Yakama Sun Kings force decididng Game 3 of CBA Finals with 91-87 victory over Gary Steelheads
Published on March 26, 2006 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release
Yakama Evens CBA Finals Series with 91-87 Victory Over Steelheads 2006 CBA Championship will be decided Monday, March 27, in Gary
Gary, IN (March 26, 2006) - The Yakama Sun Kings evened the 2006 Continental Basketball Association Finals series at one game apiece with a 91-87 road victory over the Gary Steelheads on Sunday at the Genesis Convention Center. Therefore, the CBA Championship will be decided on Monday, March 27, at the Genesis Convention Center in Gary, Ind. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 (CST).
Yakama rebounded from a 45-36 halftime deficit by putting together a 22-2 run in the third quarter, outscoring the Steelheads 34-9 in the period. The Sun Kings took a 70-54 lead into the fourth quarter and held on in the end, converting on four free-throw attempts in the final 15 seconds of the game. Gary cut its deficit to two points twice in the final minute, but could not get any closer.
"We wanted to come out and be aggressive from the jump," said Yakama forward Antwain Barbour, who scored 18 points to go with eight rebounds. "We wanted to make them (Gary) do things that they didn't want to do. We wanted to push the ball and get up and down the court. We know we can play well on the road."
The Sun Kings bounced back after dropping game one of the 2006 CBA Finals on their home court on Thursday, March 23, 119-103.
After shooting a sizzling 58.5 pct. in its game-one victory in Yakima, Wash., the Steelheads shot only 36.4 pct. (28-of-77) on its home court in Sunday's loss. The Sun Kings didn't fair much better in that category, connecting on just 38.8 pct. (33-of-85) of its attempts from the field. However, Yakama forced 21 Gary turnovers and made 25-of-32 free throw attempts, while Gary was 23-of-36 from the charity stripe.
Yakama guard and 2006 CBA Most Valuable Player, Anthony Goldwire, scored a game-high 22 points with seven assists. Anthony Miller had 19 points and Leonard White had 14 points for the Sun Kings. Five Steelheads hit double figures, led by Brian Chase with 19 points, while Randy Holcomb and Renaldo Major each has 17 points each. Gary held a 57-50 advantage in rebounding for the game.
Monday's contest can be heard via the internet through the SportsJuice web site (www.sportsjuice.com) with Gary's play-by-play announcer Bill Hazen with the call. Also, fans can follow the action via www.cbahoopsonline.com through the "webcasting" link on the left side of the front page.
CBA Finals Notes.
- Gary finished the regular season with a 29-19 record and a league-best 197.0 quarter points (4.10 avg.), capturing the Eastern Conference title and the overall No. 1 seed for the CBA Playoffs. Yakama finished the regular season with a league-best record of 31-17 with 195.5 quarter points (4.07 avg.), good enough to win the Western Conference and earn the No. 2 seed for the CBA Playoffs. The Sun Kings have won their three previous CBA Finals appearances (1995, 2000 and 2003).
- Gary and Yakama earned the right to play in the CBA Finals after accumulating the most quarter points in their three first-round playoff games with 14 apiece.
- Prior to the start of the 2005-06 season, the Sun Kings changed the spelling of its name from Yakima to Yakama in honor of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council who took over ownership of the team.
- Gary head coach Jaren Jackson, making his first appearance as a coach in the CBA Finals, holds the all-time record for CBA Finals games played with 23 appearances as a player. Jackson played in the 1991, 1992, 1995, and 1996 CBA Finals, earning championship rings with Wichita Falls (1991) and La Crosse (1992). Jackson is also ranked among CBA Finals leaders in steals (5th, 27), minutes played (6th, 601) and points scored (8th, 275). The Georgetown alum was named the 2006 CBA Coach of the Year.
- This marks the first CBA Finals appearance for the Gary Steelheads in the six-year history of the franchise.
2006 CBA Playoff First-Round Results (Home Team in CAPS)
Tuesday, March 14
Yakama 114, Rockford 108 (6,1)
Wednesday, March 15
Sioux Falls 106, Albany 97 (5,2)
Thursday, March 16
Rockford 108, Idaho 105 (5,2)
Gary 106, Yakama 98 (6,1)
Saturday, March 18
Albany 108, Idaho 104 (5.5, 1.5)
Gary 124, Sioux Falls 92 (7,0)
Monday, March 20
Sioux Falls 104, Rockford 93 (7,0).
Tuesday, March 21
Idaho 100, Gary 90 (6,1)
Yakama 132, Albany 114 (7,0)
2006 CBA Finals Schedule
Thursday, March 23
Gary 119, YAKAMA 103
Sunday, March 26
Yakama 91, GARY 87
Monday, March 27
Yakama at Gary (7:05 p.m. CST)
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from March 26, 2006
- Final Coach's Show Monday / Jersey Auction Ends Friday - Rockford Lightning
- Yakama Sun Kings force decididng Game 3 of CBA Finals with 91-87 victory over Gary Steelheads - CBA 1
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