River Lions fall short
The Niagara River Lions four-game winning streak came to an end with a 107-95 defeat to the Hamilton Honey Badgers Wednesday in Hamilton.
The River Lions are now 6-2 in Canadian Elite Basketball League action.
The Honey Badgers took control of the game in the second quarter, out-scoring the River Lions 31-18 to take a 56-43 lead at the half. Niagara responded with a strong third quarter before the Honey Badgers out-scored the River Lions 28-23 in the final quarter.
“Offensively, we didn’t shoot the ball very well. It wasn’t because we didn’t get good looks or weren’t moving the ball well, we just didn’t shoot very well,” River Lions coach/general manager Victor Raso said.
Raso said the River Lions didn’t get the job done at the other end of the floor, either.
“I told these guys at the beginning of the year it’s about how good you are on your worst day,” he said. “We didn’t do a very good job defensively making their main guys feel uncomfortable.
“If you let talented guys like Hamilton get comfortable with their game, then they’re going to make even more uncontested stops and then it’s even harder to get stops.”
Dorian Pinson paced the River Lions with 20 points while Guillaume Payen-Boucard added 17. Kassius Robertson chipped in with 15 while Trae-Bell Haynes and Ryan Anderson added 11 apiece.
Demetrius Denzel-Dyson led Hamilton with 24 points.
The Honey Badgers out-rebounded the River Lions 46-42.
The River Lions are home to Guelph Friday at 7 p.m.
Raso feels it’s imperative the River Lions turn the page quickly.
“Everything is great when you’re winning but sometimes winning masks some issues,” he said. “I told the guys to take it for what it is and learn from it. The good thing about this loss is we get to play Hamilton twice more and you get to avenge it Friday as opposed to waiting eight days and letting it stew.”
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