Energy run away From Titans in 144-119 Victory

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EDMONTON - When your team scores 144 points and has a slew of players in double-digits in scoring, it’s odd that the coach wants to celebrate the defensive efforts of one of his players. That’s just what Paul Sir did, though, after the Edmonton Energy downed the Vancouver Titans 144-119 on Saturday night at MacEwan Gym.

"He was our best defender all night," Sir said of Energy point guard Alex Steele. "He did the best job...they have outstanding guard (in Vancouver’s Kyle Keyes) and Alex did a great job of staying in front of him and making sure that he didn’t get around him. When we got up by a bunch in the third quarter, we stopped defending (as a team), so I just wanted to point Alex Steele out."

Lost in the bevy of high scorers the Energy had-J.R. Patrick led the team with 32 points and power forward Skouson Harker had 30 points and 12 rebounds on the night-Steele was surprised that Sir was so pleased with his efforts.

"I didn’t really feel like I was in a defensive zone or anything, but if things aren’t working for you on offence, the only thing you can do is play tough D," said Steele, an Edmonton native who starred at Harry Ainlay high school, MacEwan College and the University of Alberta. "It’s always good to play tough D. Someone’s got to lead by example. Everyone’s got different roles on this team and if I can do that, it only helps."

The Energy went up 2-0 in the first quarter on a pair of free throws from Harker and didn’t look back, as they never trailed in the contest against Vancouver. Lee Scruggs set the tone early, scoring the majority of his 13 points in the game’s opening frame. As he did on Friday night, Harker dominated in the paint on Saturday, scoring 22 of his 30 in the game’s first half. The team nursed a six-point advantage to a 77-55 halftime lead.

Patrick’s hot hand took over in the second half as the team blew the game open, going up by as many as 30 in the late stages of the third quarter. While Vancouver made an attempt to rally in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead down to 15 at one point, Patrick’s prettiest bucket of the night-a post-up effort that went in off the high-glass-ensured the Energy would get their rout.

The team hits the court next weekend to take on the International Basketball League champion Bellingham Slam on Friday and Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. at MacEwan gym.