ALBANY — The Albany Patroons have a lot to be enthusiastic about as they return from The Basketball League’s All-Star break. They’re 9-2 and just a half-game out of first place in the Northeast Division.
However, there’s a bad taste remaining from their most recent game 11 days ago — an inexplicable 115-103 loss to Academie Alma at Washington Avenue Amory. It’s the only win of the season for Academie Alma, a franchise from Quebec City that had already lost to the Patroons by 30, 19 and 40 points this season.
The 115-103 loss on April Fool’s Day gave Patroons coach Derrick Rowland something to harp on as his team gets ready to return to action at 7 p.m. Thursday against the Montreal Tundra at the Armory.
“It’s lingering, you know,” Rowland said. “I just know that you can’t sleep on anybody in this league. The worst team can beat the best team. It’s pro sports and you’re going to lose some games. But it always gives me a chance to reevaluate and turn the heat up a little bit. Sometimes a loss is better than a win as far as making adjustments go.”
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Washington Avenue Armory, Albany
Rowland gave his team four days off from practice during the extended break. Meanwhile, Patroons guard Trevis Wyche played in the TBL All-Star Game at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa.
Wyche, Albany’s leading scorer at 17.4 points per game, said the Academie Alma loss should help his team in the long run. He said the Patroons might have “come out a little sluggish” in that game after a quality win the night before over the London Lightning of NBL Canada.
“I think it was a wake-up call,” Wyche said. “I think we needed it. I think we’re going to come out tomorrow with a chip on our shoulder. Can’t drop two in a row, period. I think we’re…
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