Talons make Legends a memory
February 1, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Gallup Outlaws News Release
GALLUP- The Gallup Talons and SoCal Legends squared off on Tuesday night in the desert in a game that had the implications of determining the best team in the west coast.
As was the case in the first time these two teams met the game came down to the wire as Gallup was able to pull out the win 106-99 in a game that might have started a friendly rivalry between the two teams as each team has a win against the other.
Not only did the Talons avenge their first loss of the season to the Legends, but Gallup showed they can play, run and compete athletically with the best the west coast has to offer.
Gallup showed their athleticism from start to finish against the Legends and led throughout the game as they controlled the momentum and pace of the game.
The Legends though made their run late to take a one point fourth quarter lead until Larry Morinia took control of the game for the Talons.
Morinia who has been the Talons "sixth man" off the bench this year went for 12 fourth quarter points including stepping to the free throw line were he was seven of seven in crunch time.
Three of those clutch free throws came late as Morinia with the Talons down 94-93 was fouled with the 3D light on. Morinia calmly walked to the line and sank all three giving the Talons a two point lead.
After a successful defensive stop the Talons rode their workhorse forward Bernard McIntosh who had 30-points on the night, McIntosh responded with a turnaround jump shot of the glass to extend the Talon lead.
The Legends then had opportunity to cut into the Talons lead until Morinia made the play of the night for the Talons as he blocked a Legends three-point attempt and delivered the knockout blow by taking the block in for a dunk.
" The game was exciting, we came out and competed and learned from our mistakes in the first game against these guys, we understood what we did wrong and we corrected it, I have all the respect for SoCal and their coach Gary Grant", said Talons head coach Clayton Shields.
The game as expected was close throughout, as the biggest lead of the game was ten at one point for the Talons, but the play of Jimmy Miggins for the Legends kept them in the game as Miggins went for 35-points on the night.
Gallup was able to ride hot shooting throughout the game to sustain their lead as the Talons received scoring in punches as McIntosh had 16-first half points including an alley-oop from Will Funn to begin the scoring for the Talons.
Alvin Broussard had 21-points on the night as he continued to show his stroke from the floor in providing the Talons with a deep scoring threat.
Louis Richardson who was coming off a 40-point performance down in Tijuana had 17-points and 13-rebounds on the night as Richardson showed his heart and toughness throughout the game in crashing the glass and diving on the floor throughout the game.
The win now propels the Talons to a 16-2 mark on the season and should move the Talons up the ABA power rankings to number two as Gallup closes in on number one.
Gallup will now play next Monday and Tuesday at 7 against the Orange County Buzz as the Talons will look to continue to remain undefeated at home.
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 February 1, 2006
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- Pittsburgh Xplosion ground Ohio Aviators 162-92 - Pittsburgh Xplosion
- Talons make Legends a memory - Gallup Outlaws
- Sound Making Noise for Fire Departments - Strong Island Sound
- Rapids Acquire Two Local Stars - Buffalo Silverbacks
- ABA Names Two More All-Stars - ABA
- Moment of Silence for Coretta Scott King - ABA
- Talons Make Legends A Memory - Gallup Outlaws
- Global TV Secures New URL - ABA
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