Express leave home on positive note as they prepare for road swing
posted by Josh MacDonald
The WFCU Centre was host to another two game home stand as the Express took on the Summerside Storm this past weekend.
After a disappointing Friday night loss to the Storm were only three Windsor players scored in double digits. The Express redeemed themselves on Sunday with a tight 97 – 93 win, improving to two and three on the season. Greg Surmacz has established himself as one of the top big men in the NBL with 31 points and eight rebounds in the loss. Surmacz couldn’t miss, going five for five from three and 12 of 18 from the field.
The same can’t be said for Mike Helms who struggled in the loss putting up the goose egg in the field goals made category and turning the ball over four times. Sloppy is the only word to describe Windsor’s performance on Friday night as they had more turnovers than assists.
On Sunday the Express put the pieces back together in a win were 10 players scored and forced 25 turnovers. Mike Helms shook off his pour performance with a team high 20 points while dishing out seven assists. Helms struggled from the field shooting just five of 17. But was deadly from long range with four triples.
Mr. Consistency Anthony Johnson had 16 points and five rebounds as Windsor had more turnovers than assists for the second straight game. Following his career high 31 point performance Surmacz was at it again dropping 15 points, snatching five rebounds to go along with two blocks and a steal.
Judging by the first five games, the Express seem to win when the whole team is contributing. Two or three guys can’t do it all and if they want to be considered contenders in this league then consistent play is a must for everyone on the roster.
This is a new franchise which had a late training camp, so they deserve to be cut some slack. But the turnover issues have to be addressed. Coach Bill Jones must get his team to take better care of the ball considering they had 39 turnovers over the weekend.
Windsor will not return home until December 14 as they begin their road swing Friday with a game in Saint John against the Mills Rats. Hopefully the team can bond and get more comfortable with one another as they will be in enemy territory for the next six games.
(photo via Windsor Express)
Josh MacDonald is a converge journalist from Fall River, Nova Scotia. Since the age of five a basketball obsession has fed his brain the knowledge needed to form opinions and allows him to continue to live his hoop dreams. Follow him @WexpressJMAC and check out his YouTube channel Sackvegas23
