Express improve to 3-0 at Colosseum

By Christian Bouchard

The Windsor Express are benefiting from a change of venues which has brought them major success over the years.

While the WFCU Centre is home to the Express, on Feb. 3 the Express played host to the National Basketball League of Canada’s top team, the London Lightning at Caesar’s Windsor’s Colosseum. The game was a part of an annual event at the Colosseum which brought in more than 2,000 fans.

League commissioner David Magley said the game becomes more of an event due to the large number of spectators and the unique venue. According to Magley it is a chance for the Express to showcase their talent and ultimately get more people to attend their regular season games at the WFCU Centre.

“It’s a very exciting time,” said Magley. “Any time you can play in front of such a large crowd, it’s electric and fabulous. This is what Windsor deserves. They’re a two time defending championship team and deserve to have great crowds like this.”

The Express fed off the energy of the crowd and would find their shooting form to defeat the Lightning 114-93 and improve their record to 3-0 in games played at the Colosseum.

Brad Bondy, a season ticket holder and avid fan of the Express said the change of venue was exactly what the Express needed to get back on track for the season.

“This venue turned Windsor around,” said Bondy. “They want to play for these fans, they want to impress them and now they’re playing harder than they’ve ever played this year.”

Brandon Robinson led the Express in scoring with 34 points. He said the team owed it to the fans to come out and put on a great performance for them.

According to Robinson, the Express built their win around family, which also derives from the support they receive from their fans.

“We say family before every huddle,” said Robinson. “Tonight, it really looked like a family. We didn’t argue with each other. We just came out and played Express basketball. When we play like this, I don’t think anyone in the league is going to be able to keep up with us.”

The Express will look to build off their success despite another change of scenery as they head to the GTA to meet the Orangeville A’s followed by a tilt against the same London team on Saturday. The team returns home on Feb. 11 when the A’s come to town for a game played at the WFCU Centre.