PBL weekly report

Published on March 18, 2008 under Premier Basketball League (PBL) News Release

PBL TEAM REPORTS

Arkansas Impact

2600 Howard Street

Little Rock, AR 72206

Office: (501) 821-0166

Fax: (501) 821-0166

Head coach: Todd Day

Home arena: Barton Coliseum

arkansasimpactbasketball.com

The Arkansas Impact solidified their hold on second place in the PBL's Western Division with a 116-113 win over the Dallas Defenders. With one more game on the docket - a Monday night pre-playoff matchup against the Jacksonville Slam - the Impact could bust a few brackets in the PBL playoffs.

Chicago Throwbacks

P.O. Box 1608

Calumet City, IL 60409

Office: (515) 208-1231

Fax: (219) 884-4558

Head coach: Donnie Boyce

Home arena: Attack Athletics

chicagothrowbacks.com

The Chicago Throwbacks finished up the regular season with a 114-105 loss to the Dallas Defenders. " We just can't seem to put together a complete game. We led by as many as fifteen and were up twelve at halftime but did not defend well in the third which allowed them to gain momentum", said head coach Donnie Boyce.

The Throwbacks did end the season on a positive note, taking a 112-111 overtime victory against the division-leading Quad Cities Riverhawks. "This was a big win for us, we needed to taste victory heading into the playoffs. The fact that we were able to defeat the number one team in our division should give us the confidence needed in the playoffs", said head coach Donnie Boyce.

Dallas Defenders

15305 North Dallas Parkway

Suite 300

Addison TX 75001

Office: (972) 455-2883

Fax: (972) 715-2099

Head coach: TBA

Home arena: Alfred J. Loos Fieldhouse

defendershoops.com

After falling to the Arkansas Impact earlier in the week, 116-113, the Dallas Defenders rebounded with a 156-119 win over the Jacksonville Slam. The Defenders continued their final week run with a 114-105 victory over the Chicago Throwbacks, then took a 129-106 win over the Maryland Nighthawks. Playing like a completely new franchise, Dallas has won their final three matches of the season and are looking toward a strong run in the playoffs.

Jacksonville Slam

101 North Adams Street

Rockville, MD 20850

Office: (301) 424-8612

Fax: (301) 738-3709

Head coach: Scott Cooper

Home arena: TBA

jacksonvilleslam.com

After the Jacksonville Slam lost 156-119 to the Dallas Defenders, the Jacksonville Slam were destroyed by the Quad Cities Riverhawks 143-111 on the road at Black Hawk College. Despite the loss, however, Anthony Lumpkin showed he could not be stopped, draining 45 points - including six three-pointers - in the Slam defeat.

Lumpkin continued his torrid scoring pace on Sunday night as the Slam fell to the Rockford Fury 143-117; Lumpkin scored 33 points while playing all 48 minutes of the game. Donald Harris had a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds in the Jacksonville loss.

Maryland Nighthawks

101 North Adams Street

Rockville, MD 20850

Office: (301) 758-1090

Fax: (301) 738-3709

Head coach: Lawrence Moten

Home arena: Hanley Center for Athletic Excellence, Georgetown Prep H.S.

marylandnighthawks.com

After falling 123-102 to the Rochester Razorsharks in a weekday match at Blue Cross Arena, the Maryland Nighthawks wound up their regular season with a 112-81 road loss to the Reading Railers on Saturday afternoon. Despite the loss, Omar Weaver finished with 25 points on the afternoon; Warren Jefferson added 20 for the Blackbirds. David Bailey was the top rebounder, pulling down 10 boards. "J.O." Ratdech Kruatiwa saw significant playing time, and responded with 11 points. On Sunday afternoon, the Nighthawks lost to the Dallas Defenders 129-106.

Quad Cities Riverhawks

Beyond The Baseline

1540 W 12th Street

Davenport, IA 52804

Office: 1-866-694-5728

Fax: 1-800-970-2479

Head coach: LaTroy Farrow

Home arena: Black Hawk College

qcriverhawks.com

Showing the rest of the league that they are the team to beat in the Western Division, the Quad Cities Riverhawks took apart the Jacksonville Slam 143-111 at Black Hawk College. Keith Gaydon, sidelined the past three weeks by a pulled muscle in his back, paced the slam-dunking affair in his first game back with a QC-high 30 points and countless jams. Johnny Cox added 20 points off the bench, and point-man Lonnie Randolph nearly posted a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals.

