Thunderbolts Break Into Win Column
November 17, 2008 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Knoxville Thunderbolts News Release
Knoxville, TN. The Knoxville Thunderbolts picked up the first win in franchise history Sunday with a 109-101 victory over Winston-Salem at Grace Christian Academy.
After a frustrating first half in which the Storm's defense kept the Bolts from finding a rhythm, strong play from the bench helped set the tone.
"In the first (quarter), a lot of our guys got caught up in the back-and-forth between their players and ours," Knoxville coach Chad Smith said. "In the third, especially the fourth, we came together and played our game."
Former Bearden High School standout Michael Blue came off the bench to spark a 16-2 run in the first four minutes of the third quarter, turning momentum Knoxville's way.
"He is a game-changer," Smith said of Blue. "He came off the bench with a lot of energy to help us turn it around in the second half.
"Everyone on the court fed off of him the rest of the game, and in the final minutes, he stepped it up again."
Blue finished with 14 points, six coming in the last three minutes of the third quarter.
Kevin McDonald helped the Bolts with eight points, 13 rebounds and four assists.
Former University of Tennessee star Dane Bradshaw was unable to find a shooting rhythm, but ran the offense efficiently and was a factor in the second-half turnaround.
Bradshaw finished with four points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
"He didn't score a lot this time around but he kept the ball moving and played solid defense most of the night," Smith said.
The win is just as important to the future of the franchise as it is to the ABA standings.
"We really needed this win," said Knoxville owner Doc Glisson. "We need to show Knoxville that we have a good team."
The Bolts head to Nashville to take on the Broncs on Thursday, followed by a home game with the Cleveland Rockers on Saturday at 7:15.
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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