Lightning clinch playoff berth with win over Gary
March 5, 2005 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Rockford Lightning News Release
Rockford, IL- Rockford needed just one quarter point to eliminate the Gary Steelheads from playoff contention, and they got six quarter points on Friday night. The Lightning were outscored in the first period 40-26, but won the final three quarters, and the ball game 123-112 over the Steelheads. The win seals Rockford's second place status in the CBA's Eastern Conference, and gives head coach Chris Daleo three consecutive post season appearances in the three seasons he's been the bench boss for the Bolts.
Marshall Phillips led the way for the Lightning, shooting 8-for 11 from the field, including a perfect 2-for-2 from behind the three point arc and a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe, and totaled 22 points on the night. Phillips also added one blocked shot and five rebounds to his stat totals for the evening. Livan Pyfrom was huge underneath the glass, especially in the offensive end, as seven of his season high 13 boards were on the offensive end. Pyfrom had a double double in the ball game, also scoring a season high 15 points in the Lightning win. Sidney Holmes saw 22 minutes of action and scored four points and hauled down 11 rebounds. Rockford outscored Gary 77-49 in the paint, and the Lightning reserves outscored the Steelheads' reserves 48-22. The Lightning also out rebounded the Steelheads 58-42 in the contest.
Rockford plays two more games on the road on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. On Wednesday, March 9, the Bolts head to Birch Run for their final regular season meeting with their first playoff opponent, the Great Lakes Storm. The next day, March 10, the Lightning face off against the Michigan Mayhem in Muskegon for the final time this season. Then the Lightning return home for their final game of the regular season, as they host the Dakota Wizards at 7:05 p.m on Sunday, March 13. It will be Fan Appreciation Night at the Rockford MetroCentre, and the first 1,000 fans will receive a Rockford Lightning poster. It also is the final season ticket holders' "Ticket Redemption Night", so gather up all of those unused season tickets, and redeem them for a $5 seat at the box office. To order your tickets, call the MetroCentre box office at 815-968-5222.
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Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from March 5, 2005
- Rockford to meet Great Lakes in 2005 CBA playoffs - CBA 1
- Lightning clinch playoff berth with win over Gary - Rockford Lightning
- Steelheads struck down by Lightning - Gary Steelheads
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