T’Spoon-led Westchester, Jersey Over Weekend

[Strong Island Sound]

Weekend Home Stand Against Two Local Rivals

Patchogue, NY- The first home stand of the 2007-08 ABA season continues for the Strong Island Sound this weekend at Suffolk Community College in Selden. On Saturday November 17 at 7:15 p.m., the Westchester Phantoms will head south to Long Island to face the Sound for the second time on the young season. On Sunday November 18, the Jersey Express will come in for a 4:15 matinee.

On November 4, the Sound opened the season in Westchester, and a wild game ensued which resulted in a 112-107 for the Phantoms. In her first season on the bench, former New York Liberty point guard Theresa Weatherspoon has led her squad to three wins against zero losses, and Westchester is one game ahead of Strong Island (2-1), leading the way in the Blue Central Division.

Prior to moving to Westchester, the franchise played in Brooklyn during the 2006-07 season. Starting as the Wonders, the current ownership group (which includes the mother and brother of Los Angeles Clippers star Elton Brand) took over during the season and changed the moniker to the Comets. The Sound defeated Brooklyn in all three meetings, who finished the season at 8-5 overall.

The Jersey Express (1-1) previously played in Newark and Strong Island won each of their six games last season. The Express had a tough 2006-07, finishing in the basement with a 4-23 record.

Tickets for all home games are available at the door and by ordering online at www.strongislandsound.com. Prices are only $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and seniors.

[Strong Island Sound]

I will once again try to post updates from our two home games this weekend on my phone. I am hoping that attendance improves tonight. We shall see.

I am also going to take a few photos and looking to eventually post them.

[DazedAndAmused]

Good luck SIS.

PS - you have my vote to take the league over.

[tbayz1]

Looking foward to the review!

Good Luck tonight! Hope attendence increases with no NFL today

[Strong Island Sound]

Strong Island leads Westchester 51-39 with 3:49 left in the second quarter. The Sound led by 14 during the 1st before the Phantoms went on a run and cut it to 31-24 after one.

Attendance is approx. the same as last week, probably a bit lower. I personally contacted three people in the media that have given us a few good plugs over the years (2 from Newsday, 1 from News 12) and tried to drum up some excitement with Westherspoon in town. I was hoping a blurb would have made a difference at the gate.

[Strong Island Sound]

At the half, SI leads 64-50. Sound with 3 players in double-digits, led by Raphael Edwards with 15. Jomo Belfor leading the way for the Phantoms with 15.

[Strong Island Sound]

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Sound lead Westchester by a score of 93-67.

[Strong Island Sound]

SI led all the way and defeated the Phantoms, 117-88. I will post my recap article tomorrow.

[tbayz1]

Its unfortunate that the attendence is poor for SIS because they actually do put alot of work and effort into their franchise, you just gotta get that number up!

Maybe invite local groups or like kids just to get some people in there, go to the community centers and schools and club and promote, hope the attendence gets better


Good Luck this season SIS, I really would have thought with T-Spoon attendence would have been much better!

[TEN]

You are finding out what other minor league teams have found out over the years...People aren't going to watch former players COACH! The Oklahoma Storm of the USBL found that out the hard way when they hired Kareem Abdul Jabbar a few years ago...He DID draw a couple of 5000+ crowds...then when people found out what a jerk he was attendance dropped back to around 1000 a night...

Of course Weatherspoon didn't have much of a following in the first place....

[misenern]

Have you ever considered that maybe Long Island isn't the right market for you? Something just doesn't seem to fit. Your crowds should be larger considering the work you do.

[Strong Island Sound]

You are finding out what other minor league teams have found out over the years...People aren't going to watch former players COACH! The Oklahoma Storm of the USBL found that out the hard way when they hired Kareem Abdul Jabbar a few years ago...He DID draw a couple of 5000+ crowds...then when people found out what a jerk he was attendance dropped back to around 1000 a night...

Of course Weatherspoon didn't have much of a following in the first place....
I disagree with your last statement. Weatherspoon was a pretty big name around here, even though the WNBA is not a huge draw in itself. She became an instant legend with that halfcourt shot in the playoffs and was always a very good quote, which she still is.

I honestly believe that if the Newsday did a mention a day or two before the game that there was a Sound game on Sat. against a team coached by T'Spoon, it would have garnered some interest. Is she Kareem? No, but as far as NY goes, she was a well-liked player here.

[Strong Island Sound]

Move into 1st Place Tie with Westchester

Selden, NY- Behind five players scoring in double digits, the Strong Island Sound led the game since the early minutes and went on to defeat the Westchester Phantoms at Suffolk Community College, 117-88. With the victory, both teams are tied atop the ABA’s Blue Central Division.

In the first three minutes of the contest, both teams were trading baskets and were tied at six. Raphael Edwards (17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in 24 minutes) then took over the game with timely rebounding, shooting and a blocked shot, opening up a 16-10 lead that his squad would never relinquish. This did not go unnoticed by the winning coach.

