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Strong Comeback in Newark

January 14, 2007 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Strong Island Sound News Release


Newark, N.J. - What a difference a half makes. The Strong Island Sound went into the locker room at the break looking at a 17-point deficit after allowing 42 points to the Newark Express in the second quarter. "We had a sloppy first half," stated Abdul Mills following the game. "Coach Mixson got the team motivated, telling us to bring it to them in the second half."

Mills did his part by scoring 13 points in the pivotal third quarter, which included two three-pointers, a 3D lay-up, and a drive for a hoop with one second left in the period. Greg Plummer came alive in the second half after sitting much of the first. He was involved in a five-point flurry that changed the game. After getting fouled, Plummer hit one of two from the line. Newark grabbed the rebound, but Mills made a steal and fed Plummer. The Sound's All-Star representative then swished from downtown, good for four points with the 3D light on. This gave Strong Island an 86-84 advantage, their first lead since early in the second quarter.

At the start of the contest, it appeared that the Sound were going to have an easy night. They led Newark by 12 points at the 5:40 mark of the opening quarter after Sean Dantzler sank a three. But the Express chipped away and closed the gap and trailed 25-24 at the end of one after going on a 12-3 run.

The second quarter was a forgettable one for the Sound, and their worse played period of the season, by far. Turnovers and allowing Newark second and third opportunities put Strong Island in a 67-50 hole at halftime. Zakee Boyd, Nick Boyd, and Francis Sekani were all instrumental in padding the lead for the home squad.

For everything the Sound did wrong in the second quarter, they did right in the third. Climbing all the way back, they headed into the fourth and final quarter with a one-point lead. Strong Island missed a few chances early in the quarter by being unable to convert two 3D opportunities. With the score knotted at 92 with less than seven minutes to go, Plummer hit a three and Tommie "Gunzz" Eddie made a pretty no-look pass to Mills to give the Sound a slight advantage. The game started to swing in the visitor's favor when Raphael Edwards hit three free throws with 2:11 left for a 104-96 lead. The dagger in the hearts of the Express was a shot from downtown by Eddie with only 35 ticks left to make the score 110-99.

"I'm very hoarse," stated Sound co-owner Darren Cioffi after the win. "I tend to be very vocal. It was a really good game, at the same time it's very stressful, even when you get the lead back."

The first place Sound improved to 12-7, while the Express fell to 2-13. The road trip continues for Strong Island, with the team heading north of the border next weekend. On Friday, January 19th, the Sound will be in Quebec City to face the 10-6 Kebs. On Saturday, the Sound will visit the 17-4 Vermont Frost Heaves in a rematch of division leaders. Then on Sunday, the Sound will face 2-13 Montreal for the first time this season.

NOTES: The Strong Island Sound announced that F Shawn Simspon has signed to play in Finland. He joins G John "Mookie" Thomas (Finland) and Darren "DP" Phillip (Spain) to become the latest players that have went on to play professional basketball overseas. The entire Sound organization wishes them the best success.

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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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.

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