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KnightHawks Lose Close One Despite Randy Gill's Career High 45 Points

February 25, 2008 - Premier Basketball League (PBL)
Maryland NightHawks News Release


Rockville, MD - In what has developed into one of the most intriguing rivalries in the PBL, the Maryland Nighthawks and the Rochester Razorsharks provided that same intense, emotional play Feb. 24, as the Razorsharks pulled away in the closing minutes to win 108-104.

The contest remained close throughout, with neither team gaining a lead larger than ten points. Ties and lead changes were frequent in this hotly contested game, which featured a total of four technical fouls; two for both teams. Nighthawks guard Randy Gill led his team with a career-high and Nighthawks all-time high 45 points and essentially took the entire Nighthawks offensive output under his wing. Gill's 45 points is a PBL season-high, which coincidentally occurred on his 30th birthday.

"I just wanted to come in and give everything I got and lay it on the floor," said Gill. "I know we can beat them, we just have to get over that hump and today I thought we were going to do it but we did it for 3-and-a-half quarters, but the game is 48 minutes."

Unfortunately, for Gill and the Nighthawks, foul trouble and missed free-throws severely affected the team's efforts to protect the lead in the fourth quarter which resulted in the Razorsharks outscoring the Nighthawks 34-22 in the final period to take the lead and the game away from a passionate, albeit undermanned, Nighthawks squad.

"I should have shot more in the fourth quarter probably," said Gill. "Honestly, I should have looked for my shot. I was just trying to get everybody involved and I should have just kept riding what was hot maybe that was my fault, but our team played great everybody played hard so I think we're making the strides we need and hopefully we'll be gelling when it really counts."

However, the Nighthawks were dominant on the glass; out-rebounding the Razorsharks 56-45, including 21 offensive rebounds. The Razorsharks' win was their third over the Nighthawks in as many games this season. The Razorhsarks defeated the Nighthawks just three days ago at Rochester , although by a wider margin (125-106.) For the Razorhsharks, their PBL-best record improves to 12-2 as a result of this win, and Rochester appears to be breaking away from the East Division pack as they are now four games ahead of second place Wilmington.

The road now awaits the Nighthawks (3-10), as the team travels away from the friendly confines of The Hanley Center at Georgetown prep for four of the next five games, including one against the Razorsharks.

The Nighthawks hope to bounce back on this pivotal road trip, with their next contest in the Windy City against the Chicago Throwbacks (4-8).

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