ABA Saint John Riptide

Millrats Erase 27 Point First Quarter Deficit to Beat Vermont

December 7, 2007 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Saint John Riptide News Release


Barre, Vermont - December 6, 2007 - The Manchester Millrats erased a 27 point first quarter deficit to beat the defending ABA Champion Vermont Frost Heaves 115-109 in Barre, Vermont. The game was touted as a "Clash of the Titans", featuring #1 ranked Manchester at #2 ranked Vermont, and was broadcast live on the internet via PlayOn! Sports webcast.

The first quarter got out of hand quickly for the visitors as a 16-11 Frost Heaves lead suddenly exploded into a 38-11 deficit for the Millrats. The 22-0 Vermont run was built on the strength of Terrence Green's 17 points in the quarter, and controversy with the officiating. The Millrats Head Coach Larry Lessett was ejected during the first quarter.

With Manchester's Head Coach gone, and two of Manchester's star players, Ismael Caro and Rob Sanders frustrated and saddled with first quarter fouls and technicals, the Millrats could've easily packed in and gone home. With Assistant Coach Heath Teixeira and the General Manager Ian McCarthy assuming the coaching duties for Manchester, the team completely reversed the tide. Using full court pressure, the Millrats generated a 32-13 second quarter run that enabled the visitors to get back into the game, down just at 52-46 haltime.

In the third quarter the host held the visitors at bay, extending the six point halftime lead to eight. However, the more Manchester kept the game close, the more confidence they gained that they could pull out the win.

In the fourth quarter the Frost Heaves once again extended to a thirteen point lead. But the Millrats potent offense put up forty points in the fourth quarter behind the hot shooting of Anthony Anderson and John Huggins. Reserve guard Charles Easterling provided a key spark off the bench and help break the Heaves pressing defense.

The Millrats led 101-99 with about 2:00 remaining when Terrence Green nailed a three pointer to give the Heaves the lead back, at 102-101. However, Millrats forward David Cooper grabbed a key offensive rebound and put back which gave the lead right back to Manchester, at 103-101. Each time Manchester started to pull ahead, Vermont countered with another huge basket. In the end, the Millrats made several key plays down the stretch, on offense and defense, which enabled them to squeak out a memorable road victory.

"The game changed when our players settled down and began to play hard defense," stated Millrats Assistant Coach Heath Teixeira, "once we do that our offense comes easier and we're hard to beat."

Manchester was led by former UMass Minuteman, Anthony Anderson with 29 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Off the bench, Charles Easterling contributed 19 points and 6 rebounds, and John Huggins added 16 points, including several key trifectas down the stretch. Terrence Green scored 33 points for Vermont.

Manchester, the #1 ranked team in the ABA, improves to 9-1 on the season, while Vermont suffers the first ever losing streak in its history, and fall to 6-2. Both of Vermont's losses are to the Manchester Millrats, with Millrats drawing first blood last Sunday 110-108 in overtime in New Hampshire.

The Manchester Millrats also host doubleheader ABA action this weekend at the Fieldhouse on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), as the Boston Blizzard visit on Saturday at 7:05 pm. ON SUNDAY, former SNHU star guard Bobby Miller and the Montreal Royal will make their second visit to Manchester at 4:35 pm. Tickets are available at the door, online at www.manchestermillrats.com, or by calling 866-9-GET TIX. Doors open one hour prior to tip time and all tickets are under $10.

All Manchester Millrats games are 'events'. Each game is headlined by a host of entertainment and family fun including exciting basketball, music, live singer(s), our mascot - Milly the Millrat, the Pink Sapphire Dancers, fun contests, a halftime show, and the Spindel Eye Associates $10,000 Hot Shot Challenge!

For more information, please contact Millrats GM Ian McCarthy at millrats@gmail.com or visit www.manchestermillrats.com or www.vermontfrostheaves.com or www.abalive.com.

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 December 7, 2007


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