Saskatchewan Bounces Back 97-85 Over Edmonton

Saskatchewan Rattlers Defeat Edmonton Stingers 97-85

SASKATOON, SK -  The Saskatchewan Rattlers defeated the Edmonton Stingers 97-85 on home court to bounce back to 500.  The Rattlers are now 4-4 with the Stingers 4-4. 

Both teams attacked the paint early and often in the first quarter.  Getting their offence going, the guards of the Stingers and the Rattlers found their way to the rim and finished without second chances.  Bandoo and Carr sparked the Rattlers and Marlon Johnson Jr and Jordan Baker got the ball inside and in the hoop for the Stingers. 

The three-point shot wasn't a necessity for either side as paint touches were being handled efficiently, until Devonte Bandoo put the Rattlers up after a three-pointer, and Scottie Lindsey and David Pekarek responded throughout the quarter with threes of their own.  The offences pushed farther towards the perimeter as the quarter went on and the scoring increased.  Saskatchewan held a 25-22 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

The lead swapped back and forth in the second quarter as both offences continued to execute efficiently.  Offensive rebounds were at a premium for both sides so the 51 per cent shooting of the Rattlers kept them in front of the 42 per cent shooting of the Stingers but by a slim margin.  Johnson and Bandoo took over the scoring early in the quarter, responsible for 13 combined points in the quarter.  Marlon Johnson around the rim put back two baskets and Bandoo hit a three and a jumper, to go with a series of Baker free throws and Lindsey finishes around the hoop. 

Three Rattlers entered double-digit scoring at halftime, Carr with 12 points, Bandoo scoring 13 points and Lindsey 13 points.  22 points in the paint for the Stingers primarily came from Johnson who went into halftime with 14 points on 66 per cent shooting inside.  Leading on the boards was Tshimanga with five rebounds for the Rattlers and Johnson with eight rebounds for the Stingers.  Saskatchewan held a narrow 43-42 lead over the Stingers at halftime.

Brody Clarke started the scoring for the quarter with a pair of free throws, but the Stingers replied to push their lead to five points for which it stayed throughout the quarter.  Devonte Bandoo hit a series of threes throughout the game and that continued in the third as he entered the fourth quarter with 22 points shooting 5-8 from three-point range.  Every time the Stingers got the ball into Baker or Clarke or Rowell Graham-Bell who got to the free throw line twice, Lindsey and Bandoo responded and the Rattlers went into the fourth quarter with a 10-point, 73-63 lead over Edmonton.

Tshimanga made a layup and Malik Benlevi scored five unanswered to start the fourth and suddenly the lead that had been sitting around five points for either team throughout the game, was at 17 for the Rattlers, 80-63.  Baker and Clarke responded around the hoop with free throws and a putback to push the deficit back to 14 and Tony Carr got out in transition to put the lead back to 16, 82-66 with 6:07 left in the fourth quarter. Edmonton got the ball in the hands of their primary scorers in Clarke and Baker to try and trim the lead and a Aher Uguak three-point play put the Stingers deficit back at 10 but going into Elam time the Rattlers led 86-75 with the target score set at 95.

Clarke started Elam time scoring four points on two consecutive baskets to cut the Stingers deficit to 86-79 and four more points from Baker gave the Stingers 83 points with the Rattlers at 89 thanks to a Lindsey three.  From then on the Rattlers and Stingers exchanged points and a and-one jumper put the Rattlers within one point of victory, 94-85.  In transition Carr found Bandoo in the corner who hit the game wining three.  Saskatchewan won 97-85 at home against the Stingers.

Bandoo led the Rattlers with 25 points and five rebounds.  Lindsey added 21 points and two rebounds, four assists and a steal.  Carr scored 20 points to go with five rebounds and four assists.  Benlevi rounded out the starters in double-digits with 16 points, three rebounds, an assist and a block.  D’andre Bernard added 11 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal off the bench.

Clarke led the Stingers in scoring with 19 points, five rebounds and two assists.  Baker finished close behind with 17 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals with Johnson adding 16 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Edmonton Head Coach Jermaine Small talked about the reintroduction of Marlon Johnson Jr into the Stingers lineup, “It’s great having him back, he’s just finding his rhythm and he looked like his old self especially in the first half.  Like I told him and the guys, it’s a process, he hasn't had a lot of practices but we’re glad to have him back, he’s a mismatch and for us it's a key piece to be victorious in the end.”

Devonte Bandoo talked about coming away with a win at home to bounce back, “It’s much better to finish with a win, especially after two nights ago.  Feels good that we figured out what we had to figure out and we came away with a win today.”