Chase scores career-high 47 points in defeat
March 2, 2006 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Gary Steelheads News Release
GARY, Indiana (March 2, 2006) Playing without CBA All Stars Jimmie "Snap" Hunter and Randy Holcomb, the Gary Steelheads fell to the Albany Patroons 112-109 at the Washington Avenue Armory in Albany, New York. In the process, Gary picked up two quarter points and fell from a tie with the Rockford Lightning for first place in the CBA's Eastern Conference.
Hunter was withheld from the game, while in negotiations with a Euroleague team in Spain. Holcomb, the MVP of this year's CBA All Star Game, sat out his eighth straight game with a groin injury. He is expected to be cleared to practice on March 8th and available to play at Michigan on March 9th.
The effect of having only eight available players wasn't felt until the second half. Gary grabbed the first quarter point of the game 26-23, then sprinted to a 22-point halftime lead with a 33-14 second quarter performance. But in the second half, the Patroons mounted a comeback, winning the third quarter 35-26. And Albany kept the pressure on in the final quarter, closing the gap down to just two points at 4:41 remaining when guard Ronald Thompson rebounded his own missed three point shot and connected for two.
The Steelheads held onto the lead until 1:01 remaining, when a field goal by guard Antoine Johnson gave the Patroons only their second lead in the game at 109-108. Guard Brian Chase then was fouled, connecting on one of his two free throws to tie the game with 53 seconds left. Each team then missed a chance to take the lead, leaving Albany with the ball 15 seconds remaining.
Thompson tried for the game winner with seconds remaining, only to have the Steelheads' Robert Griffin block the shot. Thompson chased down the deflection and fired a second shot, a three pointer, as the clock expired. The shot was good and the Patroons were victorious.
Several Steelheads stepped up with big games, particularly guard Brian Chase who scored a career high 47 points in a losing cause. The performance ranks as the third highest individual scoring effort in the CBA this year. Ironically, the two performances ranking above Chase's effort Thursday night also came in games between the Steelheads and the Patroons (Ronald Thompson scored 53 points at Gary November 27th and "Snap" Hunter fired in 50 points at Albany January 6th).
Four other players joined Chase in double figures, including swingman Robert Griffin with 15, forwards Renaldo Major and Marlowe Curry with 14 apiece and forward Carl Mitchell with 11. Mitchell paced Gary rebounders with 8. Rookie guard Lonnie Randolph (a Merrillville prep standout) topped the Steelheads with 6 assists. Center Chris Alexander played sparingly, with just 2 points and 5 rebounds.
The Patroons, buoyed by a five-game win streak and a slot in the CBA Playoffs, were paced by guard Ronald Thompson, who scored 40 points including 9-for-14 from three point range. Forward Chet Mason added 23 points with 12 rebounds, while forward James Thomas contributed another double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds. Thomas returned to the Patroons last week after a call-up to the Chicago Bulls. The Patroons increased their current win streak to six straight with the victory.
The Steelheads were outrebounded 52-42 and committed two more turnovers, but good shooting kept them ahead most of the night. Gary shot .506 from the field and hit 14-of-15 from the line for the evening.
And, to top off the evening, listeners in Northwest Indiana couldn't hear the scheduled broadcast of this game due to telephone line problems at the Washington Avenue Armory. WJOB in Hammond (1230khz) and WIMS in Michigan City (1420khz) could not carry the game because the quality of a cellular telephone transmission back to Northwest Indiana was technically inadequate.
The two teams will meet again at the Washington Avenue Armory Friday night. Game time is 6:30PM CST.
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from March 2, 2006
- Chase scores career-high 47 points in defeat - Gary Steelheads
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- Steelheads continue on the road - Gary Steelheads
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