Edmonton Energy wins again tonight

June 11, 2011 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Edmonton Energy News Release


The Edmonton Energy and West Coast Hotshots resumed their three game series with a hard fought game two tonight at the University of Alberta Main Gym. Fans were given a real treat tonight as the intensity inevitably grew after the Hotshot were soundly beaten in Game one by a 119 to 97 score.

West Coast Hotshots Head Coach Randy Redwine had the opportunity to work with his team today in a mid day practice, and his vast coaching experience as a Seattle coaching legend showed in the early stages as the West Coast club looked much sharper in tonight's game than last night's game.

On the other hand Edmonton looked to continue their winning ways, but their seven straight wins have come relatively easy with the USA All-Stars and Portland Chinook's having a combined five wins and 24 losses. The Edmonton Energy were hoping for some solid competition this weekend and game one did not live up to that, but Coach Redwine did a great job in keeping his teams spirits high in looking to knock off the favored Edmonton club.

Edmonton raced out to a 13 to 8 lead and extended it to 25 to 15 off a three from Energy Captain and Georgetown Hoya alum, Lee Scruggs. West Coast fought back and brought it back to 33 to 27, but the Energy scored on their final possession of the quarter to take a 35 to 27 advantage.

The second quarter was all West Coast Hotshots early as Guard Marcus Bradford hit a NBA range three to cut it to 38 to 32, Energy. Both teams went scoreless for nearly three minutes as the defensive pressure tightened until Curtis Nash nailed a deep three to give the Energy a nine point margin at 41 to 32 with 7:30 to play in the half. Benson Callier hit another deep three for the Energy off a perfectly executed set to give the Energy the first double figure lead of the night at 44 to 32 with just over half the quarter to play. Coach Redwine wisely called a timeout with 4:58 to play to calm his troops and regroup for a run to end the half.

Jordan Rose hit three free throws after Blain LaBranch fouled to help the Hotshots get the lead back under 10 with 38 seconds to go in the half and former WSU Cougar Justin Murray dropped a deep three with 11 seconds remaining in the half to make it a game with the Edmonton Energy taking just a 52 to 46 lead to the break.

Lee Scruggs hit a quick five points to take it out to 57 to 46, but West Coast responded with two three pointers and a layup to bring the margin to 3 points with 10 minutes to go in the third quarter. Another quick three pointer forced Edmonton Energy interim coach Peter Sambu to call a timeout with the score tied at 57 all. At this stage all things pointed to a dog fight and Joe Posey proved that by getting to the line and giving Hotshots their first lead at 59 to 57. A Marcus Bradford three pointer stretched the Hotshots lead to 63 to 58, but Curtis Nash responded with two three pointers of his own to bring it back to 64 to 63, Energy.

The third quarter saw both teams battle back and forth with several lead changes and the score deadlocked at 71 until Andrew 'AGP' Parker made the play of the game with a high flying put back as he seemed to look down through the rim! Brandon Adams for the Hotshots earned his fourth foul with just over four minutes to play and the team floundered without him and went down 10 points, but brought it back to five at 88 to 82 with a quarter to go.

A Benson Callier two handed put back jam, rivaled Andrew 'AGP' Parker dunk as the play of the night and at that stage it looked all Energy at 103 to 94 with six to play in the quarter. But a Joe Posey steal (Hotshots) and a Energy foul on the Hotshots layup attempt brought the game within 6-points with 4:45 to play... from that point, the Hotshots continued to hit deep three pointers to finish the game out but the Edmonton Energy held on for the 115 to 107 win.

Game three is slated for Sunday (tomorrow) 2:00 pm at the U of A main gym.



International Basketball League Stories from June 11, 2011


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