Blue Ducks burn Wildfire
May 27, 2004 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Brevard Blue Ducks News Release
Melbourne, Florida â Sometimes the best addition is by subtraction.
Blue Ducks coach Robert Reid and player personnel director Derek Howard both agreed. Selfishness had no place in the Blue Ducks organization. Sharing and true team play would be the way Brevard would fight out of its slump and start winning this year. In a bold move to jump-start their team they would say goodbye to two of their leading scorers, Nat Burton and Tony Harris.
"It's about doing the little things to win," remarked Reid, a 14-year NBA veteran who knows a thing or two about winning from his Houston Rockets playing days. "It's about playing defense, setting the pick and caring for your fellow teammates more than you do yourself."
A believing and energized Blue Ducks squad took to the court and executed exactly what Reid and assistant coach Tony Riopelle had been looking for. Playing unselfishly on offense and turning up the defense whenever Westchester threatened, Brevard coasted to a 106-97 victory over the Wildfire.
Teddy Dupay, continuing his remarkable comeback from ACL surgery last year, set the tone in the first quarter with 17 points, including two long 3-pointers that had the crowd on their feet. He finished with 27 to go along with 7 assists. Rookie Tony Bland chipped in with 20. Re-acquired power forward Toshiro Germany had 15 points and 8 rebounds as well as 3 of the 9 blocked shots the Ducks tallied last night.
Randy "White Chocolate" Gill, trying to make the adjustment from street ball to the pros, elicited quite a response from the crowd as well when he buried two long-range threes. He finished with 7 points in only 10 minutes of action.
Brevard fans get one more chance to see John Starks as the Blue Ducks will take on Westchester again on Friday (28th) at 7 PM, followed by Memorial weekend contests Saturday (29th) against the Kansas Cagerz and Sunday (30th) against the Cedar Rapids River Raiders. Sunday's contest will have a 5:00 PM start.
The Blue Ducks recently began their third year of USBL action. The USBL is in its 19th season and has sent over 140 players on to the NBA. Stars such as Avery Johnson, Anthony Mason, Chris Childs, Charlie Ward and former Orlando Magic player, Darrell Armstrong all came from the USBL.
For more information or for tickets, call 751-BLUE (2583) or log onto the Blue Ducks website at www.BrevardBlueDucks.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the Clemente Center box office starting an hour before each game.
DUCK NOTES:
Kenyan Weaks was put back on the injured reserve list, his sore knees still bothering him. He was replaced in the lineup by Jamar McKnight. Guard Anthony Slater was also reactivated.
MEMORIAL WEEKEND HOMESTAND GAME PROMOTIONS:
Friday â May 28th vs. Westchester Wildfire @ 7PM - Cumulus Night. Meet WA1A DJ Eric NeNiro. Win 107.1 prizes.
FEATURING: John Starks last visit to Brevard this year.
Saturday â May 29th vs. Kansas Cagerz @ 7PM - Complete Business Solutions Thunderstix Night - First 250 kids get a FREE pair of Brevard Blue Ducks collectable Thunderstix.
FEATURING: Cagerz only visit to Brevard this year
Sunday â May 30th vs. Cedar Rapids River Raiders @ 5PM - Orlando Magic Night. The team will be giving away FREE Orlando Magic items, including 100 Tracy McGrady baseball bats to the first kids to arrive.
FEATURING: Raiders only visit to Brevard this year. SCCU Super Sunday. Half-price admission with SCCU coupons.
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United States Basketball League Stories from May 27, 2004
- Kisner Earns OursportsCentral.com Player of the Week Honors - Cedar Rapids River Raiders
- USBL Transactions - USBL
- Blue Ducks burn Wildfire - Brevard Blue Ducks
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