Hoops Spank Sioux Falls in Season Finale
March 8, 2003 - Continental Basketball Association 2 (CBA 2)
Grand Rapids Hoops News Release
The Grand Rapids Hoops secured the final playoff berth for the 2003 CBA Playoffs by spanking the Sioux Falls Skyforce 141-104 Saturday night at the DeltaPlex Arena. Grand Rapids earned 5.5 quarter points in the victory to edge out the Gary Steelheads by a slim 169.5 to 168.5 margin. Gary also won their season finale, 98-96, over the Dakota Wizards, but they were unable to match the HOOPS output.
Grand Rapids (23-25) Alex Scales and Jerald Honeycutt led the team to the victory with 33 and 32 points, respectively, while Olden Polynice set a franchise record with 26 rebounds to go along with ten points on the night. The HOOPS also received strong efforts from Immanuel McElroy, who scored 21 points, and Kevin Simmons, who chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds.
The playoff-bound HOOPS dominated the boards the entire evening, outrebounding the Skyforce 62-25. Grand Rapids was also red-hot from the field all night, as they made 56-98 (.571) field goal attempts.
The HOOPS began the game on a down note as they dropped the first quarter by a slim 31-30 margin to Sioux Falls as Lawrence Nelson drove to the basket for the final points in the frame with just two seconds remaining.
Any motivation that the Skyforce brought into the game dwindled quickly as Grand Rapids turned up the heat in the second quarter. The HOOPS scored a season-high 50 points in the quarter as Honeycutt connected for 17 points in just nine minutes of play in the frame. The HOOPS connected on an astounding 18 of 28 field goal attempts in the quarter.
At the half, Grand Rapids held a commanding 80-58 lead.
The third quarter saw more of the same, as the HOOPS scored on 13-18 FG, while limiting Sioux Falls to just 7-24 FG shooting. After three quarters of play, Scales had already compiled 31 points as Grand Rapids lead swelled to 112-75.
Sioux Falls (17-31) was led in defeat by Kelley McClure and Lawrence Nelson, who each tallied 20 points on the night. Former Michigan State Spartan Marcus Taylor also added 13 points and six assists on the night.
Grand Rapids will begin the American Conference playoffs on Tuesday, March 11 at the Rockford MetroCenter. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. EST.
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Continental Basketball Association 2 Stories from March 8, 2003
- Hoops Spank Sioux Falls in Season Finale - Grand Rapids Hoops
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