Millrats 0-2 On Road Trip
January 14, 2008 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Saint John Riptide News Release
Manchester, New Hampshire: The Manchester Millrats return from a weekend road trip to Vermont and Quebec 0-2. Manchester now stands with a record of 13-9, but remains in first place in the Blue North Division.
On Saturday night the Millrats paid a visit to their arch rival, the defending ABA Champion Vermont Frost Heaves. Tensions got heated and three altercations resulted in several ejections and technicals, and eventually officials called the game with less than a minute remaining, and the Frost Heaves ahead 109-99.
"The incidents were extremely unfortunate - there was a cause and effect relationship that involved players from both teams - however we do not condone retaliation or fighting, and have taken appropriate measures on our part to ensure that it does not happen again," explained Manchester Millrats General Manager Ian McCarthy.
The basketball part of the match was another terrific display of skill and competitiveness. The Millrats had forged a double digit lead for a good portion of the game before collapsing in the fourth quarter as the Heaves outscored them 27-12 in the final stanza.
Anthony Anderson again showed why he is one of the top guards in minor league basketball with a 36 point performance on 7-10 shooting from three point range.
On Sunday afternoon the Millrats visited the Quebec Kebekwa for a matinee matchup. The Kebs emerged the victors 119-118 on a layup at the buzzer.
The final basket followed a sequence in which the Millrats nearly pulled out the win despite being down 117-112 with just 38 seconds left. Anthony Anderson (32 points) scored on a twisting, driving bank shot to cut the deficit to three, then new addition Al Stewart immediately stole the inbounds pass and laid it in for three points and a 117-117 tie.
Manchester then got a stop on the defensive end, PJ Young was able to carom an offensive rebound with 11.6 seconds left, and was fouled on the put back. Young made 1 of 2 from the line, setting up the final score by the Kebs.
"We were happy by the effort that the guys gave on Sunday, its tough when your missing all of our team's centers not mentioning working in new players," stated McCarthy, "but in pro ball you have to deal with it and try to bounce back the next game."
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 January 14, 2008
- The State of the ABA - OSC Original by Chris Munson
- Vermont's Lee Suspended For One Game - Vermont Frost Heaves
- Manchester Millrats Issue Apology - Saint John Riptide
- ABA suspends three for altercations in Vermont - ABA
- Ask the CEO - ABA
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
- Rainmen Make Roster Changes - Halifax Rainmen
- Millrats 0-2 On Road Trip - Saint John Riptide
- Vermont Frost Heaves Take Over #1 Spot In Power Rankings - ABA
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