Long Beach Jammed at Pyramid
February 8, 2004 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Maywood Laguneros News Release
LONG BEACH, CA â The Fresno HeatWave did what no team had since Jan. 9: beat the Long Beach Jam of the American Basketball Association (ABA). Nearly a month ago, the Jam lost to Juarez before reeling off six victories in a row. In a thrilling game today before 2,187 people, Fresno withheld a late Jam surge to win 123-121. The first-place Jam fall to 18-5, Fresno is now 9-13.
The HeatWave had three players score 20 or more points en route to their win, including a game-high 34 points from Marcus Hill. For the Jam, Juaquin Hawkins had 21 points, seven rebounds, and five steals. Jack Hartman added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Despite being down 14 points top begin the fourth quarter, the Jam rallied to tie the score by the six-minute mark. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the game, with the HeatWave scoring the bucket that decided the game with 14 seconds to go.
Jam fans who miss DerMarr Johnson and Matt Barnes need only tune into tonight's game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers to see the former teammates and friends battle. In 20 games with the Jam, Johnson averaged 22.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Barnes averaged 18.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game with the team in 17 games. Johnson signed a 10-day contract with the Knicks and Barnes has signed with the Clippers for the remainder of the season.
The newest member of the Jam, former Lakers guard Jannero Pargo, had 17 points and six assists.
The Jam's next home game is Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2:00 p.m. against the Tijuana Diablos. This week, the team will fly to Kansas City for their final regular-season meeting with the second-place Knights (16-9).
The 36-game ABA 2003-04 season includes seven teams, the Long Beach Jam, Kansas City Knights, Tijuana Diablos, Gallos de Pelea of Juarez, Jersey Squires (Trenton), Las Vegas Rattlers and Fresno HeatWave. The ABA includes unique game rules such as the "3-D" rule (when a team loses possession while in the backcourt, the team who acquires possession gains one additional point per field goalâ2-point shot becomes 3, 3-point shots become 4: if a foul occurs, the number of free throws awarded increases by one), and the international basket interference rule (once the ball hits the rim, it is live and any player may make contact with it without being penalized for "goaltending").
Individual game tickets are on sale now and available for purchase by visiting the Long Beach State Pyramid box office, or by phone at 562-985-4949 and 888-4-JAM-TIX. Prices range from $5 for students, senior citizens and military, to $10-15 for reserved seating. Season and group tickets may be purchased by calling the Long Beach Jam offices at 562-799-8100.
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.
American Basketball Association Stories from February 8, 2004
- ABA names new Vice President - Special Projects - ABA
- HeatWave's pressure jars jam - Sacramento Heatwave
- Long Beach Jammed at Pyramid - Maywood Laguneros
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