Revelers Supply Drama in Playoff Opener

Published on March 27, 2002 under NBA G League (G League) News Release

It's considered standard practice within the world of reality television to occasionally edit footage in order to enhance drama.

For the producers and creators of the ESPN series, "Down Low: Life in the D League," which chronicles the lives and times of the North Charleston Lowgators, there was no need to splice the tape.

What was a scene of jubilation at the North Charleston Coliseum Saturday night, when the Lowgators clinched first place and the top seed in the playoffs with a triumph over Greenville, quickly turned into a backdrop for disappointment the following night, as North Charleston lost the opening game of its best-of-three series with fourth-seed Mobile, 78-75.

Isaac Fontaine and Rashad Phillips scored 16 points apiece for the Revelers, who battled back from a 20-point deficit to take Game 1 from the Lowgators.

"We started out strong, then they just slowly kept creeping back in and we couldn't answer them on the offensive end," North Charleston coach Alex English said. "The pressure is on us to go down there and win. We have won on the road, so we can do that."

The pressure figured to be on Mobile, which had to travel to North Charleston following a difficult loss to Columbus on Saturday, which gave the Riverdragons the third-seed and a four-day layoff. Greenville hosts Columbus in Game 1 of their series Thursday night at the Bi-Lo Center (7 p.m. EST).

"We weren't thrilled to have to go right out and play a playoff game that soon, but I was pleased with how we had played in the (last regular season game with) Columbus," Vincent said. "Anytime you can shoot better than 50 percent from the floor and better than 70 percent from the free throw line and still lose, you know you had to have played a great game."

Despite the quick turnaround, it didn't come as a surprise for Vincent to see his team do well against the first-place Lowgators, who won five of nine games between the two teams during the regular season.

"We've had success against them," said Vincent, who said "we won't change much in preparation" for Game 2, set for Wednesday, April 3 in Mobile.

On the other bracket sit Greenville and Columbus, both idle since Saturday. Coaches sometimes differ on the subject of long layoffs. Riverdragons coach Jeff Malone was happy to have a few days off.

"I like the break. We get to go home and bus it to Greenville on Thursday," Malone said. "This is where we wanted to be. They are the No. 2 team and we're the No. 3 team and we're tied 3-3 on the season in head-to-head matchups. But that's over now. Greenville is a good team. They haven't had a lot of changes or lost any key players. They may be the best team in the league."

The case can certainly be made for Greenville being the hottest team, having won 16 of 18 to end the regular season. The Groove also placed three players - Billy Thomas, Ansu Sesay and Thomas Hamilton - on the All-NBDL First Team.

Columbus is led by Gabe Muoneke (17.1 ppg) and Nate Johnson (13.7).

NBDL SEMIFINALS

1. NORTH CHARLESTON vs. 4. MOBILE
(Revelers lead series, 1-0)
Game 1 - Sunday, March 24 - Mobile 78, North Charleston 75
Game 2 - Wednesday, April 3 - North Charleston at Mobile, noon EST
*Game 3 - Saturday, April 6 - Mobile at North Charleston, 7 p.m. EST

2. GREENVILLE vs. 3. COLUMBUS
Game 1 - Thursday, March 28 - Columbus at Greenville, 7 p.m. EST
Game 2 - Friday, March 29 - Greenville at Columbus, 7 p.m. EST
*Game 3 - Friday April 5 or Saturday, April 6 - Columbus at Greenville, 7 p.m. EST

* - if necessary

ESPN BROADCAST SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, MARCH 29
Columbus at Greenville, Game 1 (tape delay), ESPN2, 4 p.m. EST

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3
North Charleston at Mobile, Game 2 (tape delay), ESPN, 4 p.m. EST

GROOVE'S SESAY NAMED NBDL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Greenville Groove forward Ansu Sesay, who ranked among the league leaders in six statistical categories, on Wednesday was named the National Basketball Development League's 2001-02 Most Valuable Player.

Sesay, a 6-9, 225-pound small forward, finished the 2001-02 NBDL season 10th in scoring (13.9 ppg), 15th in assists (2.5 apg), seventh in field goals made (230), sixth in free throws made (163) and 15th in both blocks (35) and minutes played (1,376).

