The East Kentucky Miners just had their butts handed to them the night before, so how would they respond Sunday?
The Miners bounced back from a 140-111 Saturday night with a 117-116 over the Albany Patroons on a last-second steal and layup by Galen Young (6'7''-F/G-75, college: Charlotte).
Trailing by one with under 15 seconds left in the game, the Patroons had the ball. The Miners buckled down on defense and Young came up with a steal and a breakaway layup to score the go-ahead basket.
'We were expected to foul in that situation', Young said. 'They had to inbound the ball and the other four guys played great defense. I grabbed a fist full of jersey and overplayed that possession. I was grabbing and I came away with the ball and was off to the races.'
'I told the guys to see if there was a steal on the play and to be anticipating a sloppy pass, Miners coach Kevin Keathley said. I told them to see if there was a steal and try to come up with it if it was possible. They guys played tough and made it hard to inbound the ball and Galen (Young) came up with the steal and basket.'
After getting beat handily Saturday, Keathley talked about the importance of playing well Sunday.
Sometimes off the court distractions show up on the floor, Keathley said. I think a number of off court things weaved their way onto the court Saturday. After the game, we had a team meeting and I challenged them to play hard. Sometimes you can only be measured by how you overcome adversity and I think they wanted to come out and show everybody what we're capable of when we play hard and play through things.
Delvin Thomas (6'7''-F/C-78, agency: Global Sports Plaza, college: Bethune-Cookman) scored a team-high 25 points in Sunday's win. Point guard Jason McLeish also had a big game with 19 points and nine assists. Jermaine Blackburn scored 15 points and added four assists. Young had 13 points to go along with the game-winning shot.
Six Miners scored in double figures Saturday night. McLeish led the way with 26 points and six assists. Blackburn added 22 points and Young scored 16.
The Miners lost all four quarter points Saturday night and lost the first one Sunday. But after the first quarter the Miners tied the second and won both the third and fourth quarters Sunday.
We did get it handed to us on Saturday night, Young said. The good thing about basketball is that you don't have to wait a week to get back out there and try to get back on track after something like that. We know that we have all the physical things it takes to be a good team, but sometimes we don't show that mental toughness and tonight we played with a lot of mental toughness and bounced back strong against Albany.
Fort Wayne holds off Indianapolis in the title game to become back-to-back CBA champions - 2 months ago
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titlFORT WAYNE 95, INDIANAPOLIS 92: (Danville, Ill.) - In a battle between the two top teams in the league, featuring the top-seeded Indianapolis Blaze and the second-seed and defending league champions, Fort Wayne Flite, it was fitting that the contest literally went down to the final minute. The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair with Indianapolis taking a 23-22 lead, only to have Fort Wayne erupt to a double-digit advantage midway through the second quarter behind Greg Foster (6... [read more]
titlFORT WAYNE 95, INDIANAPOLIS 92: (Danville, Ill.) - In a battle between the two top teams in the league, featuring the top-seeded Indianapolis Blaze and the second-seed and defending league champions, Fort Wayne Flite, it was fitting that the contest literally went down to the final minute. The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair with Indianapolis taking a 23-22 lead, only to have Fort Wayne erupt to a double-digit advantage midway through the second quarter behind Greg Foster (6'2''-G-89, college: Saginaw Valley)'s 17 points in the first half. Although the Fort Wayne lead at intermission was only four points, the momentum was clearly in their favor as they looked physically and mentally more dominant than their Indiana counterparts. After a third quarter that featured Fort Wayne extending their lead to five point, the final period was one for their memories. With approximately four minutes remaining in the game, Fort Wayne's Corey Wickware hit a corner three-pointer to extend Fort Wayne's lead to nine points, 79-70, and it appeared the defending champions were going to cruise to victory. But former Butler University product, Chrishawn Hopkins (6'2''-G-91, college: Wright St.), willed his Indianapolis team back into the game, 23 points in the second half, including 17 points in the fourth quarter, helping Indianapolis go on a 10-0 run to take the lead at 80-79 in less than two minutes. With Indianapolis surging high, and Fort Wayne reeling, the longtime Fort Wayne original trip of Antonio Cannon (6'0''-PG-92, college: Indiana Tech), Wadner Joseph (6'4''-F-86, college: Lincoln Memorial), and Antonio Wilson (6'8''-F-92, college: Glen Oaks CC), who combined for 17 points in the final frame, scored critical baskets to help wrestle back the lead for good. Indianapolis, trailing by three points, 93-90, with seven seconds remaining failed to tie the game with a wide-open three-point attempt, and then on the ensuing possession, down 95-92, missed another three-point shot at the buzzer, allowing Fort Wayne to win a second consecutive championship title. Fort Wayne was led by five players in double digits including Greg Foster with 23 points, Mikel Brigham (6'6''-F) with 16 points, and Corey Wickware with 15 points. Indianapolis was also led by five players in double-digits including Chrishawn Hopkins with a game-high 25 points, William McClure (6'7''-C-89, college: Cent.Michigan) with 13 points, and Jeremy Gibson (6'4''-G) with 12 points. As Fort Wayne celebrates with their second championship title in a row, with three consecutive years of playing in the title game, it also provides a good opportunity for Indianapolis to build upon their first regular season title and first finals appearance, as they will look to unseat Fort Wayne in 2018 as league champions. Courtesy of: playcba.com
