Wildcats look to rebound from first loss of season
December 15, 2007 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
San Diego Wildcats News Release
San Diego, CA - The San Diego Wildcats of the American Basketball Association (ABA) defeated the Maywood Buzz Saturday, December 15, 2007 at the Ray and Joan Kroc Center. The San Diego Wildcats who are (10-1) returned home for the first time after suffering their first loss of the season at the Long Beach Breakers 101 to127 on December 09,2007.The Wildcats looked to rebound from their crushing loss against the Breakers at home in front of their thunderous home crowd.
Cardell "Ballaholic" Butler and teammate Jerome Habel started scoring early for the Wildcats in the first quarter, and after an up tempo start they Wildcats struggled to score until a Leonard Mosley jumper. With 6:59 to go in the first the Wildcats trailed the Maywood Buzz 12 - 19. Leonard Mosley brought the Wildcats with in four after a three pointer and forward, Greg Clark followed with an 18 foot jumper from the wing to bring the Wildcats with in one 18-19 with 5:15 on the clock. Marc Carter tied the Wildcats with Buzz at 20 with just over three minutes to go in the first and Jerome Habel gave the Wildcats their first lead 22-20. At the end of one the Wildcats lead the Buzz 29-28.
Jerome Habel got the crowd on their feet to start the second quarter as delivered a extravagant slam dunk and on the defensive end Jamal Kendrick swatted several Buzz shot attempts out of the cylinder. Despite Greg Clark's consistent scoring the Buzz continued to dominate the on the offensive end as they scored at will from the perimeter and inside the paint the Buzz never took the lead in the second, yet put steady pressure on the Wildcats. Prentice Harris increased the Wildcat lead to four with a three, and teammates Leonard Mosley and Greg Clark also scored for the Wildcats. With 4:23 to go in the first half the Wildcats lead 46-39. The Buzz came with in two of the Wildcats with 2 plus minutes to go in the half 44 -46 yet Cardell " Ballaholic" Butler long range jumper put a stop to the Buzz's mounting confidence late in the quarter as the Wildcats maintained the lead. 51- 47. At the end of the first half the Wildcats led the Buzz 52-50.
Jerome Habel began scoring for Wildcats early in the third quarter as he grabbed an offensive board and put it in the basket for two. The Maywood Buzz began the third quarter matching the Wildcats shot for shot as Wildcats Leonard Mosley and Greg Clark tried to create some distant between themselves and the Buzz. With 7:19 to go in the third the Wildcats led the Buzz 62-58. The Wildcats bench, which included guard, Prentice Harris, directed the Wildcats dance team and fans with the chant defense. Cardell "Ballaholic" Butler heard his teammates loud and clear as he laid a shot off the glass for two. Jamal Kendrick and Jerome Habel both got jump shots to fall and Cardell Butler added a three pointer. Jerome Habel made his defender go left and then pivoted to the right to complete a jump shot. With 3:08 to go in the third the Wildcats continued to lead the Buzz 73-64. Cardell Butler was unfailing from beyond the arc in the third quarter for the Wildcats. At the end of three the score was the San Diego Wildcats 79 the Maywood Buzz 77.
The Wildcats and Buzz remained close to begin the fourth and final quarter of the game and the tension between the two teams could be felt throughout the Ray and Joan Kroc Center. Jerome Habel scored on two consecutive Wildcats drive and Greg Clark squared his shoulders and nailed a three. With 9:02 to go in the game the Wildcats began to pull away from the Buzz as they led by ten, 88 to 78. Late in the quarter William Funn assisted a Jerome Habel livid slam-dunk. The Wildcats continued to look down low for Jerome Habel, and Habel continued to deliver with lay-ups and fade away jumpers. With 2:35 left in the game the score was Wildcats 104, Buzz 95. At the sound of the buzzer the Wildcats were once again victorious, as they had defeated the Buzz 110 to 98.
Jerome Habel was the Wildcats player of the game. The Wildcats next home game is Sunday, December 16,2007 against the Sacramento Heatwave.
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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