Stingers Overcome Early Deficit to Outlast Honey Badgers 88-81
The Edmonton Stingers Secure Win Against Hamilton 88-81
The Edmonton Stingers overcame a first quarter deficit to beat the Hamilton Honey Badgers 88-81 on the road.
The Stingers (9-7) have won two games in a row while the Honey Badgers (13-4) lost after winning six games in a row.
Edmonton’s Demarco Dickerson opened the scoring with a turnaround jumper. The Honey Badgers responded with six straight points, including a Koby McEwen three.
Both teams hit from deep as Adika Peter-McNeilly and Zane Waterman traded threes while Hamilton’s Nikola Djogo drained one in transition. Hamilton also attacked inside as Prince Oduro put in an offensive rebound to give them a 16-5 lead.
The Honey Badgers kept their double-digit lead as they led 26-15 after a goaltending call against Edmonton. The visitors started the second quarter strong with Dickerson and Mathieu Kamba hitting free throws before Jordan Baker hit a three.
Isaiah Reese provided a scoring spark off the bench for Hamilton while also finding Jamal Reynolds cutting to the rim. The Stingers kept the game close with their defence and interior scoring. However, the Honey Badgers kept hitting threes as Caleb Agada and McEwen scored.
Edmonton made a late run in the second quarter as Marlon Johnson Jr. scored in the paint to bring them within two points. Agada responded with a floater as the home team went into halftime ahead 45-41.
The Stingers continued scoring in the third quarter as Dickerson found Brody Clarke to give them a 46-45 lead. The teams traded baskets by attacking inside.
Edmonton crashed the glass and pushed the pace in transition to increase their lead. Peter-McNeilly helped run the offence as he scored off the dribble. They led 64-55 after three quarters.
Agada scored five straight points and McEwen drove to the basket to cut the lead to four. However, Edmonton answered by forcing turnovers and scoring at the rim to go up 77-64 entering the Elam Ending.
The Honey Badgers scored but Edmonton did as well in Elam time. Hamilton cut the deficit down to five after a Zane Waterman three. However, Edmonton ended the game with a Kamba dunk and a three after both sides failed to score on multiple possessions.
Edmonton won the rebounding battle (48-35) and outscored Hamilton 46-29 in the second and third quarter. Five Stingers finished with double figure points, including Kamba (19), Uguak (12) and Brody Clarke (12). Team captain Jordan Baker finished with a near triple double (11 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists).
Uguak said the team dug deep with momentum and energy to build on their lead in the second half. “We just have to keep that energy that we started with,” he noted. “It’s a gritty win.”
Uguak noted how “when our guards rebound offensively and defensively, I think that’s a game changer for us and it’ll give us another weapon.”
Hamilton was led by McEwen (22 points, five assists) and Agada (16 points, six steals, five assists). They had more steals and blocks than the Stingers.
The Honey Badgers will bid farewell to Reese and centre Joel James as Christian Vital and Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. are returning from their NBA Summer League stint. Agada praised Reese and James’ impact. “We couldn’t be here without them and we appreciate the work they put in,” he added.
They will also have a week off until their next game. “We can’t wait for that break,” Agada added. He pointed out how the team can get consistent practices in without being on the road.
The Honey Badgers go on the road to face the Ottawa BlackJacks on July 24. The Stingers travel to face the Scarborough Shooting Stars on July 19.
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