80-70 victory | The earth shook in Verdun

The Verdun Auditorium was packed. The atmosphere was electric. The crowd is completely crazy. And the Alliance won it 80-70. It’s hard to ask for more for the new franchise’s first-ever home game.

“First game at home, atmosphere like that… Just having the win, it’s sick for me. I don’t even know what to say,” said Quebecois Kemy Ossé, all smiles, after the match.

Led by a sizzling Dominic Green with 36 points, Vincent Lavantier’s men showed the Scarborough Shooting Stars, the 3,500 fans in the Auditorium, and an attentive Chris Boucher on the sidelines what fire they were having.

The ground shook as Ossé hit the missing basket to reach the 79-point target set by the Elam rule, sealing the match. The building was also slow to empty thereafter, as Alliance players were asked for autographs and photos.

The organization of Alianza had prepared an excellent presentation before the game. Introduced one by one by the house announcer, the players appeared on the field in a cloud of smoke. The already enthusiastic public gave them a welcome worthy of a full house. And she didn’t die during the game. You had to see her reaction to each successful three-point basket. Dominic Green has put up five on his account.

“It was amazing,” the 25-year-old American said. There is nothing more to ask for as a basketball player. When they bring energy, it feeds you. It allows you to go even harder every day. »

in two times

Like Wednesday in Hamilton, an 80-72 loss to the Honey Badgers, the game was a two-part game for the Alliance. Perhaps a little nervous, the team was down 45-37 at the halfway point. He struggled to counter former Toronto Raptors Jalen Harris and teammate Kyle Alexander, who already had 21 points between them.

“I think in the first half of the game we attacked very well, but with a disastrous shooting percentage,” head coach Vincent Lavandier said. […] I just told the players at half time that they could put even more energy on defense, pick up more pace on offense to have better shooting performance. »

And they got the message. The Montrealers rallied with six unanswered baskets early in the third quarter. After five minutes of play, they had taken a 49-47 lead, much to the delight of the crowd.

“The coach is doing an excellent job with us to push us to the maximum in training, explained Kemy Ossé. We were at that moment, where our legs were dead but we had to give that second push. This is exactly what happened today. »

The Alliance went through the rest of the game with searing energy to win 80-70. The crowd even hinted at “ho, heh, heh, heh” at the end of the game.

Ossé, who scored 12 points, including 7 in the last four minutes, praised the work of Dominic Green, who “kept the team in the game”. “He won the game. Him and Alain Louis,” he said.

Vincent Lavandier described the American’s performance as “normal”.

“He is a very talented player but he needs to work a lot on his defense,” he explained. He he knows. I tell him: your game is good, but I expect more. I’m a bit picky about talented players, so that’s normal. »

great visitors

Several visitors drew attention to the walls of the Verdun Auditorium. First, NBA players Chris Boucher and Luguentz Dort. Then popular rapper J Cole, who is playing for the Scarborough Shooting Stars this season.

“It’s really good for the league,” Ossé said of it. When J Cole signed, all the tickets were sold out. It also shows how big this league is. Just the fact that he wants to play in the league means a lot. »

“I have a lot of respect for him to come out and play,” Dominic Green said. He plays against the professionals. He gave the effort, he played 100%, and it was great to see that. »