2025 FBA Season/24.10.15/BAL@LOR/Capsule

-Bedlam in Dublin-

As preseason barely underway, it seems that the rivalry between the Lorain Firestorm and the Baltimore Spirits will hit another level for the upcoming season.

As both teams were about to play in Dublin, Ireland, Many were scratching their heads as both teams lineups were announced, while it within both teams right, the preseason usually where an occasion to leave rookies players and bench units to get a few starts and see what they can do. Imagine the surprise from journalists following the Firestorm, as they expected lineups they were given the day prior before the preseason game seemed to have been changed at the last minute before lineups needed to be given to officials. What was supposed to be a preseason lineup ended up being a full season lineup. Fans and broadcasters were scratching their heads but one person that seemed even more shocked was Baltimore Spirits head coach, Henriette Tetreault. Annoyance and anger was clearly visible in the Spirits coach's face, as the players where announced, while Firestorm coach Sabrina Lucifer seemed unperturbed. Was she making a statement? What was the plan? Many reports in the off season said that the Firestorm front office was getting tired of having to play till the last game of the season to win the division and in part, moving past their rival Baltimore. This year they wanted to win more convincingly. Same goes to Baltimore’s side, as seasons falling short of winning the division but also falling short for a title had them restructure their lineup, like trading Eliza Dupont and signing Jake Turner to help the odds.

As the game started, coach Tetreault would then use an unusually early timeout as soon as the spirits took possession of the ball, as she would then completely change her starting 5 to a more season worthy lineup. From there things were clear: Both teams would be playing for keeps, and both coaches would make sure of that.

As the game went along, tension and intensity was clearly palpable on both teams’s sidelines. As Lucifer and Tetreault would push their players and play like their season was on the line. Dublin fans were eventually happy of the sudden change of situation, as they were seeing one hell of a basketball game.

But as the game went on, so was the coaches' intensity. As the game was winding down, It only took a rather run of the mid foul to have both coaches shout and scream at each other, until they got close enough to one another. Then out of nowhere, Henriette Tetreault sent Sabrina Lucifer buckle onto the announcer desk with a solid placed slap in the face, as she continued to spew things we didn’t need a translator to help us translate. Lucifer stood back up, hair slightly messed up, wiping blood from her lip with claws extended, with one of the darkest looks I've ever seen. If looks could kill. I think not many would be standing at the moment. Fortunately before,both teams could do anything to defend their coaches or fight, the referees and coaching staff kept their cool and held back everyone to control the situation. Then, obviously, Miss Tetreault was ejected, as was Miss Lucifer. The game was played to the end with no further incidents. The Firestorm managed to win this contest 115-111, but as we are now waiting from the league about possible consequences, it is clear that the Baltimore-Lorain rivalry will be something to keep an eye on.

Ken Williams CFIS Basketball columnist

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