Lions Roar to Victory! London Outlasts Toronto 114-102 Behind Balanced Attack
Balanced Lions Offense Too Much for Titans' Solo Efforts
By Alex Thompson
LONDON – The London Lions showcased their depth and offensive firepower on Saturday night, overcoming a strong performance from the Toronto Titans’ Lena Eriksson to secure a crucial 114-102 victory at home in Pro League action. The Lions controlled the tempo for much of the game, especially in the second half, where their relentless ball movement and balanced scoring proved too much for the Titans to contain.
The first half was a tightly contested affair, with both teams trading baskets. The Titans, led by a sharp-shooting Lena Eriksson, found rhythm from beyond the arc, but the Lions countered with solid inside play and impressive assists. A key moment arrived in the second quarter when Freya Lund’s three-pointer ignited a run for London, giving them a slim lead heading into halftime.
The Lions truly found their stride in the third quarter. Cassia Aoki orchestrated the offense with seven assists, feeding a variety of scorers including Chloe Beaumont, who finished with 18 points and five assists. Leo O’Connell added a double-double threat with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Aisha Hassan and Freya Lund chipped in 12 and 13 points respectively. The Lions’ ability to share the ball, evidenced by a remarkable 31 assists on 46 made field goals, kept the Titans’ defense scrambling.
Despite a valiant 20-point effort from Eriksson and a double-double from Ronan Schmidt (12 points, 9 rebounds) for Toronto, the Titans struggled with their overall shooting percentage, hitting just 37.1% from the field. “We knew they had talented scorers, but our game plan was to be consistent and move the ball,” said Lions Head Coach David Miller. “Tonight, our team really bought into that, and you saw it in the assist numbers and the overall flow of our offense.”
“We just kept trusting each other and making the extra pass,” added Cassia Aoki. “When everyone is involved, we’re at our best.”
Key Notes:
- London Lions recorded 31 assists on 46 made field goals.
- Lena Eriksson led all scorers with 20 points for the Toronto Titans.
- Cassia Aoki dished out a game-high 7 assists for London.
- The Lions’ bench contributed 44 points to the total score.
- Toronto’s free-throw shooting was a struggle, converting just 23 of 39 attempts (59.0%).