“I had a long talk with my veterans, especially Raphael Edwards,” said Sound head coach Dytanya Mixson. “I told him that I needed him to be the veteran leader he can be. He wanted to show me he could and it trickled down.”

Charles Jones, who was chosen as the Player of the Game, led all scorers with 20 points and hit three consecutive shots from beyond the arc in the first quarter to extend the Sound’s lead to 14 at one point before Westchester made a run and cut the deficit to seven heading into the second stanza.

“We lost to this team twice – once in the preseason – so I’m just happy for the guys because we put it all together,” said a jubilant Jones in post-game interviews. “I feel wonderful,” the former Chicago Bull continued. “With so many pieces, it’s hard for them [the opponent] to key on any one guy on our team. We have so many guys that can get it done.”

Strong Island made the score 44-31 on a nice feed from Jones to Raheim Lowery under the boards, prompting Westchester head coach Teresa Weatherspoon to call a time-out. The former New York Liberty star was upset over her team’s lack of defense and allowing the Sound to open up their lead again. Jomo Belfor, who scored 19 points on 7 for 13 shooting, tried to pull his team back in the game with a shot from downtown, but Jenar Harrison (14 points) and Sean Dantzler (18 points) kept answering with three-pointers of their own and the Sound led at halftime, 64-50.

The most important quarter in many games is the third, and the Sound dominated in the pivotal period, outscoring the Phantoms 29-17 to put the game out of reach with a 26-points advantage. An important aspect of that was Strong Island’s hard work under the boards on both ends, nullifying any chance for Westchester to make a serious run.

“We just lost to this team last week, so we know they can play,” said Gordon Malone, who scored 19 points to go along with 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals. “We needed to come out and rebound.”

Westchester employed a trapping defense with a full-court press as early as towards the end of the third quarter, but Strong Island made their outlet passes to avoid turnovers and maintain their large lead. “I told the guys, if they’re going to press us, let’s outrun them,” Jones said.

The result of the tight defensive press in the backcourt resulted in team fouls being committed by the Phantoms, who had three in the first two minutes of the final quarter. On one possession alone, the Phantoms were whistled for three fouls, with Lowery (9 points, 13 boards) going to the free throw line on the last. The Sound were able to work the shot clock down on nearly every possession, creating a situation for Westchester that forced them into the penalty with 6:13 remaining on the game clock.

Mixson made some adjustments from the 112-107 overtime loss at Westchester on November 4, which he felt was a big part in the home win. “We went over the video [from the opening game] and we saw that to neutralize that team, we needed guys like Raheim Lowery and Jenar Harrison,” he said. “Those two guys didn’t get a lot of minutes at Westchester, but they got a lot tonight.”

The Sound’s head coach also had another reason to enjoy the victory. “This was a special day for Darren (team co-owner Cioffi, who celebrated his birthday at halftime), and we wanted to give him a quality win on this day.”

Mission accomplished.

NOTES: The Sound continue their weekend two-game set with a 4:15 p.m. tip-off at Suffolk Community College against the Jersey Express. Tickets are only $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and seniors and are available at the door or by visiting www.strongislandsound.com.

[bx baller]

I disagree with your last statement. Weatherspoon was a pretty big name around here, even though the WNBA is not a huge draw in itself. She became an instant legend with that halfcourt shot in the playoffs and was always a very good quote, which she still is.

I honestly believe that if the Newsday did a mention a day or two before the game that there was a Sound game on Sat. against a team coached by T'Spoon, it would have garnered some interest. Is she Kareem? No, but as far as NY goes, she was a well-liked player here.

Exactly. Compare the NY Liberty's spotty attendance now to what it was when she was there. You're talking about a differential of at least -4,000. Throw in her crossover appeal with non-WNBA fans and the local media which garnered more local interest than the Liberty would have had without her and haven't had since she left.

The problem is no one in this area really cares that she's coaching an ABA team (if they even care about the ABA at all). The only reason anyone's even taking this job seriously is because it shows T-Spoon has an interest in coaching which gives credence to the legions of WNBA fans lobbying for her to take over the Liberty every year as either coach or general manager.

Plus she's coaching a team in Peekskill. If she were coaching a team in the 5 Boros (or coaching against one) that'd be different. Most Brooklynites don't even know Peekskill is in NY.

[Strong Island Sound]

A quick-paced first half resulted in a two-point advantage for Jersey. Malcolm Connor with 9 and Mark Jarrell had 17 to lead the way for their respective teams.

Attendance is a dissapointing number- approx. half of last night.

[a1sports]

By the end of the 4th quarter.....

Marsha( Jersey Owner) will ask someone, anyone for a loan to help the team.

[tbayz1]

A quick-paced first half resulted in a two-point advantage for Jersey. Malcolm Connor with 9 and Mark Jarrell had 17 to lead the way for their respective teams.

Attendance is a dissapointing number- approx. half of last night.

So thats like 50 some people?

:(

[Strong Island Sound]

If that. Very light. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is.

Final score was 104-97 Strong Island.