Callaghan tallied 29 as Mystics best Hurricanes 88-82

(Halifax, NS) The Mount Saint Vincent Mystics defeated the Holland Hurricanes 88-82 this evening at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium.

Adam Callaghan (Sydney, NS) came off the bench to a game-high 28 points, and four rebounds for the Mystics. Isaac Matheson (Bedford, NS) pitched in with 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Jaydan Smith (Beechville, NS) rounded out the Mystics attack. He finished with 19 points, seven assists, and four steals.

Aaron Simmons (Nassau, Bahamas) led the Hurricanes with 18 points, he chipped in four assists, and three steals. Bryce Corless (Quispamsis, NB) finished with 14 points, four steals, and three assists. Owen Parsons (Hebbville, NS) scored 11 points, and grabbed 5 rebounds for the Hurricanes this evening.

The Mystics looked to continue their momentum from yesterday's win over the Hurricanes. It was a hot start for the Mystics, jumping out to an early 14-1 lead, in thanks to seven points from Matheson, and five points from Jaydan Smith. The early run forced the Hurricanes to call a timeout in hopes to weather the storm. Corless answered the early run from the Mystics with an elbow jumper out of the timeout. As play continued, Jaydan Smith dazzled the court with a no-look pass in transition that hit Callaghan in stride for the lay-up. On their next possession, Jaxon Smith (Beechville, NS) drove hard to the basket for an and-one finish to give the Mystics a 21-3 lead midway through the quarter. Michael Surur (Calgary, AB) looked to answer for the Hurricanes, he made a driving lay-up, followed by a steal that led to a transition finish. The Mystics stayed hot from the field, finishing the quarter shooting 50%, as they took a 29-12 lead into the second quarter.

The Hurricanes looked to Parsons, who started the quarter with a strong dive to the basket, giving him an and-one finish. Tyrell Casimir (Dartmouth, NS) followed up with a transition lay-up for the Hurricanes to close the gap to 31-20. The Mystics were quick to respond as Callaghan had an and-one finish off an inbounds play. Their next possession ended with a Jaydan Smith transition three pointer to restore their 17-point lead. Despite the early foul trouble, Corless continued to attack the Mystics defence for a strong lay-up. Romarie Johnson (Dartmouth, NS) stole the ball from Matheson in the backcourt, leading to his transition lay-up, which forced the Mystics to take a timeout. Parsons had another dive to the basket, which led to another lay-up, as he used his soft touch around the basket. Parsons went on a personal run, as he followed with another lay-up and a pick and pop three to trim the lead to 10 points and forced the Mystics to burn another timeout with 2:06 to remain in the quarter. Callaghan responded out of the timeout, with a spinning jumper from midrange. A few possessions later, Callaghan hit a three pointer to give the Mystics a 15-point lead. The Mystics led into the half 50-38.

The Hurricanes came out aggressive to start the half, as their defence led to a steal by  Simmons, that led to a Corless transition lay-up, followed by a strong take by Spencer Rossiter (Summerside, PE), as he made an and-one finish. The Mystics answered the Hurricanes with a 11-0 run, as Matheson hit a three pointer and Jaydan hit consecutive three pointers. As both teams traded baskets, Ryan MacKinnon (Summerside, PE) of the Hurricanes, hustled and followed a blocked shot to finish with an easy lay-up in transition. Callaghan responded for the Mystics with a contested finish at the basket over the Hurricanes defender. The Mystics continued to attack, highlighted by fast break assist by Matheson that led to a Callaghan lay-up. The Mystics took a 74-54 lead into the fourth quarter.

As the quarter begun, the Hurricanes battled their way back into the game. Jaidon Martin (Toronto, ON) had a strong attack that drew the foul on the Mystics. Martin continued to be aggressive this quarter, as he drained a three to cut the lead to 16. The Mystics responded with a three of their own, as Callaghan knocked down his third made three of the game. As the two teams continued to trade baskets, the Mystics called a timeout with 4:57 remaining in hopes to close out the Hurricanes, but Simmons continued to be aggressive in the quarter, as he made a contested lay-up and followed it up with a steal and lay-up to narrow the gap to 11. Matheson responded to the surge by the Hurricanes, which forced the Hurricanes to call a timeout with 3:19 remaining down 13. Out of the timeout, Simmons drove to the basket and dumped a pass down low to Jahson Tomlinson (Ajax, ON), who rose up for the two-handed dunk. The Hurricanes continued to attack the Mystics defence as Corless hit a fadeaway jumper on the baseline but the Mystics responded with a diving cut from Keigan Feron (Bedford, NS) for the easy lay-up. Rossiter countered the Mystics with a lay-up of his own to cut the lead to nine with under 1:30 remaining in the game. As the game entered crunch-time, Corless hit a driving floater over the Mystics defender to cut the lead to eight. With 47 seconds remaining, the Hurricanes called a timeout to draw up the right play to get back into the game. The Hurricanes executed to perfection, leading to a Tomlinson lay-up to cut the lead to six. The Hurricanes could not close the gap as the Mystics finished with the 88-82 win.

The Mystics moved to 7-0, to remain undefeated to start their season. The Hurricanes fell to 3-4. The Mystics return to the court on Friday November 29th, as they travel to the University of King's College to face their crosstown rival Blue Devils. Tip-off begins at 8:00pm. The Hurricanes travel to St. Thomas Friday November 29th. Game tips off at 8:00pm.