Anderson Wins MVP Honors Leading East Over West 161-140
March 22, 2008 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Saint John Riptide News Release
Barre, Vermont: Manchester Millrats star guard, Anthony Anderson, led the East All Stars over the West 161-140 and collected MVP honors in the process.
The 5'11 guard, who was rated the 3rd best player in the minor leagues by ProBasketballNews.com, confirmed that ranking by turning in a stellar 33 point performance on 13-19 shooting from the field in the 2008 ABA All Star Game.
Joining Anderson in the All Star Game from the Manchester Millrats were teammates PJ Young and Cedric McGinnis. Young was also on the East squad and turned in a solid performance (12 points), while the 6'9 McGinnis was added to the West as an alternate in place of the injured Randall Williams from the Texas Tycoons. McGinnis scored 11 points and grabbed 6 boards.
The Manchester Millrats partnered with the Vermont Frost Heaves to bring about the 2008 ABA All Star Game, providing logistical support such as bus transportation and other contributions. The Millrats dance team, the Pink Sapphire Dancers, also performed for the Vermont crowd at the event.
It was a strange site indeed seeing Vermont Frost Heaves and Manchester Millrats playing together on the same team, but the East squad played with an ebb and flow that demonstrated their familiarity with each other. The West All Stars showed impressive talent and athleticism, but did not have the instant chemistry of the East.
The East All Stars grabbed a 72-54 halftime lead behind Anderson's 19 first half points. The lead swelled to over 30 in the third quarter before the fourth quarter became a crowd pleasing acrobatic showcase.
In addition to Anderson's 33, Eric Crookshank from the Halifax Rainmen scored 28 and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Cordell Jeanty of the Montreal Royal added 21 for the East.
From the West, Cardell Butler ("Ballaholic" formerly of And1) of the San Diego Wildcast scored 34, followed by Mario Kinsey of the Texas Tycoons with 21, and Robin "Sik Wit It" Kennedy from the O.C. Gladiators had 20 points and 11 assists.
After the game Justin Hoy, founder of Montpelier-based Halogen Records, presented Anderson with the Halogen Records ABA All-Star MVP Award.
"We are very proud of Anthony," stated Millrats Owner Jason Briggs, "he is a super-star in the making and he has a great work ethic and is very humble to boot."
The night prior, in the opening event of ABA All-Star Weekend, Robin (Sik Wit It) Kennedy of the Orange County Gladiators, another And1 Tour veteran, nosed out Sean Dixon of the Atlanta Vision to win the Simply Subs ABA Three-Point crown.
Via a controversial addition to the Slam-Dunk finals, Chris Cayole of the Vermont Frost Heaves edged Cardell Butler and Mario Kinsey for the M&M Beverage Centers Slam-Dunk title.
The Millrats are now preparing for the ABA Playoffs to be held in Quebec City. Their opening opponent will be either the Montreal Royal or the Jersey Express, who face each other in a play-in game prior to the Final 8 tourney. The Millrats will take the court in Quebec on Friday night at 5:00 pm.
For more information please feel free to contact Millrats GM Ian McCarthy at millrats@gmail.com or visit www.manchestermillrats.com or 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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American Basketball Association Stories from March 22, 2008
- Anderson Wins MVP Honors Leading East Over West 161-140 - Saint John Riptide
- East Knocks Off West 161-140 in ABA All-Star Game - OSC Original by Dave Potter
- It's On to Quebec City for the Frost Heaves - Vermont Frost Heaves
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