Huntsville ends slide, Fayettevilles continues
February 22, 2004 - NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
Huntsville changed its tune on Sunday, while the Fayetteville Patriots beat the same drum. The Patriots got off to another slow start and lost its fifth straight as the Flight ended a four-game losing streak with a 116-96 win at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville.
Phil Ricci led the way with a season-high 31 points on 10-for-14 shooting from the floor, and 11-for-14 shooting from the free throw line. Rod Grizzard added 22 points and seven boards, and Marcus Fleming ended the night with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
I saw a difference in the way the guys prepared for this game, Huntsville coach Ralph Lewis said. Guys were paying attention to detail, asking questions and coming up with different scenarios. Weve been telling (our team), youve got to do the right things before the game starts to put yourself in a position to win.
The Flight certainly did all the right things after the game started. The Flight shot a season-high 57 percent from the field, out-rebounded the Patriots 51-35 and picked up 80 points in the paint.
Our interior defense is porous right now, Patriots coach Jeff Capel said. There are going to be times when youre going to get beat playing perimeter defense. When we get beat, there is no defensive presence inside to stop penetration, and we end up digging ourselves a hole.
Fayetteville fell behind early to Roanoke on Saturday, but was able to rally to take the lead before losing a close game. Sunday, the Flight never gave a hint it was going to let the Patriots back in the game after the Patriots started slowly.
Huntsville shot 60 percent in the first quarter as the Patriots trailed 30-16 on 26 percent shooting. Fayetteville got to within nine, 38-29, with 9:48 remaining in the first half. But after Mike Fleming followed a Rod Grizzard missed layup 11 seconds later, the Patriots never got lead below double figures again. Huntsville built its lead to as many as 26 points in the second half.
Junie Sanders led the Patriots with 23 points, and Jason Capel added 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists. The Patriots played without starting center Jason Collier, who injured his ankle Saturday night.
I think Jason (Collier) would have made a difference, Jeff Capel said. Hes one of our better post defenders, but our interior defense has been non-existent for a long time.
The Patriots dropped to 13-17 on the season. They are 1-5 without former starting point guard Omar Cook, who is playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. The Patriots will try to stop their slide on Friday when they face Charleston at the Crown Coliseum at 7:30 p.m.
This has nothing to do with losing our point guard, Jeff Capel said. Were scoring points. What weve got to do is find a defensive stopper inside.
Huntsville returns to action in Columbus on Tuesday when it faces the Riverdragons at 7 p.m.
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