Sesay, selected by Greenville in the second round (14th overall) in the NBDL Supplemental Draft, tallied double-figure scoring totals in 36 of 45 games, including 18 straight to close out the regular season. He averaged a team-high 16.5 points on .469 (90-192 FGA) shooting during the club's league-high 15-game winning streak that helped propel the Groove to a share of the best record in the NBDL (36-20). Sesay also had season-highs of 23 points (three times), nine rebounds (Nov. 27) and nine assists (March 17) over the course of the league's inaugural season.

"This award illustrates how much respect Ansu has earned around the league because there are a lot of very talent players in the NBDL that could have won this award," said Greenville Groove head coach Milton Barnes. "He did an outstanding job of staying focussed game-in and game-out demonstrating a level of consistency and maturity needed to reach the next level."

"Ansu excels in so many phases of the game," said NBDL Executive Director Karl Hicks. "His versatility earned him this award, and his presence on the court was key to Greenville's successful season."

Other top votegetters for the NBDL's MVP Award were former Columbus Riverdragons forward and current Los Angeles Clipper Tremaine Fowlkes, Mobile Revelers guard Isaac Fontaine and North Charleston Lowgators forward Sedric Webber.

GROOVE'S MYERS NAMED NBDL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jeff Myers of the Greenville Groove, one of only two NBDL players to record more than 100 steals this season, on Thursday was named the league's 2001-02 Defensive Player of the Year.

The 6-2, 185-pound guard finished the 2001-02 NBDL season second in the league in steals, averaging 2.11, and held a share of the league record for most steals in a game with eight. Myers also averaged 10.0 points on .462 (196-424 FGA) shooting along with 4.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists over 27.4 minutes through 56 games (50 starts) for Greenville.

Myers registered three or more steals in 21 games, leading the Groove to a 15-6 mark in those contests. Myers also had at least one steal in 35 straight games from December 29, 2001 through the regular season finale on March 23, and notched at least one steal in 51 of 56 games played this season.

"Jeff has been the key to our defense throughout the entire season," said Greenville Groove head coach Milton Barnes. "It was our defensive effort that led to our 15-game winning streak this season and Jeff set the tone for this team."

Myers, a ninth round selection (67th overall) in the NBDL's Inaugural Draft, was one of just two members of the Groove to play in all 56 games this season and led Greenville in total minutes played (1,534).

"Jeff's gritty defensive play was the foundation of Greenville's second-half surge this season," said NBDL Executive Director Karl Hicks. "This award recognizes Jeff's growth and development as a player and a leader."

Other top votegetters for the NBDL's Defensive Player of the Year Award were Lee Scruggs of the Asheville Altitude, Derek Hood of the Mobile Revelers, Fred House and Neil Edwards of the North Charleston Lowgators, and Marshall Phillips of the Roanoke Dazzle.

LOWGATORS' HOUSE NAMED NBDL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

North Charleston Lowgators guard Fred House, who averaged a team-leading 13.4 points, on Sunday was named the NBDL Rookie of the Year for the 2001-02 inaugural season.

"Fred's intensity and enthusiasm set him apart from his peers as he helped provide leadership to the Lowgators this season," said NBDL Executive Director Karl Hicks. "He should be very proud of all he has accomplished. His future is quite bright."

"Fred is one of the top defenders in the league and all accolades are well deserved," said North Charleston Lowgators head coach Alex English. "He worked hard to improve his game throughout the season and is clearly a better player now."

House, a sixth round (46th overall) selection in the 2001 NBDL Inaugural Draft out of Southern Utah (2001), compiled .458 (268-585 FGA) shooting along with averaging 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.8 assists over 25.8 minutes through 56 games, all starts. House led the NBDL in steals (2.5 spg) and finished 13th in scoring (13.4 ppg).

Other top votegetters for the NBDL's Rookie of the Year Award were Asheville Altitude forward Lee Scruggs, Fayetteville Patriots guard Omar Cook and forward Greg Stempin, Greenville Groove forward Rahim Lockhart and Huntsville Flight guard Mike Wilks.

FLIGHT'S WILKS WINS NBDL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

Huntsville Flight guard Michael Wilks on Friday was named the inaugural recipient of the 2001-02 NBDL Sportsmanship Award, which honors a player who best represents the ideals of character and conduct on the court.

"Michael is truly deserving of this award," said Huntsville Flight head coach Bob Thornton. "He leads by example and represents the characteristics of a professional athlete - he's a hard worker, he's dedicated and competitive, all while respecting his teammates, opponents and fans."

