CBA — History denied, Minot keeps Yakama from 15-0 record

By DAVE THOMAS
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Link: http://www.yakimaherald.com/page/sp/290580389059455

It's hard to imagine another team wanting a victory more than the Yakama Sun Kings on Friday night.

Yet on a night when the Sun Kings had a chance to stand alone in the CBA record book, it was the visitors from Minot who simply showed more determination and desire.

Thoroughly outplaying the Sun Kings at both ends of the floor in the second half, the Skyrockets overcame a double-digit halftime deficit and another in the third quarter, and then held on for dear life in a furious finish to hand Yakama its first defeat of the season, 92-89.

"The guys gave everything I could ask," Minot coach Chris Daleo said. "Yakama's got a great team, but our guys played well as a unit. They sacrificed their own games for others."

While one coach was ecstatic about his team's effort, the other was quite the opposite after easily the Sun Kings' worst performance of the young season prevented them from becoming the first CBA team to open a season with 15 straight wins.

"We stunk," Yakama coach Paul Woolpert said. "Our energy, for some reason, was non-existent. That's what disappoints me more than anything."

So Yakama will have to be content with matching the
1990-91 Albany Patroons for best start in CBA history at
14 straight.

And while Minot turned in an inspired effort, the Sun Kings were also kicking themselves for letting this one slip away.

After a first half in which Yakama shot 52.5 percent from the field and limited Minot's second chances (seven offensive rebounds), it all came apart after the break. The Sun Kings shot just 43 percent in the second half, committed 17 of its whopping 30 turnovers, and allowed Minot to grab 13 offensive rebounds in getting outscored 52-28.

"We just didn't execute like we have been doing," guard Tim Ellis said.

"They (Minot) played with far more passion and focus," Woolpert said. "Their heads were into the game and, collectively, ours were not."

At least after halftime, because Yakama seemed well on its way to that record-setting victory following a 12-0 run late in the second quarter helped produce a 51-40 halftime lead.

But Minot asserted itself from the outset of the second half, opening with a 14-4 burst to get back in the game.

The game remained close the rest of the way, with the team's trading leads. Yakama's last advantage came at 80-78 with 6 minutes left on short jumper by Harvey Thomas, who had 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, five blocks and two steals in one of the few solid Sun King efforts. But Yakama followed that with a 3-minute scoreless drought as Minot grabbed an 86-80 lead.

Minot led 90-85 when Moochie Norris, who had 17 points and seven assists, gave Yakama one last chance, twice knifing through the lane for layins that eventually cut the lead to 90-89 with 44 seconds left.

After Minot's John Strickland missed two free throws with 14 seconds left, Yakama set up for a shot to take the lead. Norris again drove into the lane, but this time, his path to the basket was cut off and his shot in traffic was batted away to Marshall Phillips, who went down and fed Sidney Holmes for a layin to seal the 5 1/2-1 1/2 points victory.

"The guys played with a lot of energy and made big stops when they had to," said Minot guard Ronnie Fields, who had to watch the second half from the bench after injuring a hamstring in the first half.

"They had all the momentum and energy the entire second half," Woolpert said of the Skyrockets. "They deserved to win. Even if we had scored on that last possession, we didn't deserve to win that game. Not with that lack of effort."

"It's tough," Ellis said of the loss. "But when you're feeling really good about yourself, sometimes it's good to have a reality check to remind you you're not as good as you think."

So instead of trying to build on a record start tonight, Yakama will have to settle for trying to start a new streak when the 1-14 Rio Grande Valley Silverados come to the SunDome.

"Tonight, the next night, it doesn't matter (when we play again)," Ellis said, "as long as we play hard and don't let something like this happen the next time."