Energy Wins Game 3 against Legends
May 15, 2011 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Edmonton Energy News Release
Due to the death of a long time faculty member at Christian Brothers Academy, Albany's home court, the Legends prepared a basketball breakfast feast for the final game of their 3 game schedule with The Edmonton Energy. The game tipped off at 9:05 AM before a group of true die hard NY Capital District Basketball fans at CBA. Albany served up a meal that the Canadian guests will savor for a long time as they picked up their first win of the year 124-108 over the defending IBL champs.
Using Games 1 and 2 as a learning experience, the Energy shut down the Legends long range attack and matched them from beyond the arc with both teams dropping in 11 three, however Albany took a dozen more attempts and shot only 33.3 % from 3 range to Edmonton's 52% accuracy. The Energy again dominated the boards as Albany was once again without the services of former U-Albany standout Scotty McRae who had suffered an ankle sprain in Friday nights contest. The Energy also upped the pressure on the defensive side forcing Albany into 19 turnovers on the morning.
With both teams coming out sleepy in the first quarter, but Albany had the edge 25 - 23, where surprisingly the 2 teams combined for almost 41% of the 3 pointers 9 of 22 for the game. But the quarter horn was like an alarm clock for Edmonton as they exploded for 39 second quarter points, outscoring Albany by 14 to turn that 2 point deficit into a 12 point advantage at the half.
They continued to pour it on in the third, extending the lead to 20, 78 - 58, with 6:13 left on a bucket by Casey Crawford. Albany made a run over the next 5 minutes of the third, cutting the lead to 11 with 1:43 left, but that was as close as the Legends would get, as the Energy extended the lead back to 19 at the close of the quarter.
There was no let up in the fourth, as the they upped the ante to 24, 97 - 73 with 10 minutes left to play, again Albany fought back cutting the lead back down to 16 100 - 84, when a final drive by Edmonton brought it back to a 26 point spread with 1:49 remaining to play. The Legends didn't quit going on a 13-4 final run to no avail as the time ran out, ending in the 16 point loss.
Edmonton's Quinnell Brown lead all scorers with 26 points. Benson Callier added 22, Curtis Nash put up 21 and Rahshaun Broadus added 19 to the cause. Albany was paced by DeAndre Thomas's 15 points, while EJ Gallup, Lloyd Johnson and Chris Grant each scored 13, while Emanuel Mayben and Will Harris canned a dozen points each. Scott Morton rounded out the double figure scorers with 11.
Albany Head Coach Ben Smith served a league mandated one game suspension as a result of his ejection from Saturday nights contest. The Legends assistants lead by Rich Gilooly coached the team in this contest.
On Friday May 20th, The Energy (1 - 2) return to Edmonton for their home opener against the Bellingham Slam, while the Albany Legends (9 - 3) open their final homestand of the season, as they take on the USA All-Stars. Tip off in Edmonton is at 7:30, while the Legends - AllStars will begin at 7:05 PM. Both times LOCAL.
International Basketball League Stories from May 15, 2011
- Energy Wins Game 3 against Legends - Edmonton Energy
- Energy Loses Series against Legends - Edmonton Energy
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