Arkansas Impact Earn Berth In PBL Championship
March 21, 2008 - Premier Basketball League (PBL)
Arkansas Impact News Release
"We're going to the 'ship! We're going to the 'ship!" shouted a jubilant Arkansas Impact coach Todd Day as he danced with his players in their locker room, just moments after stunning the Quad Cities Riverhawks 102-93 in front of a packed house at Black Hawk College Gymnasium. The victory allowed the Impact, winners of three straight games in three consecutive days in the PBL Playoffs, an opportunity to challenge the Rochester Razorsharks on March 30 at Blue Cross Arena, for the "'ship" - the inaugural PBL Playoff Championship.
For three quarters, the Impact and Riverhawks battled tooth and nail, with neither team gaining more than a two-possession lead. The Impact took the first quarter 28-25, and led the second quarter 47-44. The Riverhawks, buoyed by their raucous fan base, pulled to within a point at the third quarter, 71-70. But in the fourth quarter, the Impact took advantage of costly Riverhawks turnovers. Even in the final moments, with Quad Cities threatening to bring the game to within three points, Bobby Anderson missed two key free throws - the Hawks retained possession, but could not score on three consecutive jump shots. The Impact maximized their opportunities, shooting 50% from the floor and 70% from the line in the second half, as compared to the Riverhawks' 39% from the floor and 50% from the free throw line.
Jeremy Bell stepped up to the plate for the Impact, scoring 23 points on 9-for-16 shooting from the floor. Teammates Ryan Holmes and Tyrone Davis put in 22 and 20 points, respectively, for Arkansas. Gabe Feagin had nine rebounds for the Impact, while Nick Tuggle scored eight rebounds for the Little Rock crew.
For the Quad Cities Riverhawks, Bobby Anderson had a double-double of 30 points and 14 rebounds, leading his team in both categories. Willie Mitchell (15 points) and Quinnel Brown (10 points) were the only other Riverhawks to score in double figures. Anderson and Lonnie Randolph, who wore a face mask during the game to protect his broken nose, had four steals apiece.
The Razorsharks and Impact met once during the regular season, with Rochester prevailing 91-84 on March 7th at a neutral-site game at Attack Athletics in Chicago.
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Premier Basketball League Stories from March 21, 2008
- Arkansas Impact Earn Berth In PBL Championship - Arkansas Impact
- Razorsharks to Play in the Inaugural PBL Championship - Rochester RazorSharks
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