Chill Get Back In the Win Column
June 11, 2008 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Edmonton Chill News Release
On the way to Elgin this afternoon, the Chill made a stop at O'Hare Airport to pick up Head Coach Paul Sir who helped guide the team to a 125-122 come-from-behind win against the Elgin Racers and halt the team's three-game losing skid.
Coach Sir took full advantage of the team's early arrival in Elgin to walk the club through some of their set plays, giving special attention to the newest members of the squad, Marco Morgan and Antwon Mills, who are still getting a grip on the team's playbook. Still, it looked early as if the Chill, working with just seven players, would absorb a fourth straight defeat as the Racers were hot early, using their screen and roll to set up open jumpers outside and layups in the paint. Edmonton meanwhile was still trying to find their legs and found themselves trailing by as much as 15 at one point in the second quarter. The team was able to make a run but Elgin answered right back and extended to a 69-49 lead after 24 minutes.
As the team gathered in the locker room, there was a very different feel then there had been earlier in the road trip, as Coach Sir gathered the troops and calmly reminded them what they had to do to get back in the game and that they had been in this position before and found a way to win.
As the second half opened it appeared as if Sir's words had fallen on deaf ears as the home side was able to push their lead as high as 25, before the Chill dug in and started to battle. The team abandoned their man-to-man defense and started to disrupt the Racers offensive and slowly chip away at the lead. Behind the hard inside work of Morgan and Lee Scruggs the visitors were able to get the lead down to 14 after three quarters.
As the fourth quarter opened it was clear that JR Patrick was not going to allow a fourth straight defeat as he took over the game on offense scoring 14 of his 27 points in the final twelve minutes. Still, with just seven bodies to work with it was going to have to be a team effort for Edmonton to pull out a win at the Judson University gym, and that is just what they got. Defensively, they were now fighting through the screens and forcing the Racers into shots they did not want, rebounding the misses, and getting the ball to suddenly hot shooting Patrick and Rashaun Broadus. Edmonton took their first lead at 123-122 with a minute to play on Patrick's fourth three of the night. On Elgin's next possession, the Chill again were stalwart on defense and were able to force a miss that Stephen Parker collected and drew a foul as he ran down court. Parker then walked to the line and sank both free ones with eight seconds on the clock. Elgin final attempt to tie did not even draw iron.
The Chill featured a balanced offensive attack with Broadus leading the way with 31, Patrick's 27 was second on the team, and Stephen Parker had his second 20+ game of the road trip with 23.
The Chill's Ironman roadie continues tomorrow as they return to Elkhart to face the two-time defending IBL Champs, the Express. Tip for the game is 5:00 (MST) with the internet broadcast starting at 4:55 local time.
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International Basketball League Stories from June 11, 2008
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- Slam looking to help keep West's win streak alive in All-Star Game - Bellingham Slam
- Chill Get Back In the Win Column - Edmonton Chill
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