Port City drops opener, but fans feel the Power.
On Friday night professional basketball returned to the Port City, when the newly founded Port City Power held their opener vs the Tri City Tide at Rothesay Netherwood School.
In a hotly contested, back and forth contest Port City may have come up short 109-97, but the biggest winners of the night were the fans. On a chilly February night, a sold-out crowd packed the gym at RNS and brought an enthusiasm and hunger for pro basketball well before tip-off. In a much more intimate setting than TD
Station the home of all previous pro teams in Saint John, you could literally feel the vibrations of the crowd noise as they awaited warmups. Then as the teams took the floor, the crowd noise reached a peak that would not wane for the next two and a half hours. With warmups over, it was time for the first introductions of the season. As each player made
their way out, the crowd gave a loud and welcoming cheer, particularly to the players with local connections as players from UNB and UNBSJ. By the time 7pm hit and it was time for tip off, the energy was palpable.
At tip off the first ever starting lineup in team history consisting of Isaih Ankrah, Jabari Craig, Omonafeba Edobar, Graddy Kanku, and Anthony Ottley started off with a flurry. The action was up and down the floor as the two teams brought intensity from the opening whistle. After the first quarter, Port City had a twelve-point lead at 35-23.
The second quarter was just as back and forth, but also saw the physicality increase as the teams settled into the new rivalry quickly. As the half came to a close, Port City hit a buzzer beater to take a 60-53 lead into the half. At halftime the crowd was treated to local youth basketball and was very encouraging throughout.
In the third quarter both teams picked up where they left off and began playing a more wide-open style of play as each team seemed well rested and brought a focus on offense. Three-point attempts became more frequent, and with each one that fell for Port City, the crowd got louder.At the end of the third quarter, Tri-City held a slim 79-74 lead.
The fourth quarter saw the most offensive action as each team wanted to get that all important first win. With an entertaining mix of three-point shooting and hard drives to the basket each
team left it all on the floor. In the end, the more experienced Tri-City Team came away with a
109-97 victory. Despite the loss, the evidence was clear; Saint John and the surrounding area were happy to have pro basketball back. The energy was high all night, the sense of community between the team and fans was evident, and as I left the floor, I heard people commenting how impressed they were with the high level of play. I encourage anybody who missed Friday night to get to any home game you can as based on what I saw and experienced it will soon be one of the hottest tickets in town.
Port City drops physical game to Newfoundland
As the Port City Power continue their inaugural season in the TBL, they welcomed another first-time opponent to RNS in the Newfoundland Rogues. In front of another packed house the two times wasted little time establishing intensity once the opening whistle blew.
In the first quarter the offense started slowly on both sides, but both teams showed a grinding defensive style of play that brought an instant urgency to the game. The starting lineup for Port City consisted of Isaiah Ankra, Jabari Craig, Omon Edobar, Graddy Kanku, and Anthony Ottley. In the back and forth first quarter, Port City finished with a slim 22-20 lead.
The second quarter saw the tight battle continue. Each team drove hard to the net on each possession and as a result fouls started to add up on both sides. Port City made full use of their whole bench to rotate different looks and matchups. In the quarter, two players stood out with their physical play and ability to draw fouls as both Isaiah Ankrah and Omonafeba Edobar brought their physical game. At half time the visiting Newfoundland Roges held a one-point lead at 49-48.
After another entertaining halftime featuring local youth players showing off their skills, both teams brought a much more open offensive game to the floor. Each team continued to drive inside but also went to the three-point shots early and often. On the Port City side this was most successful for Jack Fury Miller as 4 of his 5-made FGs were from a distance. In what was a fast-paced quarter, Newfoundland ended with an 87-70 lead.
The fourth quarter was a mix of the first half physicality and the open offense of the third quarter as both teams left everything on the floor. Fans in the crowd brought their loudest cheers of the night as they willed their team on even as the score began to tilt in Newfoundland’s favor. After 48 highly entertaining minutes, Newfoundland came away with an 116-93 victory. Although it was a loss for Port City, the team showed signs of what is to come.
As the new team continues to build a fan base with each game it is clear that the fans love the style of basketball being played by the team, but also the interaction from the players who take the time to greet fans with fist bumps and high fives and sign autographs after each game. It is a winning formula that will make the team not only successful on the court but also make it a staple of the community off of it.
Port City Offense Powers to first Win!
On Wednesday, March 4th,2026 those in the crowd at RNS can say they witnessed team history. In what will soon be one of many, the Port City Power clinched their first win with a 117-109 victory in the second game of a back-to-back vs the visiting Newfoundland Rogues.
It was a game of intensity that spilled over from the night before. One night after a hard fought 116-93 loss to the same Newfoundland team, Port City would not be denied. At the opening tip off Port City had a starting lineup of Isaiah Ankra, Jabari Craig, Omann Edobar, Graddy Kanku, and Saint John native Peter Wedge. With a new look starting five, Port City brought a hard-nosed offense to begin the game, driving to the net on each possession. Newfoundland matched them every step of the way as both teams became familiar with the other’s style of play.
After a hard-fought opening twelve minutes, Newfoundland held a slim 30-28 lead. The second quarter saw both teams open up the floor more often as they tried to counter hard drives to the net with a mix of three-point attempts. Leading the way for Port City on the three-point game was local product Jack Fury Miller.
As the quarter went on, each team fought for every inch of the floor. This led to more free throw attempts, which Port City was highly successful in converting.
As time wound down in the first half, Isaiah Ankra sent the crowd into a frenzy with a buzzer beater that gave Port City a 63-57 lead at halftime. The third quarter saw an offensive output that had not been seen before in the short history of Port City Power. Coming out firing on all cylinders Port City seemed unstoppable no matter where they were shooting from. Whether driving to the net or three-point attempts, everything seemed to fall for the home team as the crowd got louder and louder with appreciation and excitement for what they were witnessing. After a forty-point third quarter, Port City was rolling with a 103-81 lead.
The fourth quarter saw a momentum shift as Newfoundland played tighter defensively and began hitting threes to narrow the lead. In what was once a game on cruise control, Port City was now fighting to secure their first win. After entering with a 22-point lead, Port City saw their lead shrink to 5. But on this night, they were not to be denied as after a well-placed time out Port City closed the door defensively and sealed the game late on free throws from Isaiah Ankra.
As the final buzzer hit the 117-109 victory, it was a mix of emotions. The fans were excited; the players were not only happy with their first win but also appreciation of the full effort it took. With a new team starting to play nights like this, it is what all the effort and work is for.
For all the times you have doubt creep in about how successful basketball can be in Saint John, nights like tonight show you it can thrive.
Nobody in attendance will forget the rollercoaster of a game they were lucky to be a part of.
