Aftershock debut with PSL win
July 11, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Los Angeles Aftershock News Release
Los Angeles, CA. LA Aftershock Coach Andre Smith was nervous, team owner Shawn Blattenberger was a nervous wreck, and LA's best player, Will Burr, was sick with pneumonia and it still couldn't stop the ABA team from winning 100-98 over the PSL Panthers in Pro Summer League Play in Long Beach. A.J. Diggs was phenomenal, running the Aftershock offense, spearheading the LA defense and coaching his new running mates to a come from behind win at the Pyramid in Long Beach. Diggs confronted another ABA foe in point guard Curtis Millage; this time hitting the big shots and leading his team with 26 points and 7 assists. Millage, playing along with former ABA'ers Maurice Spillers and Sean Harris, led the Panthers with 23 points and 8 assists in the losing effort.
LA played without Burr and former LA Stars guard Darwin Carter, and it showed early as they fell behind early 34-20 in the first quarter. The Aftershock got defensive in the second quarter, holding the Panthers to 13 points in the quarter, limiting their opponents to 2 field goals in 16 attempts. LA shot 15 for 21 and took a 50-47 halftime lead, behind the balanced scoring of Diggs, Chip Conner and Corey Williams.
Coach Smith implored his team at the half to "give 100% on defense and the offense will happen" and the ABA Aftershock had forced 23 turnovers after 3 periods, leading 75-74 heading into the fourth. Diggs, Conner, Williams and newcomer Derek Jones all were in double figures, while Millage kept the Panthers close with 20 points after three periods.
The final period went back and forth, with the Panthers leading by 8 with 6 minutes remaining. Diggs took control down the stretch defending Millage, handling the ball on offense and making the final of his 12 free throws in 12 attempts. Diggs added 5 rebounds to his 26 points and 7 assists. Corey Williams added 14 points and 7 rebounds while Chip Conner added 11 points and 8 rebounds. Derek Jones recorded a double-double in his professional debut dropping in 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against the bigger Panthers. The Aftershock will play again today at 1030am PST against Unity Sports preceding the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies. Thursdays game between the Aftershock and the NBA Pros can be heard on www.abalive.com and www.laaftershock.com. For more information, email laaftershock@aol.com or visit www.abalive.com.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
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