Blue Ducks thriller 98-97

June 25, 2005 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Brevard Blue Ducks News Release


Melbourne, FL - This was a game Terry Bowden could appreciate. The former Auburn football coach and ESPN analyst was a guest of the Blue Ducks on ESPN night and though it wasn't a football game he was watching, it couldn't have been more exciting for Bowden and the rest of the 1123 fans in attendance who saw the Blue Ducks come from behind late in the fourth quarter to win a thriller, 98-97.

An All-Star Dynasty team that came in with only 3 losses in the last four years - one of them at the hands of the Blue Ducks back on June 14th - came ready to avenge their rare setback. On the other side of the court stood a Blue Ducks team that was hungry to get back on a winning track after being dealt their first loss of the season two nights earlier.

Two teams with motivation. Football sports legend on hand. ESPN broadcasting the game. And of course, Thunderstix handed out to the fans. This had all the makings of a great night and the two teams didn't disappoint.

The Blue Ducks got off to a fast start and raced to a 10-point lead in the first quarter and saw themselves up at the end of the period, 29-22. After Adrian Malcom scored 6 straight points to help the Ducks to build a 14-point cushion at 40-26, the Dynasty started to heat up. With Charlie Simmons (10 points in the quarter) and Titus Dillard (9 points) leading the way, the visiting team took the lead 49-48 toward the end of the period, until a Mark Christian 3-point heave from well beyond the arc as time expired gave the Blue Ducks a 51-49 half-time lead.

It was short-lived however, as the Dynasty quickly took the lead to start the third and then proceeded to go on a 17-9 run to boost their margin to eight, at 68-60. It looked like the Ducks were in trouble as the All-Stars expanded their lead to 11 points at 74-63 with only 3:59 to go. Brevard however, managed to stay close, ending the stanza down 78-71.

The Dynasty maintained their lead throughout the fourth quarter, leading Brevard 93-88 at the 3:17 mark. A bucket by Shawn Conley, who had one of his best games of the season, brought the Ducks to within three, 93-90. Mark Christian tied up Lynn Tolbert to force a jump ball which the Blue Ducks controlled. Corey Evans hit a jumper at 2:00 to bring Brevard within one, 93-92. Shawn Conley made one of two free throws after being fouled by Marcus Polarchy to tie the game at 93-all at 1:29 of the fourth. Polarchy then hit one of two free throws himself after a Corey Evans foul to put the Dynasty up by one, 94-93 with 47 seconds left on the clock. After a time out, the Ducks' Earl Hines fed the ball to Shawn Conley for a lay-in that put Brevard up 95-94 at :34 of the quarter.

On the ensuing Dynasty possession, the Ducks forced their 17th and most important turnover at: 18 of the period. The Dynasty had to foul to stop the clock. Corey Evans hit the first of his two free throws, to put the Ducks up 96-94, and then rebounded his own miss on the second shot and put it in to put Brevard up 98-94 with at :15.2. But it wasn't over yet. Charlie Simons drilled a three-pointer with just 3.8 seconds left - his only 3 of the game and the last of his game-high 39 points - to pull the visitors to within one at 98-97. The Dynasty forced the ball loose from the Blue Ducks on their last possession in a desperate effort to get a last shot, but couldn't get control as time expired.

Corey Evans, who has surfaced as a go-to scorer once again, led the Blue Ducks with 24 points. Shawn Conley finished with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Earl Hines also had 9 rebounds, along with 10 points. Mark Christian, Jr. had 4 steals.

Charlie Simons led the All-Star Dynasty team with 39 points, followed by Marcus Polarchy with 27. Polarchy also had a game-high 19 rebounds.

The Blue Ducks will enjoy their longest break of the season. They don't play again until they enter the second half of their season on Wednesday, June 29th against the Next Level Sports All-Stars, who gave them their only loss of the year earlier this week. It will be Hometown News Night, with special prizes and gifts for fans. The Blue Ducks will also be hosting Brevard Schools Foundations' "Take Stock in Children" participants. Tip-off is at 7:00 PM.

For tickets, call (321) 751-BLUE or visit the website at www.BrevardBlueDucks.com. Tickets are also available at the Clemente Center box office which opens an hour before game time.



United States Basketball League Stories from June 25, 2005


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