The head coach of the Alliance, Vincent Lavandier, sums it up well: “a match is won at the end”. That’s what his troop did Tuesday night, winning 86-80 against the Ottawa Blackjacks after a tight game from start to finish.
Updated yesterday at 11:34 p.m.
The two teams had already faced each other in the preseason game, and it was Ontario who had the upper hand. The Alliance pulled together nicely this time, when it counted.
“We played hard,” said Hernst Laroche after the game. We wanted to win at home, that’s what made the difference. A house of 2,452 responsive and committed supporters, yes. “Who said it was a hockey town? It’s a basketball city! “, he added.
For the first time in three games, the Alliance had a 38-31 lead at halftime. It contained in a beautiful way the former Cleveland Cavaliers Deng Adel, who had scored so far only 10 points. The same Adel who finished the Blackjacks’ first game with 37 points…
“We took the lead thanks to our defence, explained Vincent Lavandier. Afterwards, when we play two matches like that in [48 heures], you have to manage the legs. Half-time cut off our rhythm of play, of defense. It cost us the rhythm in general. »
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Alain Louis and head coach Vincent Lavandier
The Blackjacks, coached by Quebecer Charles Dubé-Brais, closed the gap after halftime, so that the score was 59-59 after the third quarter. The fight therefore continued with renewed vigor, and when it came time to apply the rule of Elam, the Alliance was ahead at the count of 77-74.
Quebecer Hernst Laroche and Greek veteran Gaios Skordilis joined forces by scoring seven and two points respectively to reach the target of 86 points and allow their team to remain undefeated at home. “We had a good game tonight,” Skordilis said. You have to help the team win. »
I hope this will be the start of a winning streak. […] We notice that the guys are becoming more confident.
Gaios Skordilis
Game after game, the attacking picture is different on the Alliance side. Sunday, the American Dominic Green had been the hero with 36 points. On Tuesday, the distribution of points was more divided. Skordilis, who is playing his first season in America after 14 professional years in Europe, has collected 20.
“I struggled in the first two games, but I hope this one will help me unlock and that I will continue to help the team in any way I can,” he said. he expresses.
Laroche’s contribution
Co-captain Hernst Laroche is one of the key elements of the Lavandier troupe at the start of the season. The leader, described as “cerebral” by his coach, plays with consistency and acts as a facilitator for his teammates.
The Montrealer is averaging 10 points and 4.7 assists per game and has hit 67% of his three-point shots so far. And it was he who scored the ultimate two baskets on free throws that gave the Alliance victory on Tuesday.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Walt Lemon Jr. and Hernst Laroche
“I’m my biggest critic,” he said. I think I can play better, but I’m happy with the results. We win, so I’m happy. »
If Laroche preferred to praise his teammates one by one – he named them all when asked to say which of the team impressed him the most – his head coach did not skimp on the compliments. .
“Hernst is a general on the field,” he said. He’s my confidant too. We have a very positive relationship. He understands the European game, my style of play. He has always played like that. He is a player with a lot of experience, I think he is underestimated. I won’t say by whom, but by many people. We will say that we have no playmaker in Montreal. I have at least two, and two different styles. »
“He is very perfectionist, a bit like me, so we find ourselves well, he added. But I’m very happy for him because it’s the first time he’s played in Montreal in his career, at 33 years old. It’s extraordinary. »
The Montreal team has two wins and one loss in three games when it enters the Canadian Elite Basketball League (LECB). She will play her next game on the road when she visits the Niagara River Lions on Friday at 7 p.m.