After three games on the road to start the season, the Royals returned to the comfort of home on Friday night. Redeemer was in tough against the Country's #1 team, the Sheridan Bruins, but pulled off a wild upset in the team's home opener winning 112-109.
Redeemer came out flying from the opening whistle. Shooting 50% from the field, the Royals took a 17 point lead into the half.
Elijah Lostracco's hot shooting led all scorers with 21 points in the first half, as he was perfect beyond the arc (5-5) and was 6-8 from the field.
The Bruins came out strong in the 3rd quarter, quickly cutting the lead down to 5 points, halfway through the period. The Bruins outscored the Royals 28-16 in the frame as the teams entered the fourth quarter with Redeemer leading 78-73.
The 4th quarter was a wild, back-and-forth affair. With 14 lead changes, and 5 ties, each possession proved to be more important and more intense then the previous. Despite an incredible 68% shooting for the visitors in the 4th, the Royals left everything on the floor, keeping pace with the Bruins, and closing out the match with a 112-109 victory.
Elijah Lostracco finished with a game-high 31 points and 5 assist. Lostracco enters the week number 2 in the OCAA in points.
After putting up just 2 points in the team's loss last week to St. Clair,
Spencer Kerssies was dominate against the Bruins. Kerssies finished with 27 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block.
The Royals will have a week before their next match.. Redeemer hosts the 3-1 Fanshawe Falcons Saturday at 4:00pm.
