Coach Williams & Co. ready for home start

Around the Perimeter: London Lightning home opener set for Sunday, Dec. 8 (2pm) vs. Windsor; Roster down to 10; BSL playoff format revealed; Columnist Jason Winders has the latest Lightning news & notes …

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK.

No games this week (thanks to Ticketmaster).

WHAT WE LEARNED.

The Lightning roster is down to 10 players after guard Omega Harris and centre Nino Johnson were cut from the squad last week. At first blush, that seems like the Lightning will be playing with a short bench, especially for an older team (average age 30.5 years old) that found itself in foul trouble quite often last season. But head coach Jerry Williams assured the number is more than enough for a veteran-laden team itching to play.

“Yes, it’s going to be a tight crew,” he said. “But when you’re dealing with guys of this talent level, all of them want to play. They all want to get minutes. Somebody is not going to be happy because some minutes are just not going to be available when you have 12 players. I’ve done it. I’ve tried to make everybody happy, and it’s just impossible.

“When you have 10, it’s a little bit different. You can settle it down a bit. If we must add more later, so be it. Somebody gets injured or something like that, we will add more. But right now, I’m very happy with just rolling with 10.”

The current roster stands:

Corey Boyd, centre
Alex Campbell, guard
Tonzell Handy, forward
Chris Jones, guard
Joel Kindred, guard
Marcus Ottey, guard
Paul Parks, guard
Jachai Taylor, guard
Billy White, forward
Dexter Williams Jr., forward

WHAT WAS AWESOME.

Home openers are always special.

“I’m excited for the home opener for sure,” Williams said. “Personally, I’m ready for it to get started, to walk into that gym and say, ‘This is where I coach.’ I’m ready for it.”

The Lightning will return to action after a 15-day layoff on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. against Windsor. The Express have yet to play a game, opening their season at home Friday, Dec. 5 against Sudbury.

Home games hold a special place in sports lore, perhaps somewhat overinflated by announcers and marketers who shroud a home arena in an aura of invincibility. But there are practical aspects to being at home.

“It’s tough on the road. It can wear you down,” Williams laughed.

Last season, the then-Budweiser Gardens lost a bit of its luster, as the team finished with a 14-6 record at home, including a 2-1 record in the playoffs. The season prior, however, the squad was undefeated at home, 12-0 in the regular season and 4-0 in the playoffs.

Billy White and the Lightning will open their home schedule Sunday (Dec. 8) with a game against the Windsor Express. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

This season, Williams & Co. have 20 games to make a statement in London.

“This is a one-shot league. You can be down 15, down 20 and hit one shot that changes the whole game and your guys go on a run. That’s easier in front of a home crowd.”

As a visiting coach, Williams was quick to notice something different about London.

“When I first walked into the gym, I was mesmerized. I couldn’t help but think, ‘Wow, this is nice.’ Newfoundland’s gym is great, but London was something different. The atmosphere, the setup, and just the sheer energy in the place. It’s hard to put into words because it’s one of those things you have to experience firsthand to fully understand.”

What stood out most was the fans – and he’s not saying that in a fan service way. He was struck by how engaged and, shall we say, passionate Lightning fans were about everything from game action, to officiating, to sartorial efforts.

“It was incredible. The fans were kind and welcoming. I had people sitting next to me, as the opposing coach, complimenting me on my outfit, saying things like, ‘Coach, I really like how you dress,’ or ‘I admire how you do this or that.’ It was such a unique experience. I thought to myself, ‘This is where I want to be.’ I knew this place was special.”

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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Following the Ticketmaster snafu, the Lightning have adjusted their regular season schedule by adding three home games and rescheduling a road game. The new home games will take place on Saturday, Feb. 15; Sunday, March 2; and Thursday, March 13. Opponents for these games are yet to be announced. Additionally, the road game in Jamestown, NY, originally set for Friday, March 14, has been moved to Sunday, Feb. 23.

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We have a playoff format! The 2025 BSL playoffs will feature the top six teams by record earning spots, with seeds No. 1 and No. 2 receiving first-round byes. Round 1 consists of a single-game ‘play-in’ format, 3 vs. 6 and 4 vs. 5, each hosted by the higher seeds. The semi-finals and finals follow a best-of-five series format.

WHAT NEEDS WORK.

The game has changed, and you can expect London to change along with it.

With the release of centre Nino Johnson, the Lightning only have one true big man on the roster (Corey Boyd). While forward Billy White has been forced into the big man role in the past, it’s not his strength, as the veteran tends to wear down faster in the post, leading to a tired body and frayed attitude.

Nevertheless, don’t expect the Lightning to go looking for a new big any time soon.

“I want guys who make shots. When I was coaching the Jacksonville Giants, my first two years, I wasn’t a 3-point guy. I used to take guys out of the game for shooting threes. If you miss two, you're out. Yeah. I was that guy. And then it just changed for me.”

Williams continued, “To win today, we need those shots. So, we’re going to run, we’re going to gun, we’re going to shoot, and you’re going to have to deal with it. That’s just what it is. We’re going to score points. That’s just who I am. That’s who I pushed this team to be. The guys we have on the team, they understand it, and they get it.”

In the opener, London was 8-for-20 from 3-point range against Sudbury. Expect to see those numbers rise dramatically, both in terms of attempts and, hopefully for Coach Williams & Co., makes.

STORIES YOU MISSED.

Season-opening success for Lightning; What’s next?

Making stops and making music

WHAT’S NEXT.

Windsor | Sunday, Dec. 8 | 2 p.m.