Wizards Fall to Skyforce in First Round of Playoffs
April 15, 2008 - NBA G League (G League)
Dakota Wizards News Release
BISMARCK, N.D. April 15, 2008: The Dakota Wizards were hoping to take step number one in defense of their 2007 NBA Development League title with a first round match up against their long-standing rivals - the Sioux Falls Skyforce, a team which held a 7-3 season series edge heading into the game. But it wasn't to be as Dakota fell 101-89 in front of 2008 fans at the Bismarck Civic Center tonight.
After a pre-game ceremony honoring All D-League second teamers Rod Benson and current Miami Heat guard Blake Ahearn (who also captured Rookie of the Year honors); along with Carlos Powell an All-D-League third team member, the Wizards began the game tentatively with Powell being the lone bright spot.
Powell was a one-man gang registering 10 points in the opening six minutes finishing the quarter with 13. "I had to come out and set a tone," said Powell. "I lead by example and that's what leaders do for a team." The Wizards led by 4 after one.
The second quarter featured some of the best action of the game, with Sioux Falls clawing its way back into the contest. Carl Elliott of the Skyforce knotted the game at 41 with 4:40 left in the half, and the Skyforce surged ahead 43-41 when Chris Alexander finished a three on one break with a thunder dunk with just over three minutes remaining in the half. David Bailey extended the lead with a left side three in the closing stages of the half.
Sioux Falls led 48-44 at the break with Bailey leading the visitors with 20 points on seven of ten shooting from the field. Dakota was led by Carlos Powell's 17, but the Wizards could only manage five of 11 shooting from the charity stripe.
Bailey who finished with a game high 29 points continued the momentum coming out of intermission. One minute into the second half he drove into the teeth of the defense got the layup to fall and drew the foul making the score 52-46.
Sioux Falls continued to roll, Chris Alexander threw in a hook at the shot clock buzzer and Bailey's circus shot with five minutes to go stretched the Skyforce lead to 13. That's when Glen McGowan put his stamp on the game. The 6'9 forward acquired on March 26th in a trade with the Tulsa 66ers hit a pair of triples extending the Skyforce lead to 74-55. "Glen can really play. That's no secret" said Sioux Falls coach Nate Tibbetts.
Sioux Falls ended the third quarter with a 17 point bulge 77-60 despite both teams shooting an identical 42% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. The main difference was that Dakota turned the ball over 13 times leading to 22 Sioux Falls points.
McGowan stayed hot in the fourth quarter hitting a right side jumper three minutes into the final quarter making the score 80-62. The Wizards closed the lead to 10 on a Gipson right side three, but Michael Joiner's right corner triple ended the Wizards surge. The final nail came when McGowan put back a missed shot and drew a foul putting the Skyforce up 96-84 with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
The final score was 101-89. Bailey led the way for the victors with 29 points while McGowan contributed 21 off the bench. Powell led Dakota's scorers with 25 points.
"A lot of people doubted us. It's us against the world," said Bailey. "We live to see another day."
The Skyforce travel to Austin, Texas on Saturday April 19th to take on the Southwest division champs. The winner of the contest will receive a ticket to the D-League finals Presented by Delta.
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