CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The Island Storm will do something tonight the team hasn’t done in 13 days – play a basketball game.
The Storm returns to the Eastlink Centre court to host the defending league champion London Lightning in National Basketball League of Canada action at 7 p.m. The Storm played two games on back-to-back days and then has only practised since Nov. 18. Its game on Thursday with the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans was postponed due to weather concerns.
Storm head coach Tim Kendrick said while the schedule is not normal the players have done a good job of pushing each other in a positive manner to try to get better while preparing for tonight’s game.
“We’ve had great practices,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “I told the players last night I really appreciate their effort.”
He said the team put a big emphasis on acquiring high-character players during the off-season and believes that is showing with the camaraderie within the squad.
The Storm is 1-1 while the Lighting is 3-1 and beat the Riptide 109-95 Thursday in Saint John, N.B. The Storm will look to get a jump tonight on a team that is travelling but also because it is fresh and wanting to get back to playing. Kendrick is looking for his team to control play at both ends of the floor.
“We really want to focus on coming out of the gate, playing for 48 minutes, setting the tone,” Kendrick said.
“We have to take charge of the game,” he added. “We want to come out with great energy and play very hard.”
Don’t expect any new wrinkles to the Storm’s game plan tonight, but Kendrick is hoping for better execution with increased reps.
Tyler Scott broke a finger in the opening game of the season but practised this week and will dress for tonight’s game.
Trenity Burdine left the Storm for personal reasons to return home to Reading, Pa. Burdine was the team’s inactive roster designate and hadn’t played this season. The Storm will not fill that role for the time being.
The Storm hosts the defending league champs, the London Lightning, Saturday at 7 p.m.
They complete their five-game homestand to start the season by hosting the Cape Breton Highlanders Saturday, Dec. 8.
