The Verdun Auditorium was packed. The atmosphere was electrifying. The crowd, completely frenzied. And the Alliance won it 80-70. It’s hard to ask for more for the first game in the history of the new franchise at home.
Posted at 6:20 p.m.
Updated at 8:37 p.m.
“First game at home, an atmosphere like that… Just to have the victory, it’s sick for me. I don’t even know what to say, ”said Quebecer Kemy Ossé, all smiles, after the meeting.
Led by an absolutely sparkling Dominic Green with 36 points, Vincent Lavandier’s men showed the Scarborough Shooting Stars, the 3,500 fans present in the Auditorium and an attentive Chris Boucher on the sidelines how much they were warming up.
The ground shook as Ossé netted the missing basket to reach the 79-point target set by Elam rule, sealing the encounter. The building was also slow to empty thereafter, while the players of the Alliance were asked for autographs and photos.
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, THE PRESS
It was the best moment of my basketball career.
Kemy Osse
The Alliance organization had prepared a great pre-match presentation. Introduced one by one by the house announcer, the players presented themselves on the field in a cloud of smoke. The already enthusiastic crowd gave them a welcome worthy of a full house. And she didn’t die out during the game. You had to see his reaction to each successful three-point basket, including five by Dominic Green.
“It was incredible,” said the 25-year-old American. There is nothing more to ask for as a basketball player. When they bring energy, it feeds you. It allows you to go even harder every day. »
In two times
Like Wednesday in Hamilton – an 80-72 loss to the Honey Badgers – the game was a two-parter for the Alliance. Perhaps a little nervous, the team trailed 45-37 at the halfway mark and was dominated by former Raptors Jalen Harris and teammate Kyle Alexander, who already had 21 points between them.
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, THE PRESS
Game of the new basketball team the Alliance de Montréal against the Scarborough Shooting Stars at the Verdun Auditorium.
“I think that in the first half of the match, we attacked very well, but with a disastrous shooting percentage,” said head coach Vincent Lavandier. […] I simply told the players at half-time that they could put even more energy in defense, take more rhythm in attack to have a better performance in shots. »
And they got the message. To the sound of the shattering defense from the crowd that echoed in the Auditorium when the Shooting Stars took possession of the ball, Lavandier’s troops came from behind with six unanswered baskets at the start of the third quarter. After five minutes of play, she had taken the lead 49-47.
“The coach does an excellent job with us to push ourselves to the maximum in training, explained Kemy Ossé. We were in that moment, where our legs were dead but we had to give that second boost. This is exactly what happened today. »
The Alliance faced the remainder of the game with scorching energy to win 80-70. The crowd even hinted at “hohe hehe hehe” at the end of the game.
Ossé, who scored 12 points including 7 in the last four minutes, praised the work of Dominic Green, who “kept the team in the game”. “He won the game. Him and Alain Louis,” he said.
Vincent Lavandier described the American’s performance as “normal”.
“He’s a very talented player but he needs to work a lot on his defense,” he explained. He knows it. Me, I tell him: your match is good, but I expect more. I’m a bit demanding with talented players, so that’s normal. »
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, THE PRESS
Game of the new basketball team the Alliance de Montréal against the Scarborough Shooting Stars at the Verdun Auditorium.
great visitors
Several visitors caught the eye within the walls of the Verdun Auditorium. First, NBA players Chris Boucher and Luguentz Dort. Then popular rapper J Cole, who is playing for the Scarborough Shooting Stars this season.
“It’s really good for the league,” Ossé said of it. When J Cole signed, all the tickets sold out. It also shows how big this league is. Just the fact that he wants to play in the league means a lot. »
“I have a lot of respect for him to come and play,” said Dominic Green. He plays against the pros. He gave the effort, played 100%, it was cool to see that. »
The Rule of Elam
The LECB is the only basketball league in the world to have adopted the Elam rule. When there are less than four minutes left in the game, the clock is put away for the rest of the game. At the next stoppage of play, we target a score to reach, which is the number of points of the leading team plus nine.