Dakota Casts Spell on Grand Rapids
February 26, 2003 - Continental Basketball Association 2 (CBA 2)
Grand Rapids Hoops News Release
The Grand Rapids HOOPS fell to the Dakota Wizards 91-84 at the Bismarck Civic Center on Wednesday night. Grand Rapids did not play with any sense of urgency despite the fact that they are battling the Gary Steelheads for the final playoff spot in the American Conference. The 84 points are the fewest points scored all season by the HOOPS, as they shot a dismal 28-73 (.384) from the field.
Grand Rapids (20-23) earned just one of seven quarter points and now trails the Steelheads by 0.5 quarter points for the final playoff berth. Grand Rapids has five games remaining in the regular season, while Gary has just four.
Kevin Simmons was the lone bright spot for Grand Rapids as he registered 17 points (6-12 FG) and hauled in a game-high ten rebounds. Alex Scales and Jerald Honeycutt were the only others to record double digits for the HOOPS, with 16 points and 13 points, respectively.
Grand Rapids' shooting woes began early as they connected on just 15-42 (.357) field goal attempts. The HOOPS recorded just 14 points in the second quarter as they fell behind 47-36 at the half. Kevin Rice led Dakota in the first half with 19 points.
In the third quarter, the HOOPS took advantage of early foul trouble for the Wizards, shooting 13-15 from the foul line in the quarter. However, their foul shooting was not enough as they continued to struggle from the field, hitting only five field goals in the frame. Dakota took yet another quarter, 26-23, in building a 73-59 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
Dakota (26-15) was able to fend off all comeback attempts by Grand Rapids in the fourth, as John Linehan came off the bench to score nine of the team's 18 points. The HOOPS used a 13-4 run early in the quarter to cut the Wizards' advantage to 82-75, but Dakota was able to preserve the victory down the stretch.
Rice led Dakota with 25 points, while Linehan finished the game with 14 points and six assists. The Wizards won despite their two leading scorers combining to shoot 5-14 FG and score just 11 points.
The HOOPS will now travel to face the Yakima Sun Kings on Friday night at the Yakima Valley Sun Dome. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. EST.
Continental Basketball Association 2 Stories from February 26, 2003
- Dakota Casts Spell on Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Hoops
- Fields Joins 2K and 1K Club on Conference Clinching Night - Rockford Lightning
- Lightning Clinch Conference Crown - Rockford Lightning
- Hoops Race toward CBA Playoffs - Grand Rapids Hoops
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