GUELPH, ON - The Guelph Nighthawks snapped their five game losing streak by defeating the Montreal Alliance 96-80 at home.  Guelph is now 7-8 on the season with the Alliance 4-11. 

Isiah Osborne started the first quarter of this matchup just as he ended the Alliance’s matchup against Fraser Valley.  Scoring nine points in the first quarter and grabbing three rebounds, his ability to get to his spots and knock down efficient shots paid off for the Alliance who got into a run for run battle with the Nighthawks.  Guelph found their offence through the play of Sean Miller-Moore and Ahmed Hill.  With Miller-Moore’s ability in transition and his toughness getting to the rim he got numerous transition opportunities and finished down low. 

Guelph scored 12 points inside the paint while the Alliance found their mark from just outside, and with a tied rebounding tally at 14, the Nighthawks capitalizing on Montreal turnovers gave them their lead.  Guelph led 20-16 going into the second quarter. 

Guelph continued to answer Montreal, specifically from beyond the arch in the second quarter.  Stef Smith, Ahmed Hill, Tj Lall and Cat Barber all knocked down a triple in the second quarter as the Nighthawks continued to keep in front of the Alliance with their offence off forced turnovers and their ability to get to the free throw line.  Hernst Laroche and Alain Louis initiated the Alliance offence in the second quarter, getting the ball to Ashley Hamilton who got to the free throw line or creating their own shot in the midrange.  Going into halftime, Guelph led 45-34.

Guelph continued to push their lead by consistently knocking down shots.  A Miller-Moore dunk to start the quarter matched by a Hill four-point play pushed the Nighthawks lead to 53-36 and from then on Giorgi Bezhanishvili worked inside the paint and Guelph extended their lead to 20 where it held for a majority of the third quarter. 

An Alliance offensive lull to start the quarter matched with Guelph’s ability on the glass made it hard for Montreal to chain possessions together and Guelph pushed their lead and kept it at double-digits.  Hill hit a buzzer beater three to give the Nighthawks a 71-53 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Hill, Barber and Bezhanishvili continued to pace the Nighthawks in the fourth quarter who maintained around a 20-point lead.  A Hill five point run put the Nighthawks up 84-60 and going into Elam time the Nighthawks led 86-67, target score set at 95. 



Montreal started Elam time with a 9-2 run to make it an 88-76 game.  Off their defence and presence inside the paint, Laroche, Cayo and Hamilton got their shots before two Barber free throws made it 90-76 Guelph with the target score 95.  Barber got to the free throw line again to give the Nighthawks 92 points, Hill hit a technical free throw and after an Osborne transition layup, Smith hit a corner three to ice the Nighthawks victory.  Guelph defeated the Montreal Alliance 96-80.

Hill 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists for the Nighthawks.  Bezhanishvili added 17 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal.  Barber scored 14 points for Guelph with five rebounds, eight assists, and a steal.

Hamilton scored 19 points for the Alliance to go with his four rebounds, two assists and three steals.  Laroche added 14 points, three rebounds, six assists and a steal while Osborne added 11 points and both Cayo and Osse scored 10 points. Hill talked about coming away with the important victory to get back on track, “lost five straight, just wanted to get back on track on being us, and I think we came out with energy, we defended, we ran.  Five guys in double-figures, we shared the ball, something we’ve been trying to preach is getting more assists so I think today was a good day for us.”