. The Rattlers attacked the paint against the Honey Badgers in their 107-86 loss to Hamilton. Much of that came from Carr, Bandoo and Lindsey with Ali Sow sparking the bench. They got to the rim and provided a test for Hamilton inside the paint, and that’s a strength that will be tested against the inside presence of the River Lions
The matchup of Tshimanga and Carr with Ashaolu, Ej Onu and the other River Lions forwards protecting the rim will be an area of importance for both teams. The Rattlers and River Lions use their guards to attack and create offence, and both teams put pressure on the interior defenders in their previous games.
The Rattlers matched the Bandits rebounds in their home and home matchup earlier in the season, and it came from all over the floor. The River Lions won the rebounds 38-35 in their win over Newfoundland and like Saskatchewan, everyone on the floor got on loose balls and crashed the boards to help. Niagara scored 48 points in the paint and Saskatchewan 30, and both teams showed a style of creating shots off of condensing the defence, making the battle inside the paint a key for both sides.
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