On Sunday the Riverhawks traveled to Chicago for the regular season finale against the Chicago Throwbacks. Even though the Riverhawks took a 25-point lead into the first half, Chicago charged back and eventually won the game in overtime, 112-111. " This was the most selfish we have played all year long," said Riverhawks head coach LaTroy Farrow, "and it is upsetting how well we have been playing to end the year like this. We will regroup and will be ready for the Western Division Championship playoff game on Thursday." Ty Johnson led the Riverhawks with 23 points and Ryan Edwards also notched 22 points in the losing effort. Willie Mitchell added a double double for the Riverhawks with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Riverhawks end the regular season with a 15-5 overall record.

Reading Railers

35 N 6th Street

Reading, PA 19601

Office: (610) 898-9466

Fax: (610) 898-9386

Head coach: Sal Mentesana

Home arena: Sovereign Center

readingrailers.com

Finishing up the regular season with a Saturday afternoon contest at the Sovereign Center, the Reading Railers took it to the Maryland Nighthawks, 112-81. Tayron Thomas and Lennox McCoy scored 17 points apiece; Jared Mills added 16 for Reading. Aaron Williams finished with a team-high 18 rebounds, while Mills added 12 boards of his own. At one point in the matchup, the Railers had a 26-point lead on the Blackbirds.

Sunday afternoon, the Railers hit the road for a game against the Wilmington Sea Dawgs. Continuing their strong second-half run, the Railers led the entire match and won 96-82, buoyed by 18 points from Lennox McCoy and 19 points from Jerald Brown; Brown's total included five 3-pointers. Aaron Williams pulled down 14 boards.

Rochester Razorsharks

39 State Street, Suite 100

Rochester NY 14614

Office: (585) 232-9190

Fax: (585) 232-8086

Head Coach: Rod Baker

Home Venue: Blue Cross Arena

razorsharks.com

With Jerice Crouch scoring 21 points to lead the Razorsharks in scoring, the Sharks defeated the Maryland Nighthawks on Wednesday night 123-102, extending their home winning streak to a three-year-long 45 games, and becoming the first franchise in PBL history to win all their regular season home games. Sammy Monroe added 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Keith Friel put 18 on the board. Marlin Johnson was Rochester's top rebounder, finishing with 13 boards.

Rockford Fury

5301 East State Street, Suite 114

Rockford IL 61108

Office: (815) 399-4222

Fax: 1-800-970-2479

Head coach: Dave Knickelbein

Home arena: Seaver Gymnasium, Rockford College

rockfordfury.com

Entering the final regular season week of play, the Rockford Fury were upended by the Wilmington Sea Dawgs, 97-92. Rashi Johnson's 21 points were the high-water mark for the Fury; Johnson also led with 8 rebounds and six assists.

Rockford had better success Sunday evening against the Jacksonville Slam, taking the Florida franchise apart with a 143-117 victory. Geoff Wing's 27 points led all Furies in scoring; both Reggie George (20 points, 14 rebounds) and Ameer Watts (21 points, 10 assists) had double-doubles for Rockford.

Wilmington Sea Dawgs

430 Eastwood Road, Suite 200

Wilmington NC 28403

Office: (910) 791-5523

Fax: (910) 256-4589

Head coach: Kevin Whitted

Home arena: Joe and Barbara Schwartz Center, Cape Fear CC

goseadawgs.com

The Wilmington Sea Dawgs cemented their hold on second place in the PBL's Eastern Division with a 97-92 victory over the Rockford Fury. Byron Mouton and Jermaine Williams each had 20 points for the Sea Dawgs; while Jason Pryor had 18 points for Wilmington. Williams led the Sea Dawgs in rebounds with nine boards.

On Sunday afternoon, the Sea Dawgs hosted the Reading Railers. Unfortunately for Wilmington, the Dawgs could not get a solid footing in the game, bowing to the Railers 96-82. Byron Mouton's 22 points were tops for the North Carolina crew, while Devon Mooring added 15. Jermaine Williams had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Game reports compiled via team press releases, and from articles appearing in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, the Reading Eagle, the Rockford Register-Star, the Quad City Times, the Wilmington Star-News, and other newspapers.

Premier Basketball League Stories from March 18, 2008

• Sea Dawgs Bow Out of Tournament Early - Wilmington Sea Dawgs
• PBL weekly report - PBL

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.