Reach wins first
May 4, 2004 - World Basketball Association (WBA)
Kentucky Reach News Release
Elizabethtown, Ky. â Sometimes the first win is the toughest one to get. After two consecutive single-deficit losses to open its inaugural season, Kentucky Reach found game number three to be its lucky charm. The Reach, Kentucky's WBA based franchise who plays its home games at Central Hardin High School in Elizabethtown, used a dominating third-quarter run to rout the visiting Bristol Crusaders 92-81 for its first-ever victory on Tuesday.
Just three nights earlier, the Crusaders handed the Reach a 82-74 loss. A payback was in order according to Tyrone Levett, an imposing 6-5 forward from Alabama State.
"We came out ready to play tonight, said Levett, who scored a game-high 26 points. "We played together and really believed in one another. The first win is the hardest one to get. Now that we've got it (the win), we're hoping to build some momentum heading into the rest of the season."
The Reach led by ten points at halftime (40-30), thanks in large part to strong free throw shooting. After struggling mightily from the line in the first two games, Kentucky Reach connected on 13 of 16 from the foul line in the first half. Reach head coach Jim Farmer was glad to see the Reach capitalize on the free shots.
"Obviously, we wanted to focus on our free throws," said Farmer. "I told the guys in practice that we had to do a better job. We missed 13 free throws against those guys (Bristol) the other night. The guys really focus tonight and our defense was much better tonight."
Kentucky put the game out of "Reach" during the opening three minutes of the second half. Using a 12-1 run during that span, including a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line (four by Roland and two each by Marshall Sanders and Broxsie), the Reach put the game essentially on ice with a 52-31 advantage. The visiting Crusaders (1-2) never got closer than 14 points for the remainder of the third stanza. Bristol's Jerald Fields made a short range field goal with :20 remaining to cut the lead to 68-54, but "Boo" Brewer's 21-footer from the top of the key gave Kentucky Reach a 70-54 cushion as the quarter came to a close.
Kentucky Reach seemed to lose a little bit of its focus in the opening moments of the final quarter, however. A thunderous dunk by Bristol's Ryan Prillman pulled the Crusaders within 74-64 with just under seven minutes remaining. However, the Reach once again pulled away behind the strong play of Antoine Pettway, a 6-0 speedy guard from the University of Alabama. Pettway proved to be a one-man wreaking crew as he scored 11 consectutive points for the Reach during an 11-2 run that essentially put the Reach's first-ever victory in the books. His floating runner with four minutes remaining gave the Reach an 85-66 lead. Pettway scored 13 points total on the night.
Bristol closed the game with a 15-7 run, but the victory had already been sealed for the Reach (1-2).
"We got a little sloppy at the end," added Farmer. "That's the nature of basketball. Fortunately we hung in there, and overall I was pleased with the way we played."
Early on, it looked as though the Reach might be headed for another disappointing night. Bristol opened with a 4-0 lead, highlighted by a emphatic dunk by Ryan Prillman. The dunk might have served as a wake-up call as Kentucky Reach responded with a 7-0 run, including an old-fashioned three-point play by Lamont Roland and back-to-back jumpers by Pettway and Roland.
"Boo" Brewer's one-handed floating jumper from the baseline gave the Reach a 14-12 lead with a minute remaining in the opening stanza. Two free throws by Levett with 27.5 seconds gave the Reach a 16-12 cushion at the end of the opening quarter.
Derek Robinson, a guard who played collegiately at Western Kentucky, opened the second quarter with a jump shot and a driving layup off his own steal as the Reach extended its lead to 20-12. Robinson, making his Kentucky Reach debut after having been suspended for the first two games, scored five of his seven points in the second quarter.Bristol went on a 6-0 run of its own after that, but a free throw by Robinson and a 21-footer by Brewer helped the Reach to a 23-18 advantage. Trailing 27-24, Bristol had a chance to cut the gap to one-point, but 6-6 forward Jerald Fields missed two consecutive free throws. On the ensuing possession, the Reach's Tyrone Levett made a nice low post move to convert, was fouled and converted the three-point play the hard way for a 30-24 lead with just under four minutes remaining.
"I was just trying to be as aggressive as possible," said Levett. "It was a team effort though. We're all about being a team, and lots of guys stepped up."
Following a basket by Bristol's Chauncy Jones, the Reach answered with 10-4 to close out the half, highlighted by a long baseline three-pointer from Alex Dillard, five points from Levett, and two free throws from reserve Brandon Snowden, a 6-7 forward from Berea College.
"Lots of guys made contributions," continued Farmer. "I was happy to see guys step up and make plays."
The first half also featured two technical fouls, one apiece from Reach head coach Jim Farmer and 6-10 center Antoine Broxsie. Guard Lamont Roland added 15 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for Kentucky Reach.Bristol was led by Jerald Fields, who scored 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
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World Basketball Association Stories from May 4, 2004
- Reach wins first - Kentucky Reach
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