Sudbury Five defend the throne, force winner-take-all Game 5 in Kitchener

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Sudbury Five erase 0-2 hole, forces Game 5 in BSL Championship series

Sudbury Five one win from back-to-back BSL titles

The Sudbury Five defeated the KW Titans 100-97 on Monday night at Sudbury Community Arena in front of a crowd of more than 1,650 basketball fans. The Five rallied from an early double-digit deficit to force a fifth and deciding game in the Basketball Super League championship series.

The Titans entered the playoffs as the first-place seed and won the first two games of the series in Kitchener. Sudbury, the defending BSL champions and second-place seed, won Game 3 at home before Monday’s victory levelled the series 2-2.

Five erase early deficit

KW opened the game with a 9-0 run and led by as many as 15 points in the first quarter before Sudbury began to claw back. The Titans shot 63.2 per cent from the field in the opening frame and led 31-23 after one.

The Five outscored KW 23-19 in the second quarter, cutting the margin to 50-46 at halftime. Sudbury took its first lead of the game in the third quarter and the teams traded advantages throughout the second half.

Sudbury outscored the Titans 28-23 in the final quarter to complete the comeback.

Team captain Duane Notice led the Five with 27 points on eight-of-16 shooting, adding four rebounds and four assists. He made 10 of 14 free throws and played 46 minutes.

League MVP Charlie Marquardt scored 18 points for Sudbury, going nine-for-nine from the free-throw line and added four rebounds and two assists.

Emmanuel Akot finished with 13 points and seven rebounds for the Five while Alex Kotov contributed eight points off the bench on three-of-four shooting.

Notice embraces adversity

Notice, speaking to reporters after the game, said the team remained calm despite the difficult start.

“Adversity’s a privilege,” he said.

“So, for us to go through hard times, I think it makes us better, it helps our character improve.”

Notice said his message to teammates during an early timeout was simple.

“Chop wood and carry water, just be consistent,” he said.

“We understood it’s a long game.”

Notice said the game plan was to limit KW’s supporting cast.

“We wanted to get the other guys out of rhythm,” he said.

“We played the percentages. We knew that if we stuck to the game plan, that things would even out and that’s what happened in the second half.”

Marquardt praises team’s resolve

Marquardt said the team’s identity is rooted in resilience.

“We were down 0-2. We could have gave up,” Marquardt said after the game.

“That’s just not our identity. That’s not what the Sudbury community is about. We’re going to fight to the end and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Five coach credits togetherness

Sudbury Five head coach Joey Puddister said the team’s bond helped steady them after the slow start.

“When stuff gets hairy like that and stressful, they come together rather than pulling apart,” he said.

“Not losing faith in what we’re trying to do.”

Speaking to media after the game, Puddister said the team focused on small steps rather than trying to erase the deficit in one sequence.

“Just getting singles and singles and working our way back into the game rather than trying to make a huge play to get us all back in at once,” he said.

“The mentality of ‘we got tons of time left, we’re going to work our way back in’ paid off for us.”

Titans coach says team didn’t make enough plays late

KW Titans head coach Cliff Clinkscales said the difference came down to the final minutes.

After the game, CTV News asked Clinkscales if either team had an advantage heading into Game 5, and he replied:

“There ain’t no advantage right now. It all will come down to what team wants it more, who executes better and who plays the most consistent in 48 minutes.”

KW box-score notes

James Towns led all Titans scorers with 21 points on eight-of-13 shooting, including five three-pointers while Antoine Mason added 18 points and Ty Groce had 10 points and six rebounds.

League proud of the series

BSL president Evelyn Magley said after the game she was impressed with both teams.

“The one thing that I really like is that they respected one another and played with integrity,” Magley said. “That says a lot about both teams.”

Game 5 on the road

The series now shifts back to Kitchener for a final and decisive Game 5.

Notice said the team is eager for the challenge.

“It’s fun playing on the road,” Notice said.

“We just bought ourselves some life. We’re very excited about the opportunity to compete for a championship, go back-to-back.”

Notice also thanked Sudbury fans for their support in what was the team’s final home game of the season.

“The fans have been tremendous,” he said.

“They’re like the sixth man. It helps me lock in for these games and makes me play for something more than just myself, more than my family, more than my faith, more than my teammates, but also for the city.”

Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, in Kitchener at the Aud with tipoff at 7 p.m.

With files from CTVNorthernOntario.ca anchor Ian Campbell