{"id":580965,"date":"2026-04-04T04:09:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T04:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/580965\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T04:09:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T04:09:09","slug":"sudbury-five-open-playoffs-with-win-over-montreal-toundra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/580965\/","title":{"rendered":"Sudbury Five open playoffs with win over Montreal Toundra"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The ink was barely dry on the score sheet for a 105-96 win over the Montreal Toundra when head coach Joey Puddister joined centre Alex Kotov for the post-game press conference, pretending to act as a translator while the big man answered in Russian.<\/p>\n

Article content<\/p>\n

Some of his answers were thoughtful and detailed. Others were clearly meant to get a laugh, which they did, and were certainly far from direct translations.<\/p>\n

When Kotov was asked how he dealt with the Toundra\u2019s physicality under the hoop, for instance, Puddister responded with \u201cI love my coach \u2014 that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joking aside, the Five took a good first step in defence of their BSL title on home court Friday night, leading almost all the way against a hard-working Montreal squad that had pushed the locals to overtime just six days earlier. Duane Notice led the way for Sudbury with 28 points, with Kotov adding 17, DeVante Jamison 16, Charlie Marquardt 12, Emmanuel Akot 11 and Tyquane Goard 10.<\/p>\n

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Tafari Beckford had 26, Jeremy Hayes 17, Ketarrious Bouchum 16 and Kyle Steward nine for Montreal, which trailed 63-48 at halftime and managed to narrow the gap to five or six points on a few occasions after the break, but could come no closer despite once again taking a 48-39 edge in rebounds over 48 minutes \u2014\u00a011 of those on offence.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll attempt to do so on Saturday, when Game 2 of the best-of-five series tips off at Sudbury Community Arena at 7:05 p.m.<\/p>\n

Sudbury matched Montreal\u2019s shooting efficiency from the field, with both teams posting a percentage of 44.9, but even with the high-scoring Marquardt a little off his usual game, the hosts were much better from outside the three-point arc, making 28.6 per cent of attempts to the visitors\u2019 14.3, and also held the advantage from the free-throw line, 77.1 to 61.9.<\/p>\n

Game 3 and Game 4, if the latter is necessary, will be played at Centre Pierre Charbonneau in Montreal next Wednesday and Thursday, both at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

Should a fifth contest be needed, it will be back in Sudbury the following Saturday, April 11 at 7:05 p.m.<\/p>\n

Click through the gallery to see more photos and watch a video from the post-game press conference below, featuring Puddister\u2019s own, untranslated comments.<\/p>\n

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We apologize, but this video has failed to load.<\/p>\n

Play Video<\/p>\n

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