Shooting Stars Complete Fourth Straight Comeback
Shooting Stars Silence the Surge's Home Opening Night
The Scarborough Shooting Stars are 4-0 despite trailing in Target Time in all four games. Thursday's game against the Calgary Surge was a similar tale. With the target score set at 106, Calgary was leading 104-98 and ready to finish off their home opener win.
Scarborough went to a familiar face, the league’s leading scorer in Myles Powell. He got a quick layup to make it 104-100. Next time they got the ball it was Trey Thomas’ turn, he pulled up for three and cashed it to extend his season high 20 point night. The final dagger was a three by Powell that he shot from just inside half court to finish the night off with 29 points and eight rebounds.
“When I got the rebound I heard my teammates say game time” said Powell in his post game interview with CBC.
In previous games, Scarborough head coach Tyrell Vernon has spoken about the switch that the Shooting Stars have seemingly been able to press in Target Time; and his wish for them to flip that switch earlier.
The Shooting Stars got off to a historically rough start defensively, allowing 37 first quarter points, tying the CEBL record for most points allowed in a first quarter. The 0-3 Calgary Surge seemed rejuvenated by their first home game and the return of franchise face Sean Miller-Moore who posted 13 points in seven minutes of first quarter play.
Scarborough small forward Javan Johnson helped lead the response. Johnson went 4-4 from three in the first half and the Shooting Stars went on a 16-0 run, scoring 37 of their own points to lead 62-61 at half.
Scarborough’s size advantage was key to this win. Being able to rotate Charles Bediako, Frank Mitchell and Aamir Simms in the frontcourt has been key. Mitchell leads the league in rebounds with 10.8 per game and thanks to those three, the Shooting Stars have been the best rebounding team in the league.
While Mitchell and Bediako don’t venture out of the paint much, Simms has shown that if need be, he can shoot the three and can help space the floor. He’s three of seven from beyond the arc this season with a smooth looking stroke and is a career 37% shooter from three across his college and pro basketball career. He hit a Target Time winning three against Saskatoon last week and was 1-1 today.
At one point, the Shooting Stars will get got. But Thursday against Calgary was not that day.