"I thought Michael displayed great character in not only working as hard as he did with us in Mobile, but after being released he carried that same attitude into Huntsville," said Mobile Revelers head coach Sam Vincent. "He became a leader and a key member of a team that had a very successful season."

Wilks started all 38 games he appeared in for the Flight, averaging 10.2 points and 3.8 rebounds over 29.9 minutes, leading the Flight to a 20-18 record in those games. Prior to Wilks' arrival, the Flight were 5-11. He appeared in 44 games in the NBDL this season, averaging 9.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 27.3 minutes.

Wilks earned an economics degree from Rice, and is looking forward to a post-basketball career as a teacher or as a youth minister - positions where he would have a positive impact on children. While with the Flight, Wilks has been involved in numerous events in the Huntsville community, including the league's Read to Achieve program and appearances at local youth clubs where he stressed the importance of education.

"Michael is as fine a person as I have ever had an association with," said Rice University head coach Willis Wilson. "He exemplifies every component a coach would want in a player at every level. His character is impeccable, and his work ethic and determination are exemplary."

Other top vote getters for the NBDL's Sportsmanship Award were Terrell McIntyre of the Fayetteville Patriots, Billy Thomas and Jeff Myers of the Greenville Groove, Eugene Edgerson of the Mobile Revelers and Marshall Phillips of the Roanoke Dazzle.

CALL-UPS MAKING THEIR MARK IN NBA

The National Basketball Development League will never be confused with Lloyd's of London, though, in many ways, each is selling the same thing - insurance.

In need of a tough-minded point guard with a strong work ethic and substantial NBA experience to back up Jason Kidd- Contact Sam's of Mobile. In the market for a small forward to help fill the void created by injuries to Lamar Odom and Corey Maggette- Better get on the horn with Jeff's of Columbus.

How quickly these policies pay out on a claim, of course, depends upon each particular situation, in this case, through Mobile coach Sam Vincent and Columbus coach Jeff Malone.

For Anthony Johnson, who signed on for the remainder of the season with the New Jersey Nets on January 28, after two 10-day contracts, the Nets will likely only have to fork over the monthly premiums - Kidd averages 38 minutes and is having a superb season.

It didn't take long for the Los Angeles Clippers to put in a claim on its policy with Tremaine Fowlkes. Saddled with key injuries at the small forward position, the Clippers signed Fowlkes to a 10-day contract on February 23, and he found himself in the starting lineup two days later against Memphis. Fowlkes has since been signed for the remainder of the season and has made 14 starts in 15 games, averaging 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds.

So far this season, the NBDL has produced six NBA call-ups - Johnson, Fowlkes, Jason Hart (San Antonio), Chris Andersen (Denver), Rusty LaRue (Utah) and Isaac Fontaine (Memphis). Not all have seen significant action, but each case offers proof that the NBDL is a place for players to get noticed and for NBA teams to fill needs.

"I was looking at it as a short-term thing," said Johnson, who appeared in 15 games with the Mobile Revelers before the Nets made the call. "I wanted to go down there and get myself focused on doing what I had to do to show the NBA representatives that I'm an NBA player and I deserved to be on a roster."

Not an outlandish claim, considering Johnson had spent his first four professional seasons in the NBA with Sacramento, Atlanta, Orlando and Cleveland. As a rookie with the Kings in 1997-98, Johnson appeared in 77 games, averaging 7.5 points and 4.3 assists. He was cut by Seattle before the start of this season.

Fowlkes had never appeared in an NBA game after being selected by Denver in the second round of the 1998 NBA Draft. But after a strong showing with the Columbus Riverdragons, for whom he earned All-NBDL First Team honors, Fowlkes finally landed his first NBA break.

"I was sitting in my hotel room in North Charleston, South Carolina, watching television," said Fowlkes, who averaged 16.7 points in 42 games with Columbus. "The phone rang and it was my agent saying the Clippers were offering a contract. I couldn't believe it. This is what you work for."

