HAMILTON – Fast and exciting game! The Montreal Alliance battled hard against the Honey Badgers on Wednesday night in Hamilton, eventually losing 80-72 in what was the team’s first ever game in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. (LECB).
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“It is sure that there is disappointment because we lost, noted the co-captain of the Alliance Hernst Laroche, at the end of the meeting. We can learn from that, we must maintain rigor and intensity throughout the match.
Laroche, 33, was the Alliance’s most-used player, spending more than 31 minutes on court. Finishing the game with seven points and four assists, he notably contributed to a futile comeback.
“Our Montreal players put us back in the game, but unfortunately, we lacked a bit of skill on shots at the end,” said head coach Vincent Lavandier, having good words for Laroche, but also for Alain Louis.
The Montreal club, which trailed by 13 points after three quarters, came within a single point with about five minutes and 30 seconds left on the clock. In front of an estimated crowd of about 900 spectators at the FirstOntario Centre, Isiah Obsorne was the Alliance’s top scorer in the game with 16 points.
Conclusion on free throw
After an opportunistic three-point shot from the home side, the score was 71-66 for the Alliance when applying the infamous ‘Elam Ending’ rule. From then on, the clock was set aside for the final four minutes. As determined by the rule in effect in the LECB, the first formation with 80 points, that is nine points added to the highest score, was to win.
It was Caleb Agada of the Honey Badgers who wrapped up the game with a game-winning shot from the free throw line. There will be more spectacular ends… The one who represented Nigeria at the recent Tokyo Olympics also led Hamilton with a total of 17 points.
Laroche makes history
For the books, it should be noted that Laroche is also the one who scored the first points in the history of the Alliance. He initially believed he had made a three-point field goal, but that play was called off due to a 24-second timer violation. Laroche did it again a few moments later with the first two points for the Montreal club.
“I hadn’t even thought of that, it wasn’t my goal, but I’m happy to have been the first to score, reacted the one who wears number 2. I’m a proud Montrealer and therefore, I am obviously happy to put my mark in the history of the Alliance.”
Difficult decisions
According to a rule in force in the LECB, only 10 players must be in uniform for the team during games away. For the first part, Quebecers James Jean-Marie and Lawi Msambya had to miss their turn.
“I think the league needs to evolve on this to have 12 active players, as happens in almost all leagues in the world, pleaded Lavandier. It’s never easy, but I explained my decisions individually. Afterwards, I know that those who are not there train hard and want to be in the team for the next game.
Here are the 10 players who were in uniform, Wednesday night in Hamilton, for the first game in the history of the Montreal Alliance.
- Sherwood Brown (#15)
- Nathan Cayo (#7)
- Marc-Andre Fortin (#6)
- Dominic Green (#3)
- Hernst Laroche (#2)
- Alain Louis (#13)
- Abdul Mohamed (#21)
- Isiah Osborne (#1)
- Kemy Ossé (#23)
- Gaios Skordilis (# 35)
