Game Day 22 / PBL Semifinals

Published on April 6, 2011 under Premier Basketball League (PBL)
Rochester RazorSharks News Release


Game Day 22 / PBL Semifinals

Rochester RazorSharks at Quebec Kebs

Laval University Sport & Physical Education Pavilion

7:30 pm

The Matchup: This is game two of a best of three Premier Basketball League playoff series. Rochester took game one at home in overtime 114-110. If the Kebs square the series, game three will be Friday at Quebec.

These teams split their regular season series. Each won on its home court. The Sharks won in Game Four 107-101. The Kebs claimed Game Six 114-102. Both were played in January.

The RazorSharks (13-8) won a controversial first game of the series. The Sharks lost an 18 point third quarter lead before falling behind by as many as eight points in the fourth quarter. Mike Williams hit three of his 15 free throws in the final 13 seconds to force overtime. Jerice Crouch was game high with 24 points including the overtime game winner.

Rochester shot 51% in the first half and 31% in the second half to allow Quebec to climb back into it. The RazorSharks shot 26 more free throws than the Kebs, and made 25 more.

Williams, Jared Carter and Eric Walton combined for 32 of Rochester's 49 rebounds. The Sharks won the battle of the boards 49-44 against the third best rebounding team in the league.

The Kebs (14-7) let game one get away. After coming from 18 points behind to take a late lead, Quebec missed four consecutive free throws in the game's last minute. Any one of those would have saved the Kebs from an overtime defeat.

It also appeared on replay that Royce Parran hit a three-point shot with 40 seconds left that was ruled a two pointer. PBL rules denied the Kebs a reversal despite the presence of a replay monitor courtside.

Former Syracuse University player Louie McCroskey continues to be a marvel against Rochester. His three highest scoring games of the season came versus the Sharks. McCroskey scored a game and personal season high 30 on Saturday.

Forward Quinnell Brown scored just 12 in game one, nine points behind his PBL leading 21.2 ppg. Brown also received two technical fouls Saturday. He has averaged 16 points in three games against Rochester.

Center Aaron Spears had an 18 point game to contribute to a 24 point Kebs advantage in points scored in the paint. Spears also picked up seven personal fouls.

Of note: A victory Wednesday puts Rochester in the PBL finals for the fourth consecutive season. The Sharks won the 2008 and 2009 titles.

Of note: Although the teams have played together in the same league four years now, the RazorSharks and Kebs are meeting in the postseason for the first time. Altogether Rochester is now 6-2 lifetime against Quebec, 5-0 at home.

Of note: Both PBL semifinal series saw the first games decided in overtime. Defending champion Lawton-Fort Sill beat homestanding Halifax 93-92 in a rematch of last year's semifinals. Game two of that series is at Lawton tonight.

Quotable: Rochester RazorShark coach Rod Baker on his approach tonight in trying to sweep the series; "We're going to go at them hard," said Rochester head coach Rod Baker. "We're are go at them hard. I'm only taking one suit."

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Premier Basketball League Stories from April 6, 2011


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