April 7, 2024
The Montreal Toundra edge the Newfoundland Rogues in the final seconds of the match
One of the many great things about the sport of basketball is its unpredictable nature – like sinking a three-point shot with a handful of seconds to go to win by a single point. Which is exactly what the Montreal Toundra accomplished this afternoon in their win over the Newfoundland Rogues.
It was a game that both teams deserved to win – but someone has to lose for someone to win. Such is the nature of sport. This was a barn burner affair between two teams that have met each other multiple times in the past few weeks, with players starting to recognize each others strengths and weaknesses.
See Also: KW Titans take the win over Montreal Toundra in the final seconds
The Toundra’s sophemore season hasn’t been an easy one, and the team deserves to have better digits in the wins column which just haven’t come. They’ve been on the wrong side of several close games this season that probably should have gone their way, but the ball bounces as it choses. While the team currently sits in last place, there have been a lot of things to take positives from, especially of late as the team seems to have grown together. Results are sure to follow.
Following three straight loses in three straight days at home last weekend, Montreal were looking to end their losing skid. Prior to that, however, Montreal had beaten the Newfoundland Rogues twice on their own court and were hoping for a repeat performance this afternoon.
Tafari Beckford had another strong game, driving the paint and causing all sorts of trouble for the Newfoundland guards. Beckford continues to emerge as the driving force behind the Toundra. Montreal lead for the majority of the game, but the Rogues were determined to make a game of it – and perhaps extract some revenge for the two losses they suffered at the hands of the Toundra a few weeks earlier.
Montreal was lead by the strong play of Dominick Welch which is isn’t anything new, as he has been one of the stand-out players in recent times. Welch opened Montreal’s account by sinkng a three-point shot early in the first quarter, and was dominant the rest of the way. Welch put up a team leading 20 points during the match, and added a further five assists but the 6’5″ New York native saved his finest moment for when it mattered the most.
With the clock running out and Montreal trailing by two points, shooting guard Welch came steaming down the left side of the court, stopping to aim and sink a perfect three-point shot. As the ball left Welch’s finger tips, everyone in the arena jumped to their feet and as is swished in the net, the place erupted. Now with 1.4 seconds left on the scoreboard, the Toundra lead by a single point – and the Centre Pierre-Charbonneau exploded with the raucous and thunderous cheers of the fans in attendance.
It had been a brilliant game – replete with back and fourth action that saw the score changing hands over and over again, and for it conclude in the waning seconds the way it did, is pure poetry.
Read More:
>> Tempers flare as Montreal loses to the London Lightning at home
>> Windsor Express hold on to beat Montreal at home
>> Montreal Toundra lose to the Sudbury Five in home opener
While the win is the third win over the Rogues in the past few weeks, it isn’t enough to get the Toundra out of the basement of the standings just yet – but if they can continue to play the way they did today, they’re surely headed in the right direction, and more wins will soon follow. The Toundra showed a lot of heart and resilience today, refusing to give up and eventually forcing their win to the win.
Montreal hits the road for a pair of games against… and returns home to play their final game on April 21st against — Tickets to the Toundra’s final home game of the season are available starting at $10 from this location.
