January 2 Recap
The KW Titans hosted the Sudbury Five at The Aud for the second time in their second home game of the season on Thursday.
The Five won the tip but quickly after some active hands from Jonathon Harris (14 points, seven rebounds) caused Sudbury to turn the ball over as the Titans looked to set the defensive pace of the game early. However, despite the Titans’ best efforts opposite the ball, The Five got off to a hot start and created some separation between the two teams and didn’t look back.
Marvin Phillips (14 points, five rebounds) checked in the game with just over four minutes left in the opening period and provided some instant offense for KW and managed to cut the lead to just two points but Sudbury’s bench answered back on the other end of the floor. With revenge on their minds after the tough loss they faced at the Titans’ home opener, The Five looked determined at the end of the first as they led by six points with a score of 25-19 in their favour.
Phillips showed some more hustle in the second quarter and showed off his craftiness as he sneaked past his defender for a slick put-back layup to put the first points of the period on the board. However, unfortunately for Titans fans, this was not a sign of things to come as things really stopped going KW’s way shortly after that.
The Five opened up a double-digit lead mid-way through the second behind some impressive offensive output from JR Holder (30 points, six 3PM) and Jaylen Bland (26 points, nine rebounds). Before long, that lead had doubled to 20 and although the Titans’ fought back valiantly the ball wasn’t bouncing their way in this one. KW went into half time with a tall mountain to climb as the scoreboard read 59-43 for the visitors. Fans were excited to see Jon Harris net a quick three in the early moments of the second half but Sudbury was in no mood to lose twice in a row in KW and answered every run the Titans went on.
While the home team left it all on the floor on Thursday, The Five simply had their number the second time around and the Titans will have to go back to the drawing board for the next time as they fell to Sudbury by a wide margin at The Aud. The Five topped the Titans 118-91 at the end of regulation but KW will have their own opportunity to get some sweet revenge in Sudbury on January 17th, as The Five will host the Titans in their third meet of this young season.
The Titans will now head west to London to take on a familiar face in the Lightning on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Budweiser Gardens.