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Rainmen Keep Playoff Hopes Alive with 95-84 Win

February 28, 2009 - Premier Basketball League (PBL)
Halifax Rainmen News Release


Quebec - As six Rainmen players sored in double figures, including David Bailey's team-high 19 points, Halifax remained in the PBL playoff hunt with a 95-84 road victory over the Quebec Kebs.

After falling behind 28-18 in the first half, the Kebs regrouped and came back in the second half, starting off with a thunderous Michael Anderson dunk - Anderson had several dunks in the game, finishing with a team-high 20 points. By the end of the second half, Les Kebs had not only erased the deficit, they in fact were up 52-42 as the period ended.

But the 34 points the Kebs scored in the second quarter was more than the entire point total the Kebs amassed in the second half (32 points), and their ten-point lead quickly evaporated as the Rainmen continued to score at will.

"We had to play better defense," said Halifax head coach Les Berry. "There was a stretch in the scond quarter where Quebec outplayed us severely, and got us down. In the third and fourth quarter, we did a much better job rebounding, and it helped us."

"You're not going to win many games getting 32-point halves," said Quebec head coach Charles Dube-Brais of the loss."

In addition to Bailey's 19 points, Eric Crookshank added 17 points, while Tony Bennett put up 13 points and 9 assists. Bailey also had 10 rebounds, while Crookshank led the Rainment with 12 boards and three blocks.

Both teams benefitted from late-season signings. In his first game with the Rainmen, Reggie George had a nice debut with 6 points and 4 rebounds in 13 minutes of play. "Reggie George just came in this week," said Berry, "and he gave us size when we needed it."

Quebec's John Ruffus, who began the season with the Montreal Sasquat'ch, tied Michael Anderson for the Kebs' team lead with 20 points; he also had 13 rebounds for a double-double. "John was outstanding in the second quarter," said Dube-Brais. "He's a good factor for us and he's going to be a great improvement for our ball club."

In addition to Anderson and Ruffus, Jean-Philippe Morin had 16 points, including 3 three-point baskets.

The Halifax win keeps the Rainmen in the wild card hunt, while the Quebec loss all but mathematically eliminates the Kebs from postseason play. The Kebs still, however, lead the standings in the PBL Champlain Cup series, a three-team season-long tournament between the Kebs, the Vermont Frost Heaves and the Manchester Millrats.



Premier Basketball League Stories from February 28, 2009


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