A hobbled St. John’s Edge basketball squad dug down deep Friday night and lived to play another day, coming up with a 107-104 win over the Sudbury Five in Sudbury, Ont.
The win evens their best-of-five National Basketball League of Canada opening round series 2-2, with the deciding Game 5 at Mile One Centre in St. John’s Sunday afternoon.
Tipoff is 2 o’clock.
The Edge played Friday with just nine bodies, and that includes Dez Lee, who was a game-time decision. Lee started, but managed to play only two minutes.
Following Game 3, a 124-112 St. John’s loss in Sudbury, the Edge learned they will be without Shaquille Keith for the remainder of the playoffs after suffering a broken foot.
Carl English is currently sidelined, recovering from surgery on his thumb, and hasn't played since Feb. 7.
However, the injury occurred on his left, or non-shooting, hand, and English has been doing shooting drills and taking part in game-day warmups for some time, but has yet to receive medical clearance to play.
However, given the Edge’s precarious manpower situation, there’s a very good chance English will dress Sunday.
The Edge may also bring in a player to replace Keith, but the league will have to approve the transaction.
The Edge held a three-point lead at halftime Friday, 53-50, and extended that lead to as much as 16 points with 7:18 left in the third quarter.
However, Sudbury would take advantage of the short St. John’s bench, tying things up 101-101 with 2:13 remaining in regulation time.
However, the Edge would escape with the win in front of 2,060 at the Sudbury Arena.
Glen Davis led the way for St. John’s with 22 points and 16 rebounds, 10 of which were offensive boards. Junior Cadougan and Isaiah Tate II would finish with 18 points apiece, with Murphy Burnatowski dropping 15 and Jared Nickens rounding it out with 13 off the bench.
Twitter: @TelySports
