River Lions win at BlackJack
Khalil Ahmad delivered the performance of a lifetime Sunday afternoon for the Niagara River Lions.
The two-time Canadian Elite Basketball League Clutch Player of the Year put on a show for the ages, netting 23 points to pace the River Lions past the Ottawa BlackJacks 94-91 in an Eastern Conference semifinal playoff game before a franchise record 4,004 fans at Meridian Centre.
Ahmad scored all 13 of Niagara’s points in Target Score time, including a thunderous dunk on a perfectly executed alley-oop pass from TJ Lall that won the game and brought down the house.
“The ending, the whole game itself, the fan support, there’s no way to put that into words. I literally have no words for that,” said Ahmad, the all-time leader in Target Score winners. “I’m proud of my team, they played amazing. Shoutout to Ottawa, they’re a great team, but I think our fans really took us to the next level.”
Ahmad clearly wanted the ball in his hands with the game on the line.
“It’s amazing. That’s what every basketball player dreams of, big time plays like that. Winning the game in ELAM is perfect for that because you score and the game’s over,” he said.
River Lions coach Victor Raso, who emerged from the dressing room drenched after being doused by his players following the game, said there was no doubt Ahmad was the man for the job.
“Khalil was unbelievable. I’m screaming at whoever else was dribbling the ball to give it to him,” Raso said. “I recognized a minute before ELAM that this had to be Khalil. He has to be the guy with the ball in his hands.”
The River Lions called a time out with a 92-91 lead and needing one bucket to win.
“Sometimes in coaching you can draw up the nicest play in the world and it doesn’t work. Sometimes you draw something up and it works,” Raso said. “I didn’t even think it was as open as they made it look. I thought TJ’s pass was perfect and Khalil’s catch and jump were perfect.
“Holy hell, that was executed perfectly and it was dangerous, it wasn’t that open.”
The River Lions led 28-19 after one period and 49-48 at the half. The BlackJacks rallied in the third quarter and went into Target Score time leading 85-81.
“It’s unbelievable. I wish it wasn’t like that for my own stress levels but we fought through adversity in the playoffs,” Raso said. “For a franchise that has lost games like that in the past, and for us to win it like that, we got really tough down the stretch.”
Raso tipped his cap to a spunky Ottawa club.
“That team is really, really good. They made us pay for every single mistake we made. They are excellent in transition and they play with such good offensive flow. The ball finds the right person every time and they shoot it really well,” he said.
The River Lions, who finished a perfect 11-0 at home this season, advance to Championship Weekend in Montreal where they take on the host Alliance in the Eastern Conference final Friday at 8 p.m. The championship game is Sunday.
It will be the third Championship Weekend in row for Niagara, who have yet to win a title.
“It means a lot,” Ahmad said. “Championship Weekend is a big deal obviously. We finished how we wanted to finish at home and now we just gotta take care of business there.”
STATS PACK
River Lions 94 BlackJacks 91
BPSN Player of the Game: Niagara’s Khalil Ahmad with 23 points, including 14 points in the final four minutes.
For the Niagara River Lions: Ahmad 23 Jahvon Blair 22; Nathan Cayo 17; Omari Moore 14.
For the Ottawa BlackJacks: Shamar Givance 19; Isaih Moore 17; Tevin Brown 14/
Game stats: Field goal percentage: Niagara 47, Ottawa 56; Free throws: Niagara 13-18, Ottawa 8-9. Rebounds: Niagara 34, Ottawa 34. Turnovers: Niagara 13, Ottawa 16.
Attendance: 4,004
Up next: The River Lions will take on the host Montreal Alliance (6-14) Friday at 8 p.m. in Montreal in the Eastern Conference final. The winner will advance to the final Sunday.
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