Wildcat Superstars Butler and Kendrick Hot Shooting Fight Off an Explosive Tijuana Offense
November 21, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
San Diego Wildcats News Release
A week after the Wildcats got their first win of the season, the team was in a mindset to have no let down. Although Tijuana arrived late to the game making their trip to El Camino High School in Oceanside, and not having all players in proper uniforms the Dragones made the first half a shootout taking a substantial lead. Leading into the second quarter the Dragones maintained their double-digit lead. The Wildcats seemed to be mismatched, but Cardell Butler would not let the team down as he hit some impressive shots. By the end of the half Cardell Butler brought the team back to only trial by nine at the half.
The second half began promising as they chipped away at the lead, with higher scorer Butler taking charge hitting a clutch open three to cut Tijuana's lead to three with 8:30 left in the third quarter. Tijuana would not relinquish the lead as they continued to push the ball up court and trade baskets with the Wildcats. With the third quarter winding down, Jamaal Kendrick was on fire hitting two long distance threes. Butler's sweet lay-up closed the third quarter to tie the game.
Kendrick's hot hand opened the forth quarter with another three to take their first lead 85-84 since early in the game. Mental mistakes by Tijuana were the beginning of the Dragones' downfall as they turned the ball over numerous times. The play of the game came when Butler hit a double teamed three in the face of the two Dragones with the shot clock buzzer going off to have the Wildcats only trial by two with 5:30 left in the game. Once again when the Wildcats were in need of crucial points, Butler hit three straight shots to tie the ballgame at 100. With Butler's forth shot made in a row, being another big three, the Wildcats took the lead and never looked back. Jamaal Kendrick would not cool down as any shot he threw up would find the bottom of the net.
Tijuana got very frustrated as the head coach got out of hand arguing a call from the referee and was ejected with two minutes left as he kicked the scorers table. The Wildcats worked extremely hard to fight their way back into the game as they trailed most of the way. Butler's 41 points and Kendrick's 26 points with six of his field goals being three's gave the Wildcats a 117-110 victory.
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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