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RazorSharks take first PBL title

March 31, 2008 - Premier Basketball League (PBL)
Rochester RazorSharks News Release


(Rochester, NY)...The RazorSharks brought home another championship to Rochester with a dominating 142-112 victory over the Arkansas Impact in last night's 2008 Inaugural Premier Basketball League Championship game. With 9,717 fans on hand at the Blue Cross Arena, the RazorSharks extended their home winning streak to 47 games and game MVP Keith Friel's career-high 35 points. Friel tied a career-high for 3-pointers made, shooting 7 of 14.

Rochester came out hot with a 16-7 lead five minutes into the 1st quarter. With just over 2 minutes to play in the opening quarter and the RazorSharks leading 26-20, Sammy Monroe and James Reaves attempted a dunk off a rebound and caused the backboard to shatter causing a 40 minute delay. Both were injured with cuts, but Reaves got the worst of it getting glass in his eye which took RazorSharks' doctors and medical staff about 10 minutes to flush out the glass. Both Monroe and Reaves returned once play resumed and they came back like nothing happened. Monroe through down a dunk with 0.4 seconds left in the 1st showing no ill effects from shattering the previous backboard which fired up the crowd. Monroe finished the game with 16 points, 11 coming in the 1st quarter. Rochester held a 33-22 going into the 2nd quarter.

With just under 8 minutes remaining in the 1st half, the RazorSharks went on a 17-7 run, led by 3 3-pointers from Friel, taking a 21-point lead, 50-29. Rochester closed out the 1st half up by 27 points, 73-46. The 73 1st half points by Rochester is a new franchise-record. Friel led the 1st half with 21 points, 18 in the 2nd quarter.

With 1:39 remaining in the 3rd, a free throw from Friel pushed the RazorSharks to their largest lead of the game to 34 points, 107-73. Rochester finished the 3rd quarter leading 111-81. James Reaves led the 3rd quarter with 10 points and finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds.

Arkansas made a slight run early in the 4th quarter pulling within 21 points after a basket from Jeremy Bell, but that would be the closest they would get the rest of the way. Bell led the Impact with 22 points shooting a perfect 12-12 from the free throw line to go along with team-highs of 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals.

With the victory, the RazorSharks franchise have won 2 league championships ('05-'06). RazorSharks' guard, Jerice Crouch added 17 points as 7 players hit double figures. Marlin Johnson's 10 rebounds led the way along the boards.

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