A late third quarter surge and a strong fourth quarter sealed a victory for the Peacock Toilers over the Vanier Vikings.
The Vikings played aggressively for the majority of the game, but a momentum swing late in the third quarter allowed the Toilers back in the game and a 73-65 win in senior boys basketball action on Tuesday evening.
“That third quarter is the story of last year, this year, but we aren’t allowing the big blowouts,” said Vikings coach David Tardif. “We get away, but we are learning to contain it and that’s our goal right now. We are trying to get that burst back in the third quarter and not allow the momentum swing to go to the other team.”
It was a very tight and competitive game from the beginning as both teams played aggressive with a press system. The Vikings held a one point lead after the first quarter and a four point lead at the half time break. The Toilers regained their speed and ball movement to take a seven-point lead after three quarters.
“We played a pretty solid second half and fought out way back into the game. I am very pleased with the boys,” said Peacock’s coach Bryan Adams. “In the second half, we slowed things down and got our heads back into it and that was the key. Our ball movement against their press and in their zone...we got better looks and didn’t turn the ball over as much.”
The Vikings started the game with a press that caused the Toilers some issues and created turnovers. After the break, the tables turned and Peacock began to use a press system on defence that the Vikings had some difficulties breaking, which allowed the Toilers to get some fast break opportunities.
“We have to give credit to their man press and that shook us up, so we weren’t able to get our offence going. But in the fourth quarter, we started to figure it out and starting to get going, but then it just came down to fouls at the end,” said Tardif.
For more on this story, read an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
