What can Brown do for you?

By Michael Hugall

                             Windsor Express sweep home-and-home set with the London Lightning

The Windsor Express won back to back games over the London Lightning Feb. 4-5 at the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre and Budweiser Gardens.

The Express (19-7) began the week three games in front of the London Lightning (13-11) for first place in the National Basketball League Central Division. With the win, the club remained undefeated at home.

“Our objective is to refuse to lose at home,” said Windsor Express head coach Bill Jones. “Every time we come to the WFCU we look up to those banners (in the rafters) and are reminded of what home court advantage means, and we take pride in that.” The Express battled to a 114-100 win in the front half of the home-and-home as Quinnel Brown tied for the game high in points with 22.

“We went out there with the idea of everyone being aggressive. We ended up just getting DeAndre (Thomas) going early… And Quinnel (Brown) was our leading scorer, we expect those things from him,” said Jones.

The Express were able to control the game in the paint, outscoring the Lightning 52 to 38. Six foot eight Centre DeAndre Thomas contributed 16 of those “trench” points.

“My teammates believed in me,” said Thomas. “I just had to make the plays and execute the foul shots when I got the opportunity.”

Seattle native Ryan Anderson contributed with a combined 34 points in both games, shooting 50 per cent from beyond the arc on in the front half of the home-and-home.

“I didn’t know I shot 50, I’m just grateful to be playing,” said Anderson. “To be sitting on the sideline for so long you just want to get in there and (play) with all your heart.”

Anderson who had to sit out a majority of the season bounced back in a big way scoring 20 points on seven of 14 shooting at the WFCU.

“We can’t forget what we did, play through adversity and we need to be more dialed in with a back-to- back playoff style (format),” said Anderson

On Feb. 5, both teams went back to London, Ont. With the Lightning looking to get back into the win column having lost four of their last six games.

Forward Kevin Loiselle and Anderson scored early baskets helping the Express to a 22-17 lead after the first quarter.

After going on an 8-5 run to start the second quarter, London took a 33-32 lead. The lead would be short lived as Quinnel Brown netted 16 points in the first half and 14 in the second on route to a 111-93 victory.

“We just play one game at a time,” said Jones. “We know London Is gunning for our number one spot.”
The Express now have a five game lead on the Lightning going into their next match-up with the Halifax Rainmen on Feb. 8.