MONTREAL, QUE – The Montreal Alliance improved to 3-2 as they fended off the visiting Guelph Nighthawks on Sunday by a score of 94-74.  The Guelph Nighthawks are now 1-3 on the season.

Energy on offence and structure on defence shaped the Alliance’s first quarter against Guelph.  Montreal’s composure around the rim made shots difficult for the Guelph guards who like to drive into the paint to create opportunities.  Isiah Osborne and Dominic Green continued to be the primary scorers for the Montreal Alliance as they were in Montreal’s last game against Niagara, Green scoring 10 points and Osborne seven. 

Both teams found their offence from getting out and running following defensive boards, Montreal with nine of them and Guelph with eight, and Montreal led 24-15 after the first quarter.  Ahmed Hill led the Nighthawks in scoring after the opening 10 minutes with 10 points.

The Nighthawks took momentum back in the first half of the second.  They trimmed Montreal’s lead down to three at 38-35 after a three from Madut Akec and Cat Barber and a three-point play from Aj Lawson.  Kemy Osse immediately responded with a pair of threes to push Montreal back out to 44-35.  In the half Montreal had a lead as big as 15 and as low as three, going into the third quarter they led 50-38. 

Green scored a tip-in at the buzzer to give him 18 first half points and five rebounds.  Osborne next with 10 points and three boards while Osse recorded eight points.  For Guelph it was Barber and Hill with 12 points each, Hill with three rebounds and Barber with a rebound and a pair of assists. 

Both teams got to the line in the third quarter.  Lawson and Green attacked the rim and rewarded their teams with points.  Off of an unsportsmanlike foul called on Guelph, the Alliance came away with four points, two free throws by Green and a three from Alain Louis on the following possession.  Following that series, Montreal pushed their lead to 15, 55-40.  From then on, Montreal slowed their offence down and made the most of their possessions, holding onto their lead.  An Osborne three and Julian Roche put back dunk sent the game into the fourth quarter with a 75-57 Montreal lead. 

Montreal’s defence put pressure on the attacking Guelph guards, Barber shooting only 5-17 when the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter hit.  The Alliance forced Guelph to pass it along the perimeter and beat them with threes.  Hill and Akec responded with their jumpers but the Alliance lead was too big.  Montreal entered Elam time with an 85-67 lead. 

Hill led the Nighthawks with 20 points going into Elam time but Hill and Barber were the only Nighthawks in double digits while four Alliance starters entered Elam time with 10+ points.  Dominic Green led all Montreal scorers with 22 points. 

Montreal finished business in Elam time with points from Laroche and Osse.  Laroche  got to the free throw line in transition and hit to give the Alliance the 94-74 victory.

Final tally for the Alliance, Green had 22 points and six rebounds.  Osborne had 20 points with five rebounds and two steals.  Osse had 14 points with six rebounds, four assists and a steal, and Laroche had 11 points, one rebound, three assists and a steal.

For Guelph, Hill led the way with 25 points, three rebounds and one assist.  Barber finished with 14 points, five rebounds and six assists.  Tj Lall came off the bench with nine points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal and three blocks.

“It always feels good to play good, but we got the win and that’s all that matters” said Isiah Osborne after the win, “the crowd is amazing, love the support, can’t ask for anything more.  It’s always great to play in front of a crowd like this…every game we’re coming more and more a team, more and more together, knowing each other more”

“I didn't even know (that Isiah scored 20 points). To me what's important is that we win collectively. Isiah scored 20 today, last game it was Gaios. In the end, we need to play collectively so that it doesn't matter who finishes the game as the top scorer” said Montreal head coach Vincent Lavandier.