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Sports<\/a>Basketball<\/a>Local Sports<\/a><\/p>\n Joey Puddister and company rebound from tough loss on Friday to defeat Montreal Toundra on Saturday, then fall in OT on Sunday<\/p>\n Published Mar 09, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n Joey Puddister would have preferred to return home with at least two of three wins and sole possession of first place in the Basketball Super League<\/a>, but the Sudbury Five<\/a>\u2019s head coach couldn\u2019t complain about his team\u2019s effort level over a gruelling three-in-three\u00a0 road trip to Montreal this past weekend.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n After a tough 105-86 loss<\/a> to the host Toundra on Friday, the Five rebounded with a 109-98 victory<\/a> at Centre Pierre Charbonneau on Saturday. They then pushed the rubber match to overtime on Sunday, after trailing for most of the contest, before dropping a 102-99 decision.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very proud of the way we are able to make adjustments and battle after difficult losses,\u201d Puddister told The Sudbury Star after Sunday\u2019s game. \u201cWe band together in tough times and come out stronger on the other side.\u201d<\/p>\n With a record of 14-6, Sudbury now shares first place in the BSL<\/a> with Montreal, which had won no fewer than 10 straight games before falling to the Five on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are very well coached, play hard and rebound,\u201d Puddister said of the Toundra. \u201cWe need to match their intensity on the glass and play our game.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Big man AJ Davis was a standout for the Five in Sunday\u2019s contest, pouring in a team-high 29 points and pulling down eight rebounds. Sudbury guard Charlie Marquardt had 21 points and 10 boards of his own, while DeVante Jamison added 17 points, Duane Notice 10, Allen Billinger nine and Montreal native Nervens Demosthene seven for the visitors.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a battle for our bigger-minute guys \u2014 both mentality and physically,\u201d Puddister said of the taxing trip to La Belle Province. \u201cWe have an incredible staff of physio and massage therapists that do a great job making sure our guys are prepared for the toll that three games takes.<\/p>\n \u201cOur bench stepped up huge this weekend and we were able to keep the minutes a little more balanced.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n In addition to the likes of Jamison, whose contributions off the bench typically land the fleet-footed point guard in double digits for scoring in seven of his last nine outings, Puddister was particularly pleased with Demosthene, who totalled 13 points in 23 minutes of court time in his hometown on Saturday, then added seven more over 30 minutes on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cNervens was great,\u201d Puddister said. \u201cHe\u2019s a guy that you talk about being a star in his role. He did that this weekend at home in Montreal in front of his friends and family.\u201d<\/p>\n The defending BSL champions will surely need such steady play from athletes up and down the lineup if they hope to make another run at the Super Lillie trophy this spring.<\/p>\n \u201cJust staying consistent through the ups and downs that come in quarters, games, weeks and the season overall,\u201d Puddister said.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n After such a busy stretch, Sudbury\u2019s bench boss will be happy to let his players have a bit of a rest this coming week. Their tilt against the Lake Erie Jackals in Sudbury this coming Saturday will be their only game in a 10-day span<\/a>, with a visit to the KW Titans the following Thursday, March 19.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re always trying to see how to we can better,\u201d Puddister said. \u201cGuys are diligent about being in the weight room, yoga and getting treatment to get their bodies prepared. On court, we\u2019re addressing our mistakes and working on them everyday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a bit of a tough road trip, but we will grow from it and come out better on the other side.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Sudbury](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/20260219jl20435.su_.jpg\")
AJ Davis, middle, of the Sudbury Five drives to the basket during basketball action against the Newfoundland Rogues at the Sudbury Community Arena in Sudbury, Ont. on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Photo by John Lappa \/The Sudbury StarArticle content<\/p>\n