For the first time, in a long time, the Sudbury Five moved into Saturday's matchup against the Cape Breton Highlanders with close to a full roster.
Back on the court was guard Jaylen Bland, having missed seven of the team's last nine games due to a lower-body injury. By his side was Sudbury's new big man, Isaiah "Big Dog" Johnson, and North Bay native, Joey Puddister.
Despite hopes, this team effort was not enough to keep the nickel city boys from facing a 121-116 defeat at the hands of their visitors.
The game took off like a shot, with Bland announcing his return to the court with two clutch baskets for the Five. Despite being the primary focus of Highlander defence, 5-foot-9 Braylon Rayson was able to notch six points in the first to tie Devin Gilligan as top-scorer.
"Big Dog" Johnson notched his first points in Five colours on a driving play, scoring the basket as well as the drawn foul shot. The Five were up by a basket at the end of the first, with a score of 26-24.
While the first few minutes of the second were led by team defence, the remainder of the quarter was a different story. The Highlanders enjoyed a strong shooting quarter, sinking 45.5 per cent from the field and 36.4 per cent from three. The island team's offensive was led by the league's leading scorer Bruce Massey, who delivered 10 points in the second.
Second in the league, the Sudbury Five's Rayson also had a strong quarter, with a total of nine points. The Five trailed by six at the end of the second, with a score of 58-52.
The nickel city boys put on a show in the third, shooting 12-16 from the field and 2-4 from three. This near-perfect offensive was led by Rayson, who contributed 13 points to the best scoring quarter of the game. Bland also had a strong quarter, delivering nine points for the Five.
Massey led the Highlanders with 10 points in the third, contributing to the team’s one-point lead of 87-86 going into the final frame.
The Highlanders continued to build their lead in the final frame, but the Five were not going down without a fight. A basket and foul shot by Cory Dixon, coupled with a clutch lay-up by Gilligan, cut the lead to one. Cape Breton responded with another six-point lead until a timely rebound brought the Five within one, with just under a minute of play remaining.
After a critical offensive rebound by Highlander’s Tanner Giddings, the Five were forced to foul the Highlanders to the line. Going a perfect 6-6, Cape Breton grew their lead and ultimately won the match 121-116.
Bland was awarded the BOSS Supplements Sudbury BOSS of the game with 28 points, five rebounds and three steals. "Big Dog" Johnson also had a strong first game at the Sudbury Arena, scoring 14 points and collecting five rebounds within a span of 17 minutes.
The Five welcome division rivals the Windsor Express, Thursday, Jan. 17 at the Sudbury Arena.
