Sudbury Five survive do-or-die Game 5 to defend Basketball Super League throne

Sudbury Five rally from 2-0 series deficit to edge the KW Titan 90-89 in a Game 5 thriller to claim back-to-back Basketball Super League titles.

The Sudbury Five erased a 2-0 series deficit to claim their second consecutive Basketball Super League title with a 90-89 victory over the KW Titans in Game 5 of the championship series on Wednesday night at The Aud in Kitchener in front of more than 1,500 basketball fans.

The defending champs entered the playoffs as the second seed, while KW took the top spot. After dropping the first two games in Kitchener, Sudbury won both home games at the Sudbury Community Arena to force a winner-take-all finale.

Veteran guard leads the way

Five veteran guard Charlie Marquardt, recently named the BSL’s 2026 league MVP, scored 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting, including 4-of-9 from three-point range, in 45 minutes of action.

Sudbury captain Duane Notice recorded a near triple-double with 18 points, eight rebounds and nine assists to go with three steals. Forward and relative newcomer Emmanuel Akot added 18 points and nine rebounds, while Tyquane Goard chipped in nine points and seven rebounds and Allen Billinger finished with 11 points and four assists.

Sudbury shot 52.4 per cent from the field and 47.8 per cent from three-point range, connecting on 11-of-23 attempts from beyond the arc. The Titans shot 41.4 per cent overall – but just 25 per cent from deep.

Game comes down to final possession

The Titans led 26-19 after the first quarter, but Sudbury stormed back with a 31-point second period to take a 50-41 lead into halftime. The Five pushed their advantage to as many as 14 points in the second half before the Titans mounted a late comeback.

Antoine Mason led all scorers with 21 points for the Titans. Ty Groce added 20 points and four rebounds, while Tarkus Ferguson posted 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

Technical fouls were issued to the Sudbury team in the third quarter, while KW’s Calvin Felder and Antoine Mason each received technicals.

The Titans pulled within three points in the final seconds. After Sudbury’s Billinger made one of two free throws with two seconds remaining to make it 90-87, Mason hit a jumper at the buzzer to cut the final margin to one.

‘Pressure makes diamonds’

Speaking after the game, Notice described the feeling of securing the championship as a culmination of the team’s work.

“Relieved, thrilled. Just all the hard work and sacrifice that myself and my teammates, the coaching staff, everyone’s put in the organization from the beginning of the season, even prior to that, to now, just to kind of commend it with the championship,” he said.

Notice credited the team’s ability to learn from close losses throughout the season, adding that the players remained composed under pressure.

“They say pressure makes diamonds and that’s what I feel like,” he said.

Chemistry key in title defence

Sudbury head coach Joey Puddister pointed to the team’s experience in high-stakes games as a deciding factor.

“We’ve been in these types of games all season,” he said.

“Coming off of a championship, we’re used to that pressure. Everybody gives us their best shot all season. So, we stay composed in the tough times.”

When asked what he learned about his team that he would carry forward, he replied simply: “Chemistry over everything.”

Titans fall short on home court

KW head coach Cliff Clinkscales acknowledged that turnovers and missed free throws proved costly for his squad on Wednesday night.

“We turned the ball over – two big-time turnovers late and missing free throws,” Clinkscales said, speaking with media following Game 5.

“You’re playing against a championship team that’s got a lot of experience. That’s a team that you got to beat, but they’re not going to give it to you and they deserve to win tonight.”

Despite the loss, Clinkscales noted the Titans set a franchise record for wins and earned the number one seed.

“We fought all the way to the end to get the number one seed to play in front of our hometown for Game 5, and we came up short,” he said.

Fans travel to cheer on Five

Notice singled out the Sudbury supporters who made the trip to Kitchener.

“The fact that they showed out and they were showing out in droves and they’re loud, I think it really helped us propel us to get that win,” he said.

“We won’t get this championship if it’s not for them.”

The Sudbury Five have become the first team to complete a reverse sweep in the BSL finals, rallying from 0-2 down to win three straight and defend their championship throne.

With files from CTV News Kitchener

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