Miracles Win First Playoff Game against Mill Rats
March 19, 2013 - National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Moncton Miracles News Release
(Moncton, NB) The Moncton Miracles, presented by Rogers, defeated the Saint John Mill Rats in Game 1 of Round 1 in the NBL of Canada Playoffs with a final score of 98-90. The Miracles lead the series 1-0.
The game started with Miracles fans all standing on their feet cheering Devin Sweetney to his first 3 of the game in a sea or orange. Mill Rats Antonio Burks would hit a 3 to give his team a 8-9 lead that would only last a minute as Devin Sweetney would hit an inside jumper to reclaim the lead.
Moncton's Sylvania Watkins would lay the ball in late in the first quarter to give his team their first double digit spread of the game, 28-17. The first quarter would end with Mill Rats Mike Anderson getting the rebound and the put back to beat the buzzer bringing the game within 10 points, 29-19.
Saint John's Melvin Council would go 2 for 2 from the line to shorten Moncton's lead to 35-28 with 7 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Darrell Wonge would then take it to the other end for 2 for the Miracles only to have the Mill Rats Jerice Crouch answer back with a quick 3 to make it a 6-point game, 37-31.
With 1:28 left to play in the first half the Miracles were holding on to a 44-37 lead before Wonge would foul Kenny Jones sending him to the line to shoot 2. Jones would make both and bring it to a 5-point game, 44-39. Saint John would continue to go to the free throw line late in the game and bring it within 3 points with 46.8 seconds left, 44-41. The first half would end with the Miracles leading 46-43 over the Mill Rats.
Moncton would come out on a 10-1 run to regain control of the scoreboard in only 3 minutes, 56-44. With 7 minutes left to play in the third quarter Sweetney would hit another 2 from the free throw line to have them leading once again by 12 points, 61-49.
Kamar Burke would have a huge dunk late in the quarter over Cavell Johnson to give the Miracles the extra boost the needed in the last half of the game. The third quarter would end with Sweetney hitting a buzzer beater 3 to give his team a strong lead going into the last 12 minutes of play, 75-60.
Burke would cash in with an early 3-point play to secure his team at 84-70 with just over 8 minutes to play in the game. With 6 minutes remaining on the clock the clock Sweetney would make the long 2 and get fouled on the play. He would hit his foul shot to put the Miracles up 87-76.
Mill Rats Antonio Burks would hit some clutch 3-point shots for his team to bring them within 8-points, 89-81. The Miracles fans chanting defense all the way to end would give their team the extra boost they needed to win this important game.
Devin Sweetney led the way for the Miracles with 32 points. Isaac Butts followed with 18 points and 15 rebounds while Darrell Wonge added in with 15.
Kenny Jones was the force for the Mill Rats with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Antonio Burks was next with 15 points and Jerice Crouch with 12 points.
Mill Rats Kenny Jones was fouled out of the game.
Upcoming Community Events: The Miracles will play their second playoff game in the first round on Friday, March 22nd at the Harbour Station in Saint John against the Mill Rats. Tipoff is 7pm. If needed Game 3 will be Saturday, March 23rd in Saint John with a 7pm game start.
National Basketball League of Canada Stories from March 19, 2013
- Mill Rats Drop Playoff Opener - Saint John Riptide
- Miracles Win First Playoff Game against Mill Rats - Moncton Miracles
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