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Victory Marks Fresh First Exhibition Win

November 10, 2009 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
North Texas Fresh News Release


Maybe it's not well expected in the ABA, but the Fresh, in their 1st season, showed that there is a team in the ABA that knows the word DEFENSE.

For a league known to have scores up to 150 + points per game, this season's Fresh will display those numbers on offense but have stressed defense since the beginning of practice.

On Saturday night playing against the Texas Chaparrals, who are a lights out offensive scoring machine, the defense made key stops with full court pressure to push the Fresh past the Chaparrals 117 - 115!

"Everything starts with controlling the tempo on both ends of the court. We didn't do that early but we did when we needed to," stated Owner/CEO Jay Bowdy. "If our guys play like we did in spurts the full 48 minutes, then look for us to be tough to beat this year."

During the 1st quarter of the contest, the Fresh had no answer to the Chaparrals 3 point strikes; which put the Fresh down as much at 13 in the 1st quarter. A couple of LaShon Sheffield 3 point baskets and a few tough inside scores by Robert Taylor pulled the game back in single digits for the Fresh.

Bowdy and the rest of the coaching staff have emphasized defense from the first day of training camp practice. It has been a missing link in fast pace basketball and something that the Fresh hope to utilize for a ABA Championship.

Defense has been addressed with the addition of great defenders such as A.D. Duncan, Ralph Johnson, and Titus Byrd on the active roster.

"With all the guys we have this year, were definitely going to be a great defending team," stated Assistant Coach/GM Aaron Evans. "We stress being great defenders and having the ability to communicate well on the floor. That is what made it fun to watch Saturday's game because we had a no - let - down attitude."

Though Josh Washington, Brandon Perry, andLewis Leegave the team a boost offensively, Ralph Johnson gave the biggest boost off the bench sparking a 12 - 3 run early in the 1st half. Jonathan Young put the finishing defensive touches in the 4th quarter with a late insertion into the game by Bowdy with less than: 29 seconds remaining and up by 2.

"I knew when I called the timeout that I had to put him [Young] in the game. He anticipates very well on the defensive end and it paid off at the right time," stated Bowdy. "All in all, we seen the hard work we have put in during practice pay off with the endurance of all our players."

The Fresh moved the ball around quite well, with no player scoring more than 20 points and 6 in double figures. Look for the Fresh to be dominant in their next exhibition, which will be posted soon on the team website www.northtexasfresh.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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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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