By Kamal Hylton
After what has been a slow start, the Brampton A’s followed up it’s first win earlier this week against the Saint John Mill Rats by improving to 2-5 on the season; Brampton getting one over on its Peel Region rivals in a 112-100 win against the Mississauga Power. This has been an intense, brewing battle so far this season and it finally boiled over. An incident in the second quarter involving A’s big man Theo Davis and the Power’s Kirk Williams Jr. with tempers carrying over into the end of game handshake line resulting in a bench clearing brawl.
Speaking to Brampton’s head coach David Magley, he made his stance on the incident clear. “Theo told me he got a cheap shot in the chin and he got emotional about it,” Magley said to ON POINT. “We took him out, calmed him down and didn’t play him in the rest of the game. Then as he was walking off he said ‘Don’t do that again!’ and the player (Williams Jr.) swung at him. You just can’t swing at people at the end of games like that. This is crazy! This is the third time there has been an incident with that same player, twice against London and once with us and it has to stop.”
In an already emotionally charged atmosphere, Magley and the A’s were going through a little extra performing their duties with heavy hearts. “This is a very emotional time for me, I buried my brother on Thursday.” A mournful Magley said. “He was my biggest fan. He loved me, supported me and was always there for me. I had to come back and coach because that’s what we do as Magleys. We’ve won a couple games now and it just feels good, I know my boys are playing extra hard because they feel my pain and I’m proud of how they’ve responded.”
Davis was unavailable for comment post game, but the local product and newest recruit to the A’s is a player with a storied past looking to rebuild his career… and more importantly himself. “Theo has tremendous length, acumen and an incredible pedigree.” Magley said of the former Gonzaga Bulldog. “He has played at a very high level, but he has also had tremendous failure in his life. He has an incredible story, we just need to keep him level and growing as a person to see how good he can really be. He can become the best big in the league if he continues to progress, we never planned on playing him this year because we were more focused on helping him become the man he’s supposed to be first. His growth has been incredible, whenever he feels he’s getting himself in trouble he calls me to talk about it. Theo’s life is much more important than basketball.”
These are all positive signs for Davis. If he finds a way to figure it out and become a long-term option for the A’s, they will continue to become the leading NBL Canada organization when it comes to giving Canadians meaningful minutes/roles.
“Bryson Johnson is Canadian, Ashton Smith is Canadian, Richard Amardi is Canadian, we don’t have Jameson Tipping back yet but he’s Canadian as well.” Magley said. “Tell me who’s playing more Canadians? Honestly, once David Tyndale comes back (went on IR earlier this week with a meniscus injury) we might start five Canadians one game but definitely be playing six consistently. We’re not afraid of that, we’re proud of the Canadian content because we’ve got Canadians that can play. We didn’t bring in Canadians at minimum wage just to fill a quota, we’ve got Canadians that can play and that’s my only requirement.”
These two teams don’t meet again until January 3rd at Powerade Centre, a game that is now made even more interesting.
By Kamal Hylton
Drew Ebanks
