All Midwest teams advance
Published on June 25, 2005 under United States Basketball League (USBL) News Release
SALINA, KS - (June 24, 2005) The 2005 The United States Basketball League (USBL) Post-Season Championship Quarterfinals were held at the Bicentennial Center in Salina, KS today. All eight teams were featured in the single elimination tournament. There was plenty of action on the first day, which saw an upset in the first game.
Game 1 - Brooklyn vs. Nebraska
Nebraska outscored Brooklyn 67-41 in the second half and held the Kings to 17 fourth-quarter points, as the Cranes bounced the Kings from the 2005 USBL Post-Season Championship with a 117-110 opening round win.
Brooklyn started the game on a 7-0 run, which lasted until the 9:50 mark in the first quarter. The Kings held the seven point lead through the middle of the quarter, before extending the lead to 14 at the three-minute mark in the quarter. Nebraska cut the lead to nine with 1:30 to play in the first, but Brooklyn outscored the Cranes 6-to-3 in the quarter's final minute to take a 35-23 lead into the second quarter.
Nebraska made a 3rd quarter run, outscoring the Kings 28-22 and getting within 12 points twice. The Cranes outscored Brooklyn 14-11 in the quarter's first six minutes, and went on another 14-11 run in the quarter's final six minutes. Nebraska's momentum spilled over into the fourth, as the Cranes began the game's final quarter on an 11-0 run and cut the Brooklyn lead to 2 at the 8:30 mark in the fourth.
The Cranes were led by Mo Spillers, who scored 33 points and grabbed seven boards, while Larry House chipped in 22 to go along with Cedric Banks' 21 in the win. The Kings leading scorer was Anthony Glover, who scored 30 in the losing effort.
Game 2 - Pennsylvania vs. Dodge City
The first half was close throughout with 12 lead changes and a one-point differential at halftime. New Jersey's Carlos Wheeler, Franz, Pierre-Louis and Willie Chandler each scored in double-figures during the first half. Not to be outdone, three Legend players also scored in double figures, Roy Tarpley, Shawn Daniels and Jermaine Boyette.
Jermaine Boyette's 16 second half points and 3 steals helped turn the game in favor of the Legend. The ValleyDawgs fought hard to make it close. Franz Pierre Louis led Pennsylvania with a double-double, 20 points and 13 rebounds.
Game 3 - New Jersey vs. Oklahoma
The first half of play was fairly tight as the Flyers held the Storm to just 39.1% shooting from the field. Bokai Lalugba registered 11 points and 8 rebounds in the first half for the Flyers. Oklahoma's Mike Mackell kept the Storm in it early, hitting all 6 of his first half shots.
In the second half, Oklahoma seemed to find a rhythm while the Flyers turnover problems prevented the team from keeping the game close. The Flyer' 36 turnovers set a new single game playoff record. Oklahoma's defense stepped up and held the Flyers to 28.2% from the field in the second half.
Oklahoma gradually put the game out of reach, taking advantage of the New Jersey's carelessness with the ball with 44 points off turnovers.
Terrance Crawford finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds to cement the first-round victory for the Storm. The Storm will play the Cagerz at 7:00 PM in Game 6 tomorrow night.
Game 4 - Westchester vs. Kansas
Kansas used a 66-point second half to beat the Westchester Wildfire 106-91 in the final game of the opening round of the USBL Post-Season Championship. The two teams traded baskets through the first quarter, with Westchester leading through the majority of the quarter's first eight minutes. Kansas took its first lead with 4:02 to play in the first, but the Wildfire quickly tied the game at 17-17 with three minutes left in the first quarter. The teams were tied at the end of both, the first and second quarters.
The Cagerz dominated the second half of play. Kansas's Johnson's combined for over half of the Cagerz second half points. Part of Kansas' success cam on the glass. Kansas grabbed 30 more rebounds leading to 15 second chance points.
Westchester wore down in the second half. They continued to shoot the 3-point shot after hitting only 2 of 10 in the first half to finish 3 for 23 in the game. Westchester's lack of an inside game forced them into lower percentage shots. Westchester's offense was sparked by Torrian Jones and Corey Hightower, who scored 23 and 22 in the Wildfire loss.
ON TAP: Nebraska vs. Dodge City 4:00 PM CST & Oklahoma vs. Kansas 7:00 PM CST play in the Semifinals Saturday, June 25.
United States Basketball League Stories from June 25, 2005
- In-state rivals to square off for USBL title - USBL
- All Midwest teams advance - USBL
- Blue Ducks thriller 98-97 - Brevard Blue Ducks
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