The Basketball Super League semifinals shifted to Montreal on Wednesday night for the first professional basketball playoff game in the city\u2019s history between the Sudbury Five and the Montreal Toundra.<\/p>\n
Sudbury hoped to end the series last night and advance to the finals, while Montreal hoped to avoid elimination and force a fourth game.<\/p>\n
And it was the Toundra who got their wish on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Heading into the dressing room for the halftime break, the Montreal Toundra led the Sudbury Five by a score of 58-46.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Toundra continued to lead the Five by a score of 81-68.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n