Skip to content

Five see their season come to an end

Local basketballers look ahead to next season after losing to Windsor 108-99
150523_sudburyfive_may14
Braylon Rayson and JD Miller share a moment during the Sunday, May 14 game, the last of the team's current season.

It was do or die at the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday afternoon as the Sudbury Five took to the court against the Windsor Express in the fifth and deciding game in the National Basketball League of Canada Semi-Finals, with a berth in the Championship Finals on the line.

When asked about the energy level from the crowd, Sudbury Five Head Coach Logan Stutz said “There was definitely energy. We needed to be more consistent.”

Stutz went on to say to the fans, “Thanks for a great season, we know we have the best fans.”

With just under nine minutes left to play in the first quarter and Windsor leading by a score of 6-2, Braylon Rayson converted a reverse layup to pull Sudbury within two, with a score of 6-4. Just over two minutes later and Windsor now leading 10-4, AJ Mosby Jr. connected on a jump shot and also converted on the following free throw to make the score 10-7 for the Express. Sudbury started to take control of the game in the remainder of the quarter and with less than 10 seconds remaining Montell McRae hit a three pointer to give Sudbury a 27-19 lead, which is how the first quarter would end.

Just under a minute into the second quarter and with Sudbury leading 27-21, Rayson hit a three point shot to extend Sudbury’s lead to 30-21. 

Almost two minutes later, Windsor closed the gap to five points until Dexter Williams Jr. hit a tough layup shot to make the score 35-28 for the Five. 

Over the next several minutes Windsor went on a run and were leading 50-40 with just over two minutes to go in the first half until McRae hit a three pointer to pull Sudbury within 7, 50-43. 

The teams went into the dressing room at halftime with Windsor leading 55-43.

Coming out of the dressing room to start the second half Sudbury looked to make a comeback for the second straight game with Duane Notice nailing a three point jump shot to make the score 55-46 for the Express. 

With just over nine minutes remaining in the third quarter and the score 56-48 for Windsor, JD Miller converted an assertive slam dunk to keep Sudbury within striking distance, 56-50.

Over the next few minutes Sudbury chipped away at Windsor’s lead and were now trailing by 61-58 until Duane Notice hit a tough layup shot to make the score 61-60 for the Windsor Express. 

With just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter and Sudbury trailing by a score of 69-65, JD Miller once again dunked the ball with authority and Sudbury now only trailed by two, 69-67. 

In the dying minutes of the quarter, Montell McRae came up with a huge block to keep Sudbury within two points. At the end of the third quarter the Windsor Express held a 76-72 lead

with one quarter left to play.

Windsor started off the fourth by getting 6 points to Sudbury’s lead and held a 82-75 lead until Mosby Jr. hit a tough layup shot but missed the ensuing free throw to complete the three point play and make the score 82-77 for Windsor. 

With just over nine minutes left to play and Sudbury down by five, Notice continued his domination on the offensive end of the floor by converting on a layup and making the score 82-79 for Sudbury, keeping this one close. 

The next several minutes saw both teams going back and forth trading baskets and Windsor holding a 95-89 lead until JD Miller hit a three pointer to make the score 95-92 for Windsor with just over four and a half minutes left to play in regulation time. 

With just under four minutes to go and Windsor leading 98-92, Mosby Jr. stepped through the Windsor defense and hit a layup and the following free throw to make the score 98-95 for Windsor. 

With time running out and Windsor leading 100-95, Rayson hit a timely three point jump shot to pull Sudbury within two points, 100-98. Sudbury made a great effort, but it was not to be, as Sudbury fell 108-99 to the Windsor Express and saw their season come to an end, losing the Best of 5 National League of Canada Semi-Finals 3-2.

The Sudbury Five look ahead to their next season, which will be their first in the newly-formed Basketball Super League, which is slated to start in December 2023.

Super fan Robert McCarthy covers games of the Sudbury Wolves and Sudbury Five for Sudbury.com. Got a question for Robert? Email it to [email protected].


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.