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Inglewood Cobras and So Cal Legends Compete Like It's Playoff Time

January 16, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Inglewood Cobras News Release


Azusa, CA Jan 14, 2006. If last night's matchup between the Inglewood Cobras and the So.Cal Legends is any indication of how the competition in the Spencer Haywood division really is - the rest of the basketball world should take notice.

These two teams competed until the final buzzer, with So.Cal sqeaking away from another loss from their cross-town rival. The Legends started the game off by capitalizing on the CobrasŒ lack of familiarity with their four new teammates, Albert Strickland (Lincoln University), Ryan Abraham (HawaIii University), Damon Lanier (Master U) and Wagner Mareno (Cal State Fullerton) sending the Cobras into the half, down by 12.

The Cobras came out in the second half and turned things around with grit and grind defense and rebounding! Tarron Williams and Robbie Banks fought hard pulling down 24 caroms combined. The sizzling shooting of Jerry Dupree (27 points) and Marcus Williams (20 points) kept the legends from crumbling. By the end of the third quarter the Cobras closed the gap by 8 points 96 to 88. The 4th quarter was a beauty, even the two former University of Michigan teammates, Head Coach Sean Higgins (Cobras) and Head coach Gary Grant (Legends) started filling the thrill from both teamsŒ competitive nature. "The game felt like the old days when we played", says coach Higgins.

The Cobras started the final quarter with a 9 to 0 run to go up by 1 point. Thereafter it was back and forth until the final seconds. The Cobras missed critical free throws down the stretch, but with 5'9" speed demon Kenny "Action" Jackson (22 points) and team captain Kevin "Bean" Bradley's game high (31 points), it was their second half three-point shooting that kept the Cobra Venom coming. Unfortunately for the Cobras den, the Legends would not give, and kept the game close. With 19 seconds remaining, the Legends were up by 1 point and missed the front end of a one and one. Coach Higgins called timeout for the Cobras - down by two (112 to 110)to design a play for a three pointer for the win.

According to Higgins, " We got the ball to the guy we designed the play for and got a clean look. I have total confidence in my players. Some might ask why we didn't go for the tie instead of going for the win. Well there were a couple factors. First, we designed the play for Kevin Bradley who just made three straight shots. Second, it's early in the year and team confidence has to be built. If it was later in the year for us, I may have made a different decision. I play to win and so do my players. Playing to win, instead of playing not to lose is the way we play the game. Our hats go off to So Cal and the fight they put up and coming away with a win 114 to 110. ALL WE CAN SAY IS WAIT FOR THE NEXT COBRA, LEGEND MATCHUP."

The Cobras travel south of the border to Tijuana Mexico to take on the Dragons Saturday, Janaury 14th at 7pm. The Cobras are 2 and 2 in the conference and are ready for action!

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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