Last Regular Season Tilt Goes to Rainmen
March 4, 2012 - National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Saint John Riptide News Release
(Saint John, NB): The final Saint John Mill Rats last regular season game went to the Halifax Rainmen, 112-105 on Sunday afternoon at 2pm at Harbour Station in front of 3,539 fans.
The Saint John Mill Rats held a lead for the first half over the Halifax Rainmen. With the help of Steve DeLuca and PJ Young, the Mill Rats were able to close the first with the Rainmen trailing a point behind 17-18.
DeLuca and Isaac Kuon stepped up in the second quarter knocking out three pointers. With 8:50 left before half, Kuon added 5 straight points for the Mill Rats giving them a lead 26-32 over the Rainmen. The Mill Rats were able to pull ahead to a 10 point spread with a little over 3 minutes on the clock but the Rainmen were able to get back a few points. The Mill Rats closed the half leading 46-53.
Before half, Isaac Kuon was leading the Mill Rats with 14 points and shot 4 for 4 from the three point line. DeLuca added 2 three pointers before half, netting 10 points in the first half.
In the third quarter, the Halifax Rainmen played a tighter defensive game, getting more boards and turning over the ball less often than the Mill Rats. Both teams traded baskets and with 2:24 left in the quarter, Kevin Francis' huge dunk put the Mill Rats a point ahead of the Rainmen 69-70. However, with the help of Rainmen's Joey Haywood netting 8 points and securing 2 boards in the third, the Rainmen were able to pull ahead and close the quarter 78-75.
The Rainmen were able to keep their lead going into the fourth. With just over 4 minutes on the clock, the held the lead 101-87. With 1:25 on the clock, DeLuca passed off to Kevin Francis who drew the and 1 foul and locked down the 3 point play closing the gap to 7 points, 108-101.
With just over a minute left in the game, Bluford stole the ball off the inbound play and was able to nail down a three pointer. This gave the Mill Rats hope but Rainmen's Joey Haywood was able to draw a foul from Isaac Kuon which gave the Rainmen their 2 extra free throws to finalize their 112 score. A missed three from Antonio Burks and DeLuca were not able to give the Mill Rats the lift they needed.
Mill Rats' Anthony Anderson, Stanley Ocitti and Jermaine Blackburn were played sparingly as the Mill Rats prepare for their first playoff game against the London Lightning.
Game high scorer for the Mill Rats was Kevin Francis with 21 points. Courtland Bluford contributed 19 points and added 8 assists, playing just over 41 minutes. Isaac Kuon also contributed 19 points and Steve DeLuca had 17.
Leading scorers for the Rainmen were Joey Haywood and Lawrence Wright with 18 points each, while Darnell Hugee netted 16.
The Mill Rats finish the season 17-19 while the Halifax Rainmen close their season 23-13.
Playoff tickets are now on sale! First game will be on March. 6th at 7pm - all bowl tickets are $10. Help your team take on the #1 ranked London Lightning in a fight for finals!
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National Basketball League of Canada Stories from March 4, 2012
- Oshawa's Brickey Named Coach of the Month, London Freeman Player of the Week - NBL Canada
- NBL Canada Weekly Report, Regular Season Finale Edition - NBL Canada
- Lightning Finish Regular Season Defeating Summerside - London Lightning
- Last Regular Season Tilt Goes to Rainmen - Saint John Riptide
- Rainmen Conclude 2011-2012 Regular Season by Defeating Mill Rats - Halifax Rainmen
- Mill Rats Playoff Meet & Greet at Montana's - Saint John Riptide
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