Game Five: Losing streak continues as River Lions dominate Shooting Stars
The current road trip was viewed as the Scarborough Shooting Stars’ much-needed refresh by head coach Chris Exilus to get the team back on track after losing three games in a row.
Instead, Scarborough endured its worst loss of the season, 99–81, against the surging Niagara River Lions(2–3).
Finding consistency on defensive coverages and efficiency on the offensive end continue to be the focal points this season.
Niagara outmatched Scarborough on both ends of the floor. The River Lions connected on 55% of their shots compared to Scarborough’s 40%, out rebounded 43 to 34 and moved the ball better with 27 team assists against Scarborough’s seven.
The Shooting Stars are in the midst of a four-game losing streak after winning their season opener against the Brampton Honey Badgers. The loss places them in last place in the CEBL.
Right from opening tip-off, the River Lions took the early lead and never looked back.
Within four minutes into the first quarter, Niagara went on a 15–4 scoring run and entered the second quarter with a 26–15 lead.
Scarborough once again needed late surges to cut into deficits hovering around 15 points each time down the stretch.
“We need to start on time,” Exilus said following the team’s two home losses at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.
While he acknowledged the team’s energy and drive late in games as positives, the head coach said he wants to see more of that effort throughout the game.
“Play a complete game and be better,” Exilus said on June 4 after the team’s 96–84 loss to the Saskatchewan Rattlers.
There was a small window for another comeback attempt at the end of the third quarter with the score 68–62. Thomas Kennedy’s offensive rebound and quick lay-up jumpstarted a 6–0 run to end the quarter.
However, the River Lions would pull away in the fourth by outscoring Scarborough 31–19. This time there would be no late run in Target Score Time to make things interesting at the end.
Cat Barber was not his usual self as the offensive anchor. He finished with 13 points on 5–13 shooting. Despite the misses, he contributed six rebounds and two steals.
As Scarborough continues to find a way to bounce back, lineup shuffles were made for varying reasons.
Kameron Chatman entered the starting five, replacing Kennedy. Chatman led the Shooting Stars with 17 points and nine rebounds.
This is the type of change Kennedy said he would embrace if needed on June 4.
“My mindset coming to this team was always impact and winning,” Kennedy said. “Clearly we haven’t been winning and have had a little bit of struggles so far. If me performing the way I have been is going to do that [get more wins], then I’ll keep playing that way and if I need to make a little change to my role, I’ll be open to whatever the solution is.”
Marcus Anderson took over Jalen Harris’ starting spot for the night. Anderson finished with three points and was 1–4 in 12 minutes.
Harris was a late scratch in the lineup. He is currently attending the Westchester Knicks’ NBA G-League minicamp.
Harris was out of the lineup to attend a Utah Jazz minicamp against the Ottawa BlackJacks on May 30 as well.
His 17.3 PPG remains second on the team to Barber’s 23.4 PPG.
Newly signed forward Zeke Moore made his Shooting Stars debut. He scored 14 points off the bench on 5–16 shooting.
For the River Lions, their offence was led by reigning CEBL MVP Khalil Ahmad and Edward Ekiyor, who both had 17 points.
This is Niagara’s second win in a row after blowing out the Rattlers 117–74 on June 3.
Up next for Scarborough is the Montreal Alliance at the Verdun Auditorium on June 11.
The Shooting Stars return home on June 18 to host the Honey Badgers.
