Skyrockets Edge Out Tacoma 105-103

Published on December 23, 2005 under American Basketball Association (ABA)
Minot Skyrockets News Release


Tacoma, WA. The ABA San Jose Skyrockets (8-3) completed their 3-game road swing through Washington State by surviving a nailbiter against the Tacoma Navigators (5-3), 105-103. With the score tied at 103-103 with 17 second left in regulation, the Skyrockets edged out the Navigators with Jason Smith's dramatic basket. Smith led the Skyrockets' scoring with 33 points, followed by Lamar Castile with 15, Tyler Newton with 13 and Rock Winston and Anthony Lumpkin contributing 12 points each.

The game was a up-and-down game with streaky scoring on both sides. The Skyrockets' scoring duo of Smith and Castile resulted in a 28-21 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The high-powered scoring by the Skyrockets continued onto the second quarter as Castile's basket at the 9:00 mark gave San Jose a 41-23 advantage. However careless turnovers and poor ball handling enabled the Navigators to quickly get back into the game converting three 3D opportunities and four 3-pointers. Tacoma's Ellis was a key player in the Navigators' comeback scoring 13 points in the second quarter alone. At the end of the half, the Navigators held a 54-52 advantage.

The rest of the game proved to be a tough fight for both teams. Tacoma held up to a 7 point advantage at one point, but the Skyrockets finally took the lead with Castile's basket at the end of the third quarter giving SJ an 80-79 lead. Tacoma did not tie the game until 101-101 with 2:43 left in regulation with a score by Haywood. Tacoma scored again to give a 103-101 edge but Smith tied it at 103 setting up the final basket by Smith. The Navigators were led by Ellis with 34 points, followed by Haywood with 27, Powell with 15 and Miller with 14. The Skyrockets next game will be at Fresno on December 30th. For more information, email james@sjskyrockets.com or visit www.sjskyrockets.com or call 408 293 3788 or visit www.abalive.com.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.

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American Basketball Association Stories from December 23, 2005


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