The St. John’s Edge held down first place in the National Basketball League of Canada’s Central Division over the weekend.
For one day.
The Edge, led by Carl English’s layup for a game-winning basket with 1.5 seconds left on the clock, recorded a 110-108 win Saturday night at Mile One Centre to climb into top spot in the division.
Sunday afternoon, however, the London Lightning showed why they’re the defending league champion with a 124-102 thumping in the rematch in downtown St. John’s.
The win has the Lightning back on top in the Central Division and first overall in the league at 22-12, just ahead of St. John’s, which falls to 22-13.
The Edge closed out their latest six-game homestand at 4-2.
London held a six-point lead at halftime Sunday, 60-54, but put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring their hosts 35-14.
Reigning NBL Canada MVP Royce White led the Lightning with a dominant performance — 25 points and 18 rebounds. The former NBA first round draft pick of the Houston Rockets is second in league scoring, averaging 24 points per game, just behind English of the Edge, who has a 24.5 point-per-game average.
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Five other London players scored in double figures Sunday.
Coron Williams was tops for St. John’s with 23 points. English had 14. Five others were in double figures.
On Saturday night, the Edge led 58-45 at the half, but the Lightning had a big third quarter again, outscoring St. John’s 41-20.
However, St. John’s came out strong in the final 12 minutes of play, eventually winning it on English’s last-second heroics.
English finished the night with 16 points, as did Ryan Reid, Charles Hinkle and Xavier Ford. Alex Johnson led the team with 19.
The Edge will practise this week at home before heading out on a three-game road trip beginning next Saturday against the Windsor Express. St. John’s plays in Kitchener, Ont. on the March 21 against the KW Titan before finishing up on the 22nd in St. Catharines, Ont., against the Niagara River Lions.
The playoff-bound Edge return home to close out the regular season on the 31st and April 2 against the River Lions.
Twitter: @telysports
