Sports stats



Late rally gives Sound fourth consecutive win

November 18, 2007 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Strong Island Sound News Release


Selden, NY- The Strong Island Sound won their fourth consecutive game with a thrilling 104-97 decision over the Jersey Express at Suffolk Community College on Sunday afternoon. Trailing by six with just over four minutes remaining, the Sound went on a 15-2 run to close out the contest and maintained at least a tie for the division lead pending Westchester's game at Corning.

Raphael Edwards was instrumental in the win with 20 points and 7 rebounds and was a warrior all day on both ends. "Raphael again showed the leader that he is with this team," said head coach Dytanya Mixson. "He again gave us what we needed with the physical presence on the defensive end."

Jersey seemed to hold a comfortable 95-89 lead 7:25 into the fourth quarter when Strong Island mounted their comeback. Rookie Jenar Harrison made it a two-possession game with a put-back, and then Sean Dantzler made a great defensive play by stripping the ball from Mark Jarrell (27 points) on a two-on-one fast break by the Express. The steal led to a foul and two made free throws by Edwards, a four-point swing that became the turning point in the game.

"At the beginning of the season, coach told me to play with confidence, to play hard and aggressive, to get on the floor and to play defense, and that's what I've done," Dantzler said.

It was Dantzler that tied the game and eventually gave the Sound the lead. The 6'4" guard crashed the boards for a put-back and later hit a three-pointer as the shot clock was expiring to make the score 98-95 with 1:50 left in the game.

"The team just came together and decided that we needed to play defense if we were going to win," said Raheim Lowery, who was a big lift off the bench with 11 points and 9 rebounds.

Both teams were trading baskets throughout the majority of the game, and Strong Island trailed by two at after two quarters. Shooting only 44 percent from the field and having committed six turnovers, the Sound were not playing as sharp as they could have been. "At halftime, coach told us we were beating ourselves," said Lowery.

The third quarter was as even as the first two, as was the first part of the fourth quarter. The Sound's strongest run of the day was timed perfectly and they never looked back.

"We came out a little slow in the beginning, but put it together by the end," said Mixson. "And that's where it counts."

The Sound embark on their second road trip of the season and will face two expansion teams, starting with Saturday night at 7:15 pm. The Syracuse Raging Bullz will host Strong Island, as will the Halifax Rainmen in Nova Scotia, Canada on Wednesday, November 28.

On Sunday, December 2, the Sound return home for a 4:15 pm start against the Montreal Royal. Tickets are only $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and seniors and are available at the door or by visiting www.strongislandsound.com.

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.

• Discuss this story on the American Basketball Association message board...

American Basketball Association Stories from November 18, 2007


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.

Other Recent Strong Island Sound Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central