NBA CALL-UPS, 2001-02 SEASON

CHRIS ANDERSEN, Fayetteville
Signed by Denver Nuggets, November 21, 2001

JASON HART, Asheville
Signed by San Antonio Spurs, December 19, 2001

ANTHONY JOHNSON, Mobile
Signed by New Jersey Nets to the first of two consecutive 10-day contracts, January 7, 2002; signed for the remainder of the season, January 28, 2002

RUSTY LaRUE, Asheville
Signed to 10-day contract by Utah Jazz, January 28, 2002; signed to second 10-day contract by the Jazz, February 12, 2002; signed for the remainder of the season, February 21, 2002

TREMAINE FOWLKES, Columbus
Signed to 10-day contract by Los Angeles Clippers, February 23, 2002; signed to second 10-day contract by the Clippers, March 5, 2002; signed for the remainder of the season, March 15, 2002

ISAAC FONTAINE, Mobile
Signed to 10-day contract by Memphis Grizzlies, March 3, 2002

THE LOWDOWN ON DOWN LOW

The inaugural NBDL regular season has been one to remember for the North Charleston Lowgators, who secured the top seed for the inaugural NBDL playoffs. Will their run of good fortune continue as the stakes get higher-

Find out as the Lowgators' every move on and off the court are captured in "Down Low: Life in the D-League," with new episodes premiering every Tuesday at 12:30 a.m. EST on ESPN and repeating during the week on ESPN and ESPN2.

The unique behind-the-scenes look at the Lowgators' season features unprecedented access to the team, giving viewers a true taste of the squad's ups, downs and playoff push in the NBDL's inaugural season.

NBDL FINAL REGULAR SEASON HIGHS

INDIVIDUAL HIGHS

MINUTES PLAYED:
48 - Artie Griffin, Roanoke vs. Fayetteville (2OT), November 23, 2001
48 - Fred House, North Charleston vs. Huntsville (2OT), December 28, 2001

POINTS:
36 - Terrell McIntyre, Fayetteville vs. North Charleston, February 8, 2002
36 - Greg Stempin, Fayetteville vs. Columbus, March 22, 2002

REBOUNDS:
20 - Kareem Poole, Columbus at Fayetteville, January 8, 2002
20 - Makhtar N'Diaye, North Charleston vs. Mobile, February 16, 2002

OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS:
10 - Tremaine Fowlkes, Columbus vs. Roanoke, November 26, 2001

DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS:
14 - Tom Wideman, Greenville vs. Fayetteville, December 29, 2001
14 - Makhtar N'Diaye, North Charleston vs. Mobile, February 16, 2002

ASSISTS:
19 - Omar Cook, Fayetteville vs. North Charleston, February 8, 2002

STEALS:
8 - Jeff Myers, Greenville vs. Huntsville, January 16, 2002
8 - Fred House, North Charleston vs. Columbus, February 7, 2002

BLOCKS:
8 - Jeff Aubry, Fayetteville at Roanoke, November 23, 2001
8 - Neil Edwards, North Charleston vs. Fayetteville, December 16, 2001

DOUBLE-DOUBLES:
13 - Derek Hood, Mobile

TEAM HIGHS

LONGEST WINNING STREAK:
15 - Greenville, February 10-March 17, 2002

LONGEST LOSING STREAK:
11 - Roanoke, March 4-22, 2002

LONGEST HOME WINNING STREAK:
8 - Greenville, February 10-March 2, 2002

LONGEST HOME LOSING STREAK:
7 - Mobile, January 14-February 19, 2002
7 - Roanoke, March 4-22, 2002

LONGEST ROAD WINNING STREAK:
8 - Columbus, January 8-February 9, 2002

LONGEST ROAD LOSING STREAK:
7 - Fayetteville, November 17-December 9, 2001

TRANSACTIONS

MARCH 21
- Asheville signed G ALLEN GRIFFIN.
- The NBDL terminated the contracts of Asheville F STAIS BOSEMAN, Asheville G JIMMY KING and Fayetteville F CLIFTON TERRY for repeated violations of league policy.

MARCH 26
- Columbus re-signed F JOHNNY PHILLIPS.
- The NBDL terminated the contract of Columbus C KAREEM POOLE for repeated violations of league policy.

NBA G League Stories from March 27, 2002

• Revelers Supply Drama in Playoff Opener - G League
• Greenville's Jeff Myers named 2001-02 NBDL Defensive Player of the Year - Greenville Groove
• Greenville Groove's Ansu Sesay named 2001-02 NBDL MVP - G League
• Greenville Groove's Ansu Sesay Named NBDL MVP - Greenville Groove
• Greenville Groove's Jeff Myers Named NBDL Defensive Player of the Year - Greenville Groove

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.