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Leech Leads Ripknees Past Kings, 129-118

February 8, 2007 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Minnesota Ripknees News Release


St. Paul, Minn. - The Minnesota Ripknees (18-7) never trailed and held off a late Peoria (IL) King (12-14) rally to win 129-118 in ABA Basketball played at the Gangelhoff Center on the campus of Concordia University-St. Paul. The Ripknees were led by Travis Leech (Winona State) who had game highs in points (32) and rebounds (11).

The Ripknees build a 23 point lead and led by 20 with seven minutes to go in the game, 110-90. The Kings used a 24-9 run to cut the lead to five with 1:46 to go, but the Ripknees answered with a six point run of their own to secure their second victory in as many days.

Both teams shot well from the field as the Ripknees finished 51-of-100 (51%) from the floor and 19-of-26 (32%) from three point range. The Kings were 38-of-83 (46%) from the field and 16-of-37 (43%) from three point range. The Ripknees out rebounded the Kings 60 to 40 and 22 to 11 on the offensive end. The Ripknees used those offensive rebounds to score 25 second chance points.

Minnesota had four players join Leech in double figure scoring with Jamal Staten (Minnesota State) and Johnnie Gilbert (Oklahoma) both dumping in 21. Mitch Ohnstad (Minnesota) used a 7-of-8 performance from the free throw line to score 18, while Karandik Ogunride (Norfolk State) scored all 12 of his points in the first half. Ogunride was 6-of-7 from the field in the first half, but took only one second half shot.

The Kings had six players in double figure and were led by Bobby Anderson (Independence CC), who scored 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting. The Kings Player/Coach Sergio McClain (Illinois) was ejected late in the game after picking up his second technical of the game.

The Ripknees led the entire first half including 34-28 after the first period and 64-53 at the break. Leech led the Ripknees in the first two periods as he scored 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting while grabbing eight rebounds in only 13 minutes of play. Staten added 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting, all coming from three point range.

The Ripknees shot 47% (25-of-53) in the first half; however, the Kings were 50% from the field and three point range as they connected on 8-of-16 from downtown and 18-of-36 from the field.

Minnesota took advantage of 14 first half King turnovers (ten coming off steals) as they converted them into 23 points. The Kings scored 12 points off eight Ripknee turnovers.

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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