K-W Titans head coach Cavell Johnson checks his play sheet on the opening day of training camp last week. (Photo by Dan Congdon)

Titans fall to Sudbury in NBL exhibition opener 

The K-W Titans were back on the floor last night as the new National Basketball League of Canada exhibition season has tipped off in Sudbury. 

K-W, playing its first exhibition game of the season, looked rusty in the early going against a Sudbury squad that already had two games under its belt. The Five outscored the Titans by 11 in the first quarter, taking a 33-22 lead into the second frame. Julian Harris led the Titans in the first with six points off the bench, hitting both of his three-point attempts. 

In the second quarter, K-W shot 60% from the field to climb back into the game, getting eight points each from Damon Lynn and Olu Famutimi. A late push from Sudbury restored its 11-point lead, and the half finished with K-W trailing, 62-51. 

The Titans had their best quarter of the game by far in the third, playing stellar defence and shooting a perfect 9-9 from the field, including 10 points from Lynn. K-W’s only missed shot came on a free throw by Nigel Tyghter. The Titans outscored Sudbury 27-17 in the quarter, and trailed by a single point heading into the fourth. 

Opening-game fatigue set in for K-W in the final frame, as Sudbury seemingly had an answer for every Titans push, and eventually pulled away again. Marlon Johnson had seven of Sudbury’s 26 fourth-quarter points, and the Five held on for the 105-95 victory. Lynn added five more points for K-W, bringing his game total to game-high 23. Jaylen Bland paced Sudbury with 18 points. 

The Titans will be back in action after the Holiday break, visiting the London Lightning on Friday, December 27th. K-W’s home opener will go the following night, December 28th, as they host the Sudbury Five at 2 pm at The Aud in Kitchener.