Flight Clinches Playoff Berth
April 4, 2004 - NBA G League (G League)
Huntsville Flight News Release
Huntsville, Ala. (Apr. 4) â The Huntsville Flight defeated the Columbus Riverdragons 107-94 in today's NBDL action at the Von Braun Center, clinching a spot in the NBDL Delta Airline Postseason Classic.
The Flight increases to 23-21 and the Riverdragons fall to 18-26. Columbus is now eliminated from the NBDL Delta Airline Postseason Classic. Huntsville solidified its hold on third place.
Despite shooting 52.4 percent from the field in the first quarter and outscoring the Flight 26-15 in the opening eight minutes of play, Columbus could not hold on to the lead. Huntsville used an 11-0 run to tie the game at 26 with seconds left in the period. The teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the second period before the Flight used an 18-8 run to take a 10-point lead at the 2:46 mark. The Flight finished the half with a 53-45 lead.
Returning from intermission, Columbus cut the lead to three points (64-61) on 6-of-10 field goals and three free throws. The Flight then went on a 12-6 run to extend the lead to nine. Riverdragon Kevin Lyde's three-point play and Reed Rawlings' back-to-back 3-pointers cut the lead back to four (80-76) at the end of the period and Columbus would get no closer.
The Flight pushed its four-point lead to 12 at the 8:13 mark of the fourth period. A 3-pointer from Rawlings and a lay-up by Derrick Zimmerman cut the lead down to seven. Two lay-ups and a pair of free throws gave the Flight an 11-point lead with four minutes remaining in the game. Columbus cut the lead back to seven with two minutes remaining, hitting four straight baskets. The Riverdragons got no closer, missing each of its final four shots while the Flight connected on three of its last four.
Reed Rawlings came off the bench to lead the Riverdragons with 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting including 5-for-8 from long range. Zimmerman scored 18 points and Sedric Webber tossed in 16 points.
Ricci led the Flight with 23 points. Ken Johnson scored 20 points. Rod Grizzard posted his third double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
The Flight finishes its 2004 home season with a 10-13 record.
Huntsville travels to Charleston on Friday and to Columbus on Saturday for the final games in the regular season. Columbus returns home to host Asheville on Friday.
NBA G League Stories from April 4, 2004
- Flight Clinches Playoff Berth - Huntsville Flight
- English scores 26 as Charleston slips by Roanoke, 81-79 - Roanoke Dazzle
- NBDL daily developments - G League
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