This season, the Montreal Alliance can count on stars. She has players in her training who can put on quite a show and be decisive. However, it has the defect of its qualities.
When said stars fall in battle, it becomes more complex.
It’s a bit of a conclusion after a 94-82 loss to the Brampton Honey Badgers on Sunday evening at the Verdun Auditorium. After Ahmed Hill, one of the members of the primordial American trio, fell in battle, the evening was rough.
“Our team is very focused on our big guns,” admitted Alliance head coach Derrick Alston Sr.
The tenors were up to it despite everything. Fullback Blake Francis was on point and lifted fans out of their seats on several occasions with fruitful breakouts. He finished his night’s work with 25 points.
The coach knows, however, not to ask too much of his attacking figurehead. He does not want, from the fourth confrontation of the campaign, to tax him for the continuation of the events.
Same observation for his compatriot Treveon Graham. Sure, his 13 points were valuable, but it was mostly the former NBA player’s 18 rebounds that caught the eye. The rest of the squad got 23 against the defending Canadian Elite Basketball League champions.
“He is the anchor of this team, this veteran who shows the way to the youngest. He is the one who shows them how to be a professional. No matter where you place it, it will do its job. He’s kind of a glue man. It holds everything together. I would like to have a clone,” the coach said.
Third musketeer Ahmed Hill suffered a “slight sprain” in the second quarter, according to Alston Sr. His production and playing time were outsourced afterward. However, even if it is a so-called minor injury, the pilot preferred not to return to the game afterwards.
“We have injuries to some of our leaders and that’s limiting our team. […] If Ahmed is here tonight, the result may be very different. He stretches the defense and allows Blake [Francis] to have more time. Without him, we have to adjust some things, and that’s my job, ”noted the Montreal instructor.
One of those who have seen their playing time and their responsibilities explode given the injuries is Nathan Cayo. The 6’7″ Quebec winger spent more than 28 minutes on the floor, the most of the team excluding the Americans.
“I’ve seen clips of him from last year and I think he’s improved a lot this season. He gains confidence in his throw and that’s important. Right now, we have few soldiers. Biniam Ghebrekidan is injured and Elijah Ifejeh is still very young, so Nathan has to wear many hats. He’s everything I wanted,” the coach said of the improvised d’Artagnan.
Still, it’s the depth that didn’t work. After this quartet, only 29 points were added by the other team members.
After winning their first two duels of the season, the Alliance gave up on their last two. She will also have to try to ward off bad luck and win the first game on the road in her history, because she will play five of her next six games away.
And the time has already come to find a cure.
“We have to find a way to make our power forwards and pivots more productive,” Francis said.
For Cayo, playing the 2022 Alliance season, which started with a 3-2 record and ended with a 4-16, knows that things can get derailed quickly.
“Everyone has to do more in the next games,” he said. I know how quickly it can become a disaster. »
What’s more, the Montreal team will be able to take revenge against the Honey Badgers on Wednesday.
