The still-winless Surge have dropped their tenth straight win, a 107-88 loss to the Winnipeg Sea Bears. Sunday’s loss set a pair Canadian Elite Basketball League records for both consecutive losses to start a season and longest losing streak.
After the game, Surge Interim Head Coach David Deaveiro said that his team can be really strong at times, and lose focus at others.
“I thought at moments we were really good, I thought at moments we fell back into some bad habits, things that we’re trying to eliminate,” he said.
“We need to be more consistent with the good behaviours, the good things that we do and less consistent with arguing with referees and arguing with each other, those things destroy a team.”
Friday night, the then 0-8 Surge headed to Winnipeg and put up 72 points in a losing effort. With a chance to take revenge on Sunday in front of a sellout crowd, the Surge lost the opening tip, with the Sea Bears scoring a three-pointer shortly after.
Winnipeg held momentum throughout the second quarter, carrying a 10-point, 42-52 lead into halftime. Calgary’s Sean “Rugzy” Miller-Moore and Winnipeg’s Teddy Allen co-led first half scoring, with 12 points each.
The Sea Bears led heading into target time 92-77. Winnipeg guard Trey McGowens, who filled the stat sheet with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals, said that in target time, his team focused on playing quick and effective.
“Everybody knows that everybody’s been running the whole game, so we just try to get stops and play in transition, that’s pretty much the biggest thing,” he said.
“It gets hard to play defense when you try to match up.”
Both McGowens and Sea Bears coach Mike Raimbault said that the team didn’t pay any mind to the Surge’s winless status.
“I didn’t even know and then in the locker room they had said something about it. Something big was just staying focused, just don’t take your opponent lightly,” McGowens said.
Raimbault specifically said that Calgary is better than their record shows.
“We didn’t talk at all about what their record was. They’ve got some very, very dangerous players and they put a lot of pressure on the defense,” he said.
“Their win-loss record really has nothing to do with the result when the ball’s tipped up, you have to play well or you’re gonna lose.”
New head coach still finding footing
Deaveiro, again, said that his bench was a high point of the game. As hard as they try, sometimes his players are just out matched, he said.
Deaveiro was consistently talking to Miller-Moore throughout the game. When asked about the conversations, the coach said he was trying to keep his player’s mind focused.
“Rugs (is) just a little bit more emotional. It’s trying to get him to stay off the referees, that is not really helping him or helping us,” he said.
Thus far, conversations with all his players have been positive, Deaveiro, who still hasn’t had the opportunity to practice with his team, said.
With recently signed players Mathieu Kamba, Deandre Willams and Marlon Johnson, the Surge should be getting a boost to their lineup for the rest of the season. Deaveiro said that getting time on the court together will be key for a second-half turnaround.
“We still haven’t had practice yet, and I can’t tell you how important that is. I’m trying to make some changes, but without being on the floor with these guys and having practice and doing the things that I’d like to do, it’s hard,” he said.
“It’s not fair for them, because they’re trying, but we need some time on the floor together and practicing together.”
After a much needed practice, the Surge will return to the court next week. First, at home on Wednesday night against the Brampton Honey Badgers and second on Saturday night against the Montreal Alliance for a neutral site game in Lethbridge.
