Honey Badgers 94 – Alliance 82 | The sprinkler watered

This season, the Montreal Alliance can count on stars. She has players in her training who can put on quite a show and be decisive. However, it has the defect of its qualities.

When said stars fall in battle, it becomes more complex.

It’s a bit of a conclusion after a 94-82 loss to the Brampton Honey Badgers on Sunday evening at the Verdun Auditorium. After Ahmed Hill, one of the members of the primordial American trio, fell in battle, the evening was scabrous.

“Our team is very focused on our big guns,” admitted Alliance head coach Derrick Alston Sr.

The tenors were up to it despite everything. Fullback Blake Francis was on point and lifted fans out of their seats on several occasions with successful breakouts. He ended his work night with 25 points.

The coach knows, however, not to ask too much of his attacking figurehead. He does not want, from the fourth confrontation of the campaign, to tax him for the rest of the events.

Same observation for his compatriot Treveon Graham. Admittedly, his 13 points were precious, but it was above all the 18 rebounds of the former NBA player that caught the eye. The rest of the squad got 23 against the defending Canadian Elite Basketball League champions.

“He is the anchor of this team, this veteran who shows the way to the youngest. He is the one who shows them how to be a professional. No matter where you place it, it will do its job. He’s kind of a glue man. It holds everything together. I would like to have a clone,” said the coach.

Third musketeer Ahmed Hill suffered a “slight sprain” in the second quarter, according to Alston Sr. His production and playing time were outsourced afterwards. However, even if it is a so-called minor injury, the pilot preferred not to return to the game afterwards.

“We have injuries to some of our leaders and that limits our team. […] If Ahmed is here tonight, the outcome may be very different. He stretches the defense and allows Blake [Francis] to have more time. Without him, we have to adjust certain things, and that’s my job,” noted the Montreal coach.

One of those who have seen their playing time and their responsibilities explode due to injuries is Nathan Cayo. The 6’7” Quebec winger spent more than 28 minutes on the floor, the highest total on the team excluding the Americans.

“I’ve seen clips of him from last year and I think he’s improved a lot this season. He’s gaining confidence in his shot and that’s important. Right now, we have few soldiers. Biniam Ghebrekidan is injured and Elijah Ifejeh is still very young, so Nathan has to wear many hats. He is everything I wanted, ”explained the coach about the improvised d’Artagnan.

Still, it’s the depth that didn’t work. After this quartet, only 29 points were added by the other team members.

In solution mode

After winning their first two duels of the season, the Alliance gave in to their last two. She will also have to try to ward off bad luck and win the first match on the road in her history, because she will play five of her next six games away.

And the time has already come to find a cure.

“We have to find a way for our strong wingers and our pivots to be more productive,” noted Francis.

Cayo, present during the 2022 Alliance season, which started with a 3-2 record and ended with a 4-16, knows that things can go derailed quickly.

“Everyone has to do more in the next games,” he said. I know how disastrous it can become quickly. »

What’s more, the Montreal team can take revenge against the Honey Badgers on Wednesday.