Windsor Express looking to make big playoff push

The Windsor Express has seven games left until the NBLC playoffs with the team looking to make a big statement in the post-season.

Through 33 games, the Express is currently 18-15 in the 2016-2017 NBLC season. They are looking to maintain their second seed in the Central Division.

The Express is currently first in scoring defense per game, second in field goal percentage and third in team assist per game. Although his team has played well as of late, Windsor Express Head Coach Bill Jones knows what adjustments his team needs to make to have a deep playoff run.

“This team is starting to play well together,” said Coach Jones. “We understand our process. Moving forward in these last seven games, we have to continue and try to improve, try to get better and play at our best going into the playoffs.”

The Express struggled in the beginning of the season due to key injuries.

Starting point guard Darren Duncan had missed significant time earlier in the season due to a knee injury, and centre DeAndre Thomas was cleared to play again after tearing his patellar tendon two years ago.

The Express began to find success after many transactions and signings that brought former players back to Windsor. They traded for forward Shaquille Keith midway through the season and the returns of centre Rudolphe Joly and guard Tony Bennett have been beneficial for the team. Bennett, who played for the Express last season, said the chance of winning another championship is the only goal he has in his return.

“We have the right pieces,” said Bennett. “We have some young guys mixed with some older guys that have been around doing a great job. We got the best coach in the league and I only came back to win a championship.”

NoxtromTV and Windsor Express play-by-play commentator Brett Hedges has been calling games for the team since the franchise launched in 2012. Hedges said although the team has struggled, the toughness the roster contains is enough to make a strong playoff push.

“This team is tough,” said Hedges. “They have some hard-nose players. They have some Chicago style players. We have Tony Bennett. We have DeAndre Thomas. We have some really hard guys that are not going to accept losing.”

The Express’s next game will be April 8 against the Saint John Riptide. Their season finishes at the end of the month against the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans at the Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener.