Days after suspending their franchise player, the Halifax Rainmen are heading to very uncomfortable territory.
The Rainmen play weekend road games on Friday against the Vermont Frost Heaves and Sunday against the Manchester Millrats, teams they were unable to beat in the American Basketball Association last season.
Although the roster was entirely different, Halifax went 0-for-12, losing seven to Vermont and five to Manchester.
“We definitely won’t go 0-for-12 against them this year,” said Rainmen newcomer Rob Sanders, who played for the Millrats last season and will face his former team.
With Crookshank suspended for the year and Brian Silverhorn on the shelf with a knee injury, point guard Jimmy Twyman is the only returnee who will be active this weekend.
But head coach Rick Lewis and owner Andre Levingston have a bone to pick with their former ABA rivals.
“Two teams I want to beat the most,” said Levingston with a laugh. “It will be a little personal.”
More importantly, the games could shift the balance of power in the Premier Basketball League’s Atlantic Division. The Rainmen, coming off their first loss of the season on Sunday to the Montreal Sasquatch, are first with a 3-1 record.
Vermont (1-1) is third and Manchester (1-2) is fourth.
“We know we’re on top of the division now and we know if we lose these games we’ll be at the bottom,” said Rainmen guard SirValiant Brown. “We’re anxious to get back on the court after a loss and our guys are pumped up.”
