The Basketball Super League semifinals shifted to Montreal on Wednesday night for the first professional basketball playoff game in the city’s history between the Sudbury Five and the Montreal Toundra.
Sudbury hoped to end the series last night and advance to the finals, while Montreal hoped to avoid elimination and force a fourth game.
And it was the Toundra who got their wish on Wednesday.
The Sudbury Five struggled to get anything going on offence, leading to the Toundra winning the game by a comfortable 100-86 score, and forcing that all important Game Four.
The Toundra came out hot in the first quarter, scoring 37 points, with Tafari Beckford leading Montreal with eight first-quarter points. The Five were held to just 25 points.
The second quarter was a lot closer, seeing both teams score 21 points apiece in the quarter, with Charlie Marquardt leading all Five scorers with eight second-quarter points and Jeremy Hayes leading all scorers for the Toundra, also with eight points on the quarter.
Heading into the dressing room for the halftime break, the Montreal Toundra led the Sudbury Five by a score of 58-46.
The third quarter was almost as close as the second, seeing Montreal outscore Sudbury by the slimmest of margins in the quarter, 23-22. John Buggs and Gabriel Wiznitzer each had five third-quarter points each.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Toundra continued to lead the Five by a score of 81-68.
Once again, the fourth quarter was tightly contested, with Montreal coming away with the slight margin, outscoring Sudbury 19-18, and securing the win for the Toundra and ensuring the team lives to fight another day.
With Sudbury leading the series 2-1, The Five have a second opportunity to punch their ticket to the Basketball Super League Finals tonight in Montreal, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Super fan Robert McCarthy covers Sudbury Wolves and Sudbury Five games for Sudbury.com. Got a question for Robert? Email it to [email protected].