ValleyDawgs and Rivers Raiders Meet for First Time Tonight
May 26, 2004 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs News Release
TELEVISION: Service Electric Cable TV2 Commentators: Mike Zambelli and Rich Baksa
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CRISPIN AND WADLEY RETURN TO LEAD DAWGS TO VICTORY: Guards Joe Crispin (6'1 Penn State) and Quincy Wadley (6'4 Temple) combined for 33 points and 11 assists en route a 104-94 win over Kansas Saturday night. It was the first game back for both players from the injured list. Crispin started the game despite sitting out 8 in a row due to a concussion, while Wadley came off the bench after missing 4 games with a hurt hand. It was a big win for PA, which snapped a two-game losing streak by topping the USBL's best at the time. The âDawgs jumped out to a strong 26-18 lead after one quarter of play. They led by as many as 28 points before Kansas cut the lead in garbage time. Antonio Meeking had his 2nd straight double double (12 points, 11 rebounds) in the win.
VALLEYDAWGS SIGN WELLS: New ValleyDawg Jayson Wells (6'7 forward) led the Israel Professional League in scoring this past year and has looked good since arriving to the ValleyDawgs. Wells has been playing abroad since graduating from Indiana State in 1996. He has played full seasons in Sweden, Finland, Australia, Germany and Israel. He has averaged more than 20 points per game as a professional.
âDAWGS ALSO ADD LYDE: The ValleyDawgs will also suit up 270-pounder Kevin Lyde (6'10" Temple) for the first time. Lyde played the last two seasons in the NBDL. This past year, he finished 4th in the league in blocks (1.6 BPG) while playing for the Columbus Riverdragons. In the 2002-03 season, he played with the Greenville Groove. He averaged 9.6 points and tied for the team lead in blocked shots, ranked second in rebounding, and ranked fourth in scoring. Lyde is one of only three players in Temple history to garner 1,000 points and rebounds in a career and he is second all-time on their blocks list.
âDAWGS TO PLAY 4 GAMES IN NEXT 5 DAYS: After a few days off, the ValleyDawgs will play 4 games in 5 days. It is the third and final time this season Pennsylvania has to endure such a schedule. The ValleyDawgs went 3-1 from April 28-May 2 and were 2-2 from May 16-May 19. Both losses to Brooklyn this season have come during those two 5-day periods. Brooklyn is on the schedule again in this 5-day stretch, a road game on Thursday. The ValleyDawgs will get a day off on Friday and then return to Liberty High School for back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday against the Oklahoma Storm and the Westchester Wildfire.
FLEMING A CATALYST TO VICTORY: PA is a perfect 4-0 this season when Marcus Fleming has a double double and 7-1 when he is the top âDawg in either points or rebounds in a game. PA is 3-1 when Fleming is its top scorer and 5-0 when he is the team's top rebounder. Fleming leads the âDawgs in scoring (15.5 PPG) and is 8th in the USBL in rebounds (8.5 RPG). KINGS PULL AHEAD IN EAST; Showdown Tomorrow in Brooklyn: The Kings have won 3 games since the âDawgs last played Saturday. Brooklyn now holds a full game lead over Pennsylvania at 13-5, though the two teams are even in the loss column. The Kings have won 6 in a row, have the best record in the league, and are now a perfect 8-0 at home. The ValleyDawgs will look to regain the Eastern lead on Thursday by handing the Kings their first home loss of the season. Pennsylvania has had success on the road this year. They are the only team in the USBL with a winning record (6-3) away from home. Brooklyn leads the season series 2-1, including a 110-107 victory in the only other meeting in New York City. Tomorrow's game is the final meeting of the regular season between the two teams.
PLAYOFFS BEGIN IN ONE MONTHâJUNE 26: Five teams currently sit within 1.5 games of the USBL's top record and the top seed for the 8-team, 7-game, 3-day Post-Season Festival to crown the USBL Champion. Brooklyn has the top record at 13-5. Kansas and Dodge City, who are tied for first in the Midwest, are just a half game behind the Kings. Ironically, tonight's matchup could be a preview of the tournament. If the playoffs began today, Pennsylvania and Cedar Rapids would square off in the opening round. The ValleyDawgs would be seeded fourth. At 11-6, Cedar Rapids is a half game out of first place in the Midwest, and would be seeded 5th.
FIRST EVER MEETING TONIGHT: Cedar Rapids is an expansion team this season and this is the first ever meeting between the two teams. They will play again on June 5th in Iowa.
RIVER RAIDERS IMPRESSIVE AS OF LATE: After three straight losses, Cedar Rapids bounced back to win 3 in row, including the first two games of its Eastern road trip. On Monday, Cedar Rapids ran into the red hot Brooklyn Kings and had their 3-game win streak snapped in a 106-97 loss. Bryan Bracey let Cedar Rapids in the loss with 28 points. Former ValleyDawg Courtney James had a double double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
âCHOCOLATE THUNDER' NOW A USBL COACHING ELITE: ValleyDawgs head coach Darryl Dawkins is one of only three coaches with over 100 wins on his career. The other two are Kevin Mackey (128) and Rex Morgan (196). Dawkins has an impressive .640 winning percentage (110-62) in 6 years with PA. He is the only head coach in team history.
United States Basketball League Stories from May 26, 2004
- ValleyDawgs and Rivers Raiders Meet for First Time Tonight - Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs
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