K-W Titans forward Flen Whitfield (24) watches as Justin Strings attempts a shot in Game 4 of the Titans' NBL semi-final series versus St. John's on Sunday in Kitchener. (Dan Congdon)

Titans masterful defense helps tie NBL semis with St. John's

The K-W Titans returned to Kitchener staring down a 3-0 series deficit after failing to win Games 1 or 2 of the National Basketball League semi-final in St. John's. Needing a win on their home floor to get back into the series, the Titans turned in one of their better efforts of the season.

In Game 3 on Friday, Ed Horton led the way offensively for K-W pouring in 25 points in 29 minutes on the floor, while adding seven rebounds and three assists. St. John's big man Glen Davis was largely neutralized by Justin Strings, who played 32 minutes off the bench scoring 17 points, while holding Davis to only 9 points. Strings pulled down 11 rebounds to Davis' two. 

It was an unusual game in which the Edge outscored the Titans in three of the four quarters, but the third quarter proved to be decisive. Trailing by one at halftime, K-W stormed back in the third to outscore St. John's 28-17, taking the ten-point lead into the fourth. The Edge regained their shooting stride and won the fourth quarter 24-21, but K-W was able to make stops and hit shots when it counted, hanging on for the 103-96 victory.

Free throw shooting proved to be a major difference in Game 3, as St. John's had higher field goal and three-point percentages than K-W, but the Titans converted nine more free throws on just three more attempts. Those nine points swung the game in K-W's favour, and allowed them to cut St. John's series lead in half.

In Game 4 on Sunday afternoon, defense was again a storyline as K-W held St. John's to double-digits for the second straight game, winning 97-86. With Davis not suiting up for the Edge, Strings was inserted into K-W's starting five and enjoyed another big game. He finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

Damon Lynn also scored 19 points for the Titans while miraculously not drawing a single foul, scoring all his points on 7-16 shooting. Olu Ashaolu led St. John's with 20 points on the afternoon.

With the series now tied, Game 5 goes tonight at The Aud. Due to extensive travel, the best-of-seven series features a 2-3-2 home schedule, with games six and seven being played back in Newfoundland. Wanting to avoid needing to win twice in St. John's, tonight's game is another near must-win for the Titans. The tip-off is set for 7 pm.

Siskins hold 2-0 Sutherland Cup series lead over London

The Waterloo Siskins just keep on rolling. They stormed into London last Thursday night and snatched Game 1 of the Sutherland Cup from the Nationals, winning easily 9-4. On Sunday afternoon, the Siskins had a chance to double their series lead at home.

The game did not start the way Waterloo wanted it to, as Christian Polillo opened the scoring for London just 39 seconds in. The lead grew to 2-0 with just under four minutes to play in the period on a powerplay goal from George Diaco. London outshot Waterloo 14-9 in the opening 20 minutes.

However, no lead is safe around these high-flying Siskins. Brett Schaefer cut it in half two minutes into the second, before Matthew Prucha tied the game a minute and 28 seconds later. Just like that, the Siskins were back in it. The teams traded goals late in the second period and early in the third, and the game was tied 3-3 heading into the final minutes of play. 

With overtime looming, Prucha was called for interference as the clock read 2:13, giving the Nationals a chance to take the lead. They did just that in short order, as Cal Davis converted with just under two minutes to play, and things once again looked bleak for the home side. As fate would have it, though, London took a holding penalty with 47 seconds left. On the powerplay and with the goalie pulled, Jeff Schrattner circled the London zone and wristed home his ninth of the playoffs to tie the game 4-4 with 16.2 seconds left, sending Game 2 into overtime.

A minute into overtime, Schrattner entered the zone on a 3-on-2 rush and fed a saucer pass through the middle that Sam Spaedt knocked down out of mid air, and he fired a quick wrister far side that beat Zach Springer over the glove. The Siskins completed the comeback to win, 5-4 in overtime. 

Matt Onuska was excellent again in goal for Waterloo, making 35 stops in the win. Waterloo now leads the best-of-seven series 2-0, and will attempt to extend that lead on Wednesday night in London.