You might call it sort of an irregular end to the regular season.
Monday night at Mie One Centre, the St. John’s Edge were a team that didn’t have much to play for in its 40th game. And they mostly looked the part.
In what was the last National Basketball League of Canada contest before the start of the playoffs, the Edge dropped a 99-88 decision to the Niagara River Lions before a crowd of over 4,300.
It was the second-lowest offensive output by the Edge (24-16) in their inaugural NBL Canada campaign; they had lost 94-86 to the KW Titans in January.
One St. John’s player with something on the line Monday was star guard Carl English, who entered the contest needing 30 points to claim the league scoring crown. But English struggled to find his scoring touch, going three-for-15 from the floor and missing all nine of his three-point attempts.
With just seven points through the first two quarters, the 37-year-old from Patrick’s Cove sat out the second half. As a result, he finished with a 23.9 point per game average, leaving him behind only reigning league MVP Royce White (24.7) of the defending champion London Lightning.
English wasn’t alone in his scoring woes. As a whole, the Edge shot just 37 per cent and committed 17 turnovers Monday night, giving every indication of a club that might have been caught looking ahead to its first post-season game.
That will be Friday night (7 p.m.) at Mile One, where St. John’s, which finished second in the Central Division behind London, will open a best-of-seven series against the third-place Windsor Express.
While English started Monday, the team’s other top scorer — forward Charles Hinkle — didn’t even dress for the game. That was a decision made by head coach Jeff Dunlap in order to give Hinkle, who had started all 39 previous games and had played far more minutes than anyone else on the team, some pre-playoff rest.
English probably would have also been rested, too, if not for the shot at the scoring crown.
Desmond Lee, with 13 points, and Jarryn Skeete, with 12, topped St. John’s in points.
Ryan Reid and Russell Byrd each had 11.
As an indication of what kind of game it was Monday, guard Alex Johnson — the Edge’s shortest player — led the team in rebounds (10) as well as assists (six).
Guillaume Boucard of Niagara had a game-high 20 points, while Devonta Pollard added 19 for the River Lions (17-23), who will face London in the first round of the playoffs.
Notes
Prior to the start of Monday’s game, the Edge handed out their year-end awards. Carl English was named team MVP, while Charles Hinkle was the selection as the top newcomer (to the league). Desmond Lee was the choice as top defensive plyer, while Coron Williams was the choice as the sixth man and Ransford Brempong picked up honours for community service. Jarryn Skeete was the Fans’ Choice selection… For the first time this year, the Edge removed the curtain that covered an upper section at Mile One in part to accommodate many of the minor hockey teams that took in the game. However, indications are the team will keep it open for playoff games as well…
Twitter: @telybrendan
