CJ Goater/XFM News
The London Lightning have ended the Windsor Express’ season and completed their series sweep after winning game three of the best of five series 110-108.
The three-point shot played an important role in the game as each team attempted more threes tonight than in any other games in the series.
London’s ability to take care of the basketball was a key reason they came away with a win tonight as the team only committed 6 turnovers in the game.
Windsor committed over double that figure with 14 of their own.
The Lightning were led by Jordan Burns who finished with 29 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists. Amir Williams and Terry Thomas both chipped in a double double finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and 15 points and 15 rebounds respectively.
For the Express Nick Garth led the way finishing with 35 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
CJ Goater/XFM News
Jermaine Haley and the Lightning started the first quarter off hot, with Haley supplying two threes early on the way to an 8-0 Lightning run to start the game. After the Express steadied the ship, it was a back and forth first quarter with a final of 22-20 Express up. The Express were committed to the three-point shot early with 15 attempts in the first, however the Lightning were able to produce 5 turnovers along the way.
Windsor maintained their pressure early in the second quarter going on a 14-5 run, bringing their lead to 11 score 36-25. This time around the Lightning leveled the ship and ultimately won the second quarter 31-30, but the Express entered the halftime break with a 52-51 lead.
Windsor had a clear focus on the three-point shot the entire first half attempting 22. In game one and two the Express attempted 23 and 34 threes in the entire game.
The Lightning took care of the ball for the first half committing only three turnovers. However, they struggled to move the ball registering only 3 assists on 39 shots.
In the first half the Express were led by Billy White who had 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.
The Lightning were led by Jordan Burns who had 10 points, 2 assists and 1 rebound, and Chris Jones who had 9 and 2 assists.
The game remained close, as the teams fought back and forth in the third quarter. The Express outscored the Lightning by a narrow margin in the quarter 29-26 and held an 81-77 lead entering the fourth.
Both teams ensured this was an entertaining battle as the fourth played out like the rest of the game being a close back and forth affair.
With just over a minute to go the Lightning held a 106-105 lead. With 37 seconds to go in the game Nick Garth made and converted an and one layup to tie the game 108-108 for Windsor, but with 20 seconds to go the Lightning Responded. Amir Williams scored with just 20 seconds to go to give the Lightning a 110-108 lead which was ultimately the final score bringing the Express’ season to an end.
The Lightning will look to increase their league titles won lead by winning their fifth National Basketball League of Canada championship, when they take on the winner of the Kitchener Waterloo Titans, Sudbury Five Series. The now eliminated Express are second in the league in championships won with two.
Neither the Sudbury Five or the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans have ever reached the finals before ensuring a new face will be taking on the Lightning in the finals.
The Lightning will be able to get in a little extra rest as they wait for the Five-Titans series to come to an end.
The Titans currently hold a 2-1 series lead and can close out the series with a victory in game 4.
The KW Titans and the Sudbury Five are back in action for game four of their series tomorrow May 20, at 7 p.m.
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