The Halifax Hurricanes put the brakes on a three-game slide and earned a split on The Rock.
A day after dropping a 109-104 decision to host St. John’s, the Hurricanes rebounded with a hard-fought 101-97 victory over the Edge before 2,874 fans at Mile One Centre on Monday evening.
Halifax (3-9), which entered the game losers of eight of its past nine, snapped a three-game losing skid.
“What a relief,” Hurricanes head coach Mike Leslie responded following the game.
“The defence intensity was a difference. We watched some film in trying to identify what was hurting us yesterday. We sat back and let them dictate the flow of the game. Tonight, we were more aggressive and made them go to another option.
“Kudos to the guys because 97 is always the number I feel we should hold teams to that. If we do that, we probably can score 99 or 100 and should win most of those games. True to form tonight, the number was 97 and good on them.”
The Hurricanes flew out of the gate in Monday’s tilt, rescheduled from Friday after the state of emergency following last week’s blizzard in St. John’s was extended into the weekend.
Halifax started on a 15-4 run and led 57-49 at halftime.
“When you’re not winning games, and been ahead in some games and then dropped them, it’s important to get off to a good start and get some confidence early,” Leslie said. “It’s good to put some things in the bank for later on when you know, at home, the opposition is going to make a push.
“Every point we could put up early was positive and we shot the ball well. But we knew eventually they would make a run and come back at us. After that it was about holding your own defensively.”
The Edge (5-5) mounted their comeback in the fourth quarter.
Down by 14 midway through the quarter, St. John’s pulled to within two on back-to-back three-pointers from Jesse Jones and then tied the score at 97-all when Ahmad Thomas scored with 15 seconds left on the clock.
“It was a situation where you don’t want the players to think, ‘oh no, here we go again,’” Leslie said. “We were ahead most of the game. But the difference tonight was the message from the players on the bench was very positive and in the huddle the players were saying, ‘we’re winning this game.’ When you feel that way, you're going to do all you can to win and not to lose it.”
And it helps to have Antoine Mason on your side.
The league’s second leading scorer drained the deciding three-pointer with four seconds left and was fouled by Karrington Ward on the shot. Mason was good on his free throw for a four-point play and the Hurricanes escaped Newfoundland with a victory.
“Antoine has been just huge for us,” Leslie said of the 27-year-old Mason, who led all scorers with 37 points and 15 rebounds.
“He has developed his game to another level. He’s a warrior who’s never afraid of the moment, never afraid to carry the load. We ask him to do a lot and he never shies away from it. He relishes the opportunity.”
CJ Washington had 20 points and 13 boards for Halifax while Cliff Clinkscales chipped in with 11 points and six assists.
Jones led the Edge with 24 points.
The Hurricanes return to action Wednesday, Feb. 5 when they host the Island Storm.
Note: Former Hurricanes forward Billy White of the Moncton Magic was named the NBL Canada player of the week. The six-foot-nine White averaged 24.7 points per game and 7.3 rebounds in three Moncton victories. The week prior, White was traded to the Windsor Express for guard Kemy Osse and the rights to centre Ty Walker. But the deal was rescinded because Walker’s rights were trade protected.
