Ever-changing Lightning seek cohesion

Around the Perimeter: More roster changes bring new faces, while others depart; Scottie Lewis contributes in first weekend; James Towns drops 42 vs. Pontiac; Three-game week ahead; Lightning fifth in standings …

(Photo: Luke Durda).

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WHAT HAPPENED.

London 125 – Glass City 113 | Thursday, February 27 in Toledo

KW 119 – London 109 | Saturday, March 1 in London

London 116 – Pontiac 108 | Sunday, March 2 in London

WHAT WE LEARNED.

“And the players are …”

Forget Anora, The Brutalist, Emilia Pérez, or the rest of the 2025 Academy Award winners. Right now, the best drama is playing out at Canada Life Place, where the defending BSL champs have nearly flipped their roster from opening day.

That turnover has left the Lightning scrambling for chemistry on the court, while for fans, it’s been a whirlwind – familiar faces out, a new cast in, and the playoffs fast approaching.

“It’s like we’re starting training camp over again with so many new guys coming,” Lightning head coach Jerry Williams said. “We’re trying to get them to fit into the team, learning our system and principles. It’s a lot of work, but at the end of the day, we have goals: make the playoffs, win a championship. We’re going to do what we have to do.”

London has cycled through 18 players this season, including 14 who made at least one starting lineup.

With only three players left from the season-opening roster – guard Marcus Ottey and forwards Tonzell Handy and Billy White – and just over three weeks left until the playoffs, fans could be forgiven for needing a crash course on the new faces.

On a 10-man roster, here are seven names that might soon be playing starring roles (in order of how many games they have played in London):

• D’Andre Austin, guard, 17 games

• James Towns II, guard, 14 games

• Calvin Godfrey, centre, 13 games

• Jaylon Tate, guard, 6 games

• Yaw Obeng-Mensah, forward, 4 games

• Marquis Collins, forward, 3 games

• Scottie Lewis, guard, 2 games

Scottie Lewis is the newest (for now) player on the Lightning roster. He scored 13 points in Sunday’s win over the Pontiac Pharaohs. (Photo: Luke Durda).

WHAT WAS AWESOME.

For the remainder of the season, the challenge ahead is clear: London needs to blend players from various backgrounds into a cohesive unit.

With many players having competed at high levels across different teams, integrating them with those who have been in the Forest City – whether for weeks or months – will be a major challenge. Beyond just assembling talent, Williams needs to get everyone to buy into his system, ensuring individual styles and personalities don’t clash but instead contribute to the team’s overall chemistry.

Once a pro season begins, practice time is at a premium. Between games, travel, and necessary rest, a full-team practice is a luxury. Not anymore.

“Being able to get these guys in the gym and practice with them all at the same time is key,” Williams said.

And now, all that is being done on a tight timetable.

“We’re trying to build an airplane while we’re flying it,” Williams said.

(Photo: Luke Durda).

WHAT NEEDS WORK.

Why all this turnover, you ask? Well, you watch the games.

The Lightning’s season has been defined by inconsistency – not just in roster turnover but in effort on the court. Despite assembling a talented group, the team has struggled to play with full intensity. Both the players and their new coach have contributed to the team’s struggles thus far.

Early on, Williams admits he took a more measured approach, trying to find his footing rather than enforcing a harder line. Now, with a wave of new players in the mix, the coach sees an opportunity to reset, treating the rest of the season as a fresh start.

“I am just going to have to put my foot down as of right now, let the season that we have had go, and just come in and try to start a new season. Start from day one.”

Williams knows the changes have been confusing for Lightning fans.

Fans crave connections that transform a team into their team. Look at the enduring bond between the London Knights and their fans, or the legendary status of London Majors star Cleveland Brownlee – that’s the power of familiarity and consistent performance.

James Towns II streaks up the court in a game vs. Sudbury Feb. 11, 2025. (Photo: Luke Durda).

Coming into this season, the Lightning needed to cultivate more recognizable personalities and give them the time to truly resonate with the city. A stable roster breeds familiarity, and familiarity breeds loyalty.

That didn’t happen.

So, if their favourite player was shipped out, who can fans latch onto for the last few weeks of the 2024-25 season?

There’s Jaylon Tate, the Chicago native was part of the 2021-22 Lightning championship squad.

Or Marquis Collins, the former Newfoundland Rogue who, along with Armani Chaney, was part of a two-headed scoring machine under Williams.

Or Scottie Lewis, the Florida native drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 2021, who has been fighting his way back to the game’s highest level after breaking his leg in 2023.

There’s even Yaw Obeng-Mensah, who made key plays in the victory against Pontiac.

No matter who they choose to root for, fans are not alone in learning this team on the fly.

It’s not just the players learning the new system; their head coach needs an idea of what guys can do. It’s hard to make decisions on who to pluck from the bench in a critical moment when you just met the player that morning.

“It is very difficult when you have guys get off the plane and show up to play in the game that same day,” Williams laughed. “With these guys, it’s getting them to understand who I am and what I expect. I’m 100% honest with them. They need to know their roles, know what I need from them.

“The season is almost over. Every game has to be like a playoff game.”

STORIES YOU MISSED.

Struggling Bolts search for answers, much-needed wins

Basketball booming, but fewer Canadians on Lightning, in BSL

WHERE THEY STAND.

Standings as of Tuesday, March 4. Top six teams qualify for playoffs based on winning percentage. Two teams get a bye, and the others face each other in a one-game first round hosted by the higher seed.

Sudbury Five 17-6 (.739)
KW Titans 15-7 (.682)
Windsor Express 14-7 (.667)
Jamestown Jackals 11-8 (.579)
London Lightning 10-12 (.455)
Pontiac Pharaohs 8-13 (.381)
Newfoundland Rogues 6-13 (.316)
Glass City Wranglers 1-16 (.059)

WHAT’S NEXT.

Sudbury | Wednesday, March 5 | 7 p.m.

at Windsor | Friday, March 7 | 7 p.m.

at Pontiac | Sunday, March 9 | 7 p.m.

Windsor | Wednesday, March 12 | 7 p.m.