LONDON – The Summerside Storm avenged the London Lightning with a 109-105 win from Budweiser Gardens on Saturday night in National Basketball League of Canada action.
After losing to London in overtime last Saturday, Summerside avoided the extra period thanks to two clutch three-pointers by Greg Plummer and Omari Johnson.
With the win, the Storm (21-14) creates more space in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning, however, is still on top of the league with a 31-5 record.
Both teams came out strong and remained within a few points of each other in the opening quarter. The Lightning responded to 4,200 cheering fans in the second quarter by scoring 32 points to give them a 54-45 lead at halftime.
The third quarter belonged to Summerside, as it made up for what went wrong in the second by dropping 34 on the Lightning to tie it at 79 heading to the final frame.
Both teams were hitting shots and getting defensive stops when needed, but it was the final 90 seconds of the game where London’s defence fell apart that change the outcome.
Plummer found space for a three and on the next possession Johnson was wide open for his three-point make. London was forced to foul, but with the Storm making all of its last four attempts at the line the Lightning ran out of time.
Adrian Moss scored 21 and Rodney Buford added 20 points, including two big buckets in the clutch for London.
Plummer hit six three-point attempts as part of his game high 32 points. Despite only scoring 14, Al Stewart nearly finished with a triple-double on the night with nine rebounds and nine assists to add to his totals.
The Storm will head back to P.E.I. Sunday and will be on the court Tuesday due to a rescheduled Islander Day game. The Saint John Mill Rats will be at Credit Union Place for 7 p.m. tipoff.
