River Lions Look to get Back on Track Against Stingers

A loss today wouldn’t eliminate the River Lions from contention, but it would make their path toward a birth in the playoffs much more difficult, and Niagara would have to win its final two games just to finish 3-3.

The Stingers are a different story. Edmonton has won its past two games thanks to the assertive play of Jordan Baker. Baker has been chosen “Player of the Game” in consecutive contests after racking up a combined 37 points and 26 rebounds over his last two games against Ottawa and Hamilton. 

Friday’s game is available to watch on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Gem App and Twitch (CEBLeague). Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. ET (1 p.m. MT).

The reigning U SPORTS Player of the Year has taken another leap forward this year. Clarke has picked up the 2020 campaign right where he left off last season and is averaging 12 points per game through the team’s first three contests after averaging nearly six points per game in 2019.

Standing six-foot-eight, Clarke’s size, length and athleticism have allowed him to guard on the interior and the perimeter. His production has thrust the 24-year-old into the starting lineup where his 62.5 percent shooting from the field has allowed him to earn Jermaine Smalls’ trust as a key cog in the Stingers’ rotation. 

If Clarke continues to flourish, look out.

Robertson averaged 16.3 points per game on 43.2 percent shooting from three-point range in his senior season at Missouri in the SEC conference – one of the best conferences in all of NCAA D1 basketball. Since turning pro, Robertson has brought his reputation as a sniper with him. Robertson departed the River Lions early in 2019 for the NBA Summer League but has returned in 2020 in hopes of leading Niagara to a championship.

Robertson came out firing in Niagara’s first game of the season with 18 points in a victory over Hamilton but has been relatively quiet since. He’s averaging just south of 12 points per game on sub-40 percent shooting from the field and 30 percent from three-point land. 

The River Lions will need their star to find his form if they hope to get back in the win column.

The River Lions can be lethal when they’re out on the run. Daniel Mullings is an electric guard capable of playing above the rim for electric dunks, and Robertson has also been known to put opponents on the occasional poster. 

Despite this athleticism, Niagara has struggled to get up and down the floor. In their 84-65 loss to Guelph the River Lions scored just four fast-break points. Niagara’s inability to play at a faster pace has allowed defences to get set and prepare for the River Lions’ attack. 

In order to catch defences off guard, the River Lions will need to play up tempo, which will allow for capable slashers like Mullings, Dorian Pinson and Guillaume Boucard to get to the rim in transition.

Following Friday’s game, Edmonton takes on Saskatchewan (2-1) on Saturday at 3:50 p.m. ET (1:50 p.m. MT). In addition to being televised nationally on local CBC channels across Canada, the game will be shown on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Gem App and Twitch (CEBLeague).

Niagara’s next game is Sunday against Fraser Valley (2-1) at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT).