Cavs Perfect through Ten

Walter Williams

Ten up, ten down. The Cavaliers have faced down every challenge in the 2022 season. From ugly wins to dominating performances the 2022 squad has delivered the best start in franchise history - perfection, 10 and 0. While the game against the undermanned traveling North Carolina Coyotes appeared relatively under control for the Cavs, a breakdown in focus and pinpoint shooting beyond the arc from the Coyotes had turned a third period twenty-nine-point Cavs lead into a fourth period single digit war of attrition. As the Cavs saw a seemingly insurmountable lead vanish, the Coyotes were struggling to battle a second opponent on the court - fatigue. With only a stable of three players on the bench to draw from and a daunting Cavaliers four period pressure defense, the steam was running out on the Coyotes. North Carolina's Evans rained down nine threes in the game with five coming in the fourth period. And the Coyotes outscored the Cavaliers 30 to 20 in the final period. But the constant defensive pressure and a Cavs team that settled back into team ball to finish the match-up proved too much for them to overcome. The game remained relatively competitive through two periods as the Coyotes stayed within ten at half 56-46. But as the third opened Walter Williams (6'5''-F-1997, college: Virginia St.) nailed back-to-back threes and Elijah Moore (6'8''-F-1995, college: Virginia St.) followed with another to launch a 15-6 Cavs run. Mid way through the period the Cavs were up 27 points eventually finishing the third up by twenty points. The punishing inside play of Tavon Mealy again proofed a key component to the Cavaliers victory as he scored 29 points and 20 rebounds on the evening. After missing last week's game Williams returned to the line up dropping 24 points, Moore delivered one of three Cavaliers' double-doubles with 21 points and 13 rebounds, joined by Mealy's monstrous game and Melvin Gregory who dropped 24 points and 13 rebounds. North Carolina Coyotes' Donovan Griffin led all scorers with 32 points. Three other teammates added double digits including Will Griffin (5'8''-SG, college: Greensboro) with 25, Deshawn High (6'0''-G) with 22 and solid overall play by Robert Espinosa (6'7''-PF-1986, college: Shaw) with 17 points and 15 boards. The Cavaliers size and play in the paint gave them a commanding 72 to 44 rebounding advantage on the night. The Coyotes went to the line fifteen times shooting 66% while the Cavs turned thirty visits to the charity strip into 21 points, 70%. The 119-105 victory secured Petersburg the opening round playoffs in the Burg and first place in the brackets for the Mid-south Conference. Four more regular season road games remain against teams hungry to avenge early season losses to the Cavs. The Playoffs kick off June 4th. For now the Cavaliers control their destiny on their quest to bring their first ECBL Championship home to Petersburg.
Courtesy of: ECBL

Tags : WALTER WILLIAMS, PETERSBURG CAVALIERS, ECBL BASKETBALL