Manchester Edged By Aoshen
March 7, 2008 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Saint John Riptide News Release
The #2 ranked Manchester Millrats were edged by #3 Bejing Aoshen Olympians, 105-98, in Singapore.
Manchester claimed an 11 point lead with two minutes to go in the first half, despite ice cold shooting from the perimeter. Beijing then rattled off 10 straight points in the last two minutes, to close within 50-49 - a run that seemed to take wind out of Manchester's sails. The normally prolific Millrats shot 15% from three point range in the first half (2-13).
In the third quarter, the game seesawed back and forth, until a Beijing run put the Olympians on top 83-73 by the end of the third quarter.
The Millrats fought back, closing to within 94-91 with under two minutes to play in the game. But key Manchester shots would not stay down, and Beijing's transistion game made the Millrats pay on the other end.
"Tonight Beijing was the better team. Shots that our guys normally make would not stay down," explained Millrats Head Coach Larry Lessett, "we will be focused come Sunday to end the regular season on a good note."
Anthony Anderson led Manchester with 22 points, Cedric McGinnis scored 15 points and hauled down 15 rebounds, while Rashid Al-Kaleem scored 14. Sheldon Pace scored 29 points for Beijing.
Manchester was a combined 6-32 (18.8%) from three point range, and committed 19 turnovers.
The Beijing Aoshen Olympian have had a tremendous season and are currently ranked #3 in the ABA Power Rankings, having lost only two games thus far - to the Quebec Kebekwa and an overtime loss this past weekend to the Texas Tycoons. The Olympian have two members of the Chinese National Team that will compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing in August as well as one of the ABA best players, Jamal Staten.
Manchester will face Beijing again on Sunday March 9th at 7:15 pm in Singapore.
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 March 7, 2008
- Manchester Edged By Aoshen - Saint John Riptide
- Fresno Legends To Play Special Games This Weekend In San Francisco - Fresno Legends
- Four West Teams To Compete For Spot In Championship Playoffs - ABA
- Five Northeast Teams To Complete For Spot In Championship Playoffs - ABA
- Three South Teams To Compete For Spot In Championship Playoffs - ABA
- Five Teams To Receive Byes To Championship Playoffs - ABA
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