Motor City Cruise
The Cruise came into this one playing some of their best basketball of the season. As winners of three of their last four, Motor City would look to see if they could keep their momentum going against the College Park Skyhawks.
No Rest For the Weary
One thing that is for certain, in this league, you're going to be faced with a tough task nearly every night. It looked like we might have a tight battle throughout right from the start on this night. The Cruise would get off to a nice start in the opening minutes to grab a 10-5 lead early. It would be a nail-biter the rest of the way, however. College Park would build some momentum heading into the second quarter after going on a 7-2 run, but it would be Motor City with the lead after one, 30-28. Jared Rhoden opened this one in a flurry as he posted 7 points in the quarter. Tyrese Martin was hard to contain early as he led the Skyhawks with 10.
The early goings of the second quarter would see both teams really going back and forth. That's how it would stay, as neither team could sustain enough momentum to build a big lead. After one half of play, it would be visiting Motor City with a slim 60-59 lead. Martin had another big quarter for the Skyhawks with 8 points. Chris Silva was able to get going with some easy looks finishing with 9 to conclude the half. Devontae Cacok was able to get some nice looks in the quarter to finish with 8. ShawnDre Jones knocked down a couple of big threes in the quarter, he too, would finish with 8.
Who Could Go on a Run
That would be the big question of the second half, which team could sustain some momentum? Neither team would be able to put big runs together as Motor City held the lead 77-73 midway through the third. Bother teams continued to pour it on offensively for much of the quarter. The Cruise would have the lead, but it didn't look like College Park was going to run and hide. Motor City, 91-86, after three.
There would be no doubt we would see which team would blink first over the last twelve of game time. But it appeared it wouldn't be until late in the game as both teams continued to battle. With the Cruise clinging to a 106-101 lead, the Skyhawks would put together a run that would cut the lead to just 1-point. Nursing a 121-120 lead, Motor City was going to have to earn this one. Kifer Sykes would knock down a big 18-foot step back to put the lead at 123-120. College Park would have a couple of opportunities, but the Cruise defense would get stops at crunch time. Cacok would knock down a freethrow with 10.8 seconds remaining, and after a missed Skyhawk three-point try, that would do it. Motor City goes into the College Park and pulls out a thriller, 124-120. College Park did all they could scoring-wise led by Armoni Brooks, Silva and Trent Forrest in the final goings, but it wouldn't be enough. Cacok, Sykes and Rhoden were all vital as they led the offense in the fourth to help seal this one.
The Numbers
Tyrese Martin put together a monster effort for the Skyhawks as he finished with 32 points (3 three-pointers) and 9 rebounds on the night. Chris Silva was able to dominate on the inside with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Armani Brooks would get hot from deep to lead the College Park bench with 21 points (5 three-pointers).
Trent Forrest really stepped up late and put together a solid all-around game to add 17 points, 12 assists and 6 rebounds. Vit Krejci added 9 points and 10 rebounds. Cat Barber pitched in 6 points and 3 assists in limited minutes.
Devontae Cacok had another big night to lead the Cruise with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Jared Rhoden was hot shooting the ball most of the night as he went for 18 points on 7-12 from the field. Keifer Sykes rebounded from a tough shooting night the last time out to put up 18 points and 5 assists.
David Nwaba has done nearly everything for Motor City since joining the team, he proved to be vital yet again tonight by adding 17 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. Buddy Boeheim would get loose for 11 points (3 three-pointers). ShawnDre Jones (10 points on 4-4 from the field, 4 assists), Jaime Echenique (10 points, 4 rebounds), Stanley Umude (8 points,4 rebounds, 3 assists) and Kyler Edwards (9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) all had big moments for Motor City in the game.
Up Next
Motor City will have the opportunity to get right back at it with College Park when the two face off on Sunday. The loss gives the Skyhawks a two-game losing streak.
No comments:
Post a Comment