First BSL playoffs ready to tip off

The London Lightning (2) will open their first-round playoff matchup Saturday vs. Sudbury (3), while the KW Titans (1) and Newfoundland Rogues (4) will do battle in the other BSL semi-final.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

* * *

They might be fighting for a new trophy in a new league, but these two old foes are more than familiar with each other from a previous life in the NBL Canada.

On Saturday, the London Lightning and Sudbury Five tip off Game 1 of their BSL Playoffs first-round matchup at Budweiser Gardens. A win in the best-of-five series would send the Bolts to the Basketball Super League (BSL) Finals against the winner of the KW Titans (21-10) and Newfoundland Rogues (20-14).

Four of six BSL teams qualified for the inaugural playoffs, with the Windsor Express (15-11) and Montreal Tundra (9-15) falling short.

It took until the final weekend to decide not only which teams would make the playoffs but also where they’d seed and whether they’d get home-court advantage or start on the road.

“You couldn’t have scripted this season better, especially with so much coming down to the last weekend,” said David Magley, BSL President. “In an inaugural season like this, we’re now rooting for a great playoff. If we can see competitive games from the start, maybe have a few Game 4s or 5s, all with good crowds, and a nice championship, that would be huge.”

In head-to-head regular season matchups, the Lightning (20-12) went 3-2 against the Five (19-23), including splitting two games at The Bud.

The Lightning have six NBL Canada titles to their name – including the final one in the league’s history. Sudbury is seeking the franchise’s first title in any league.

The schedule for the London Lightning (2) vs. Sudbury Five (3):

Game 1 | Sudbury Five at London Lightning | 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4
Game 2 | London Lightning at Sudbury Five | 7 p.m. Monday, May 6
Game 3 | Sudbury Five at London Lightning | 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 8
Game 4 | London Lightning at Sudbury Five | 7 p.m. Friday, May 10 *
Game 5 | Sudbury Five at London Lightning | 2 p.m. Sunday, May 12 *

* If necessary

The schedule for the KW Titans (1) vs. Newfoundland Rogues (4):

Game 1 | Newfoundland Rogues at KW Titans | 7 p.m. Friday, May 3
Game 2 | Newfoundland Rogues at KW Titans | 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5
Game 3 | KW Titans at Newfoundland Rogues | 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 10
Game 4 | KW Titans at Newfoundland Rogues | 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11 *
Game 5 | KW Titans Newfoundland Rogues | 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 12 *

* If necessary