Top-seed Indianapolis and defending champs Fort Wayne to square off in all-Indiana title game - 2 months ago
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FORT WAYNE 111, BOWLING GREEN 100: (Danville, Ill.) - Antonio Cannon (6'0''-PG-92, college: Indiana Tech) scored 14 of his team-high 27 points in the opening quarter Saturday as Fort Wayne advanced into the championship game of the Central Basketball Association Tournament for the third consecutive year. The defending champions topped Bowling Green, 111-100, in a semifinal game at Schlarman High School. Saturday's meeting was the first of the season for the two squads. 'Defensively, we di... [read more]
FORT WAYNE 111, BOWLING GREEN 100: (Danville, Ill.) - Antonio Cannon (6'0''-PG-92, college: Indiana Tech) scored 14 of his team-high 27 points in the opening quarter Saturday as Fort Wayne advanced into the championship game of the Central Basketball Association Tournament for the third consecutive year. The defending champions topped Bowling Green, 111-100, in a semifinal game at Schlarman High School. Saturday's meeting was the first of the season for the two squads. 'Defensively, we did a great job the first half with ball pressure, forcing them into plays they didn't want to make,' Fort Wayne coach Roderick Wilmont said. Bowling Green (5-4) was limited to 11 first-half baskets, the same number Fort Wayne made in the opening period while racing into a 30-19 cushion they never lost. Wadner Joseph (6'4''-F-86, college: Lincoln Memorial) had 20 points, Greg Foster (6'2''-G-89, college: Saginaw Valley) scored 13 - to go with a game-high 12 assists - and Danville native Mikel Brigham (6'6''-F) had 10 points for Fort Wayne (6-3). Cannon, Joseph and Antonio Wilson have been part of all the Fort Wayne teams that are the first in the CBA's five-year history to appear in three championship games. 'I owe it to the guys,' Wilmont said. 'They allow me to coach them and they respond well. Cannon is a veteran who played exceptionally well and Foster is the piece we were missing early (in the season). He understands the game so well." Bowling Green, which won the 2015 tournament, received a game-high 30 points from Fred Sturdivant (6'7''-F-91, college: Texas Southern). He hit 14 of his points in the final quarter. The 6 foot-7 Sturdivant pulled down a game-high 17 rebounds. Teammate Damarius Smith had 17 points. Fort Wayne advances into today's 2 p.m. championship game at Schlarman. INDIANAPOLIS 96, MISSISSIPPI 73: (Danville, Ill.) - Top-seeded Indianapolis secured a berth in the championship game of the fifth annual Central Basketball Association Tournament by virtue of Saturday night's 96-73 semifinal conquest of the Mississippi Eagles. Indianapolis (7-2) never trailed in a game at Schlarman High School that was tied once, at 2-2, while sweeping the season series from Mississippi. Indianapolis coach Phillip Washington said his team faced a tough challenge. 'They are probably the best defensive team in the league,' Washington said. 'We stayed poised, got the lead and held the lead.' A 15-point halftime lead wasn't taken for granted. 'Just last week, we were down 20 (at halftime) and won,' Washington said. Indianapolis had four double-digit scorers,led by Ja'Rob McCallum (6'0''-PG) with 18 points. Joe Retic (6'4''-G, college: Indianapolis) had 15 points, Brandon Evans had 14 and Chrishawn Hopkins (6'2''-G-91, college: Wright St.) had 13. The victory sets up a rematch between teams who played last week, when Indianapolis rallied for the win that clinched the No. 1 seed. Indianapolis face Fort Wayne in today's 2 p.m. title game at Schlarman. 'It's going to be a Bulls vs. Lakers-type game, very epic,' Washington said. 'It's the Battle of Indiana. It'll be a great up and down game.' Anthony Jones (6'4''-G, college: SE Missouri St.) led Mississippi (4-5) with 33 points. Teammate Marico Stinson (6'3''-G-88, college: Ky Wesleyan) was the team's other double-figure scorer, producing 15 points. Courtesy of: playcba.com
Bowling Green handles Illinois to clinch final postseason spot; playoff schedule released for next weekend - 2 months ago
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BOWLING GREEN 91, ILLINOIS 82: (Russellville, Ky.) - The final game of the 2017 Central Basketball Association regular season provided much intrigue, as the winner of today's matchup would advance to the postseason tournament next weekend. Bowling Green was looking to clinch their fourth playoff berth in their five-year history, while Illinois was looking to play in front of their home crowd as the playoff tournament was being played on the Coal Miners' home court in Danville, Illinois ne... [read more]
BOWLING GREEN 91, ILLINOIS 82: (Russellville, Ky.) - The final game of the 2017 Central Basketball Association regular season provided much intrigue, as the winner of today's matchup would advance to the postseason tournament next weekend. Bowling Green was looking to clinch their fourth playoff berth in their five-year history, while Illinois was looking to play in front of their home crowd as the playoff tournament was being played on the Coal Miners' home court in Danville, Illinois next week. Yet, despite the high stakes to the matchup, the game itself was not as dramatic, as Bowling Green obtained a grip on the lead early in the contest and did not let go. The hosts took a six-point advantage from the first quarter, led by eight points at the midway intermission, held on to a seven-point lead through three quarters, and carried a double-digit stranglehold throughout the final frame, en route to clinching the final playoff berth and third-seed with their 91-82 victory. Bowling Green was led by Monte Burney (6'1''-G, college: Martin Methodist) with 28 points, while Kashif Watson (6'4''-G-87, college: Idaho) led Illinois with 23 points. Bowling Green (5-3) will square off against Fort Wayne (5-3) in the semifinals, which will serve as a rematch of the 2015 CBA Championship game, where Bowling Green defeated Fort Wayne at the buzzer, 97-95, in Fort Wayne, Ind. Both teams have been to the championship game twice in their team history (Bowling Green: 2013, 2015; Fort Wayne: 2015, 2016) with both teams serving as the last two league champions: Bowling Green in 2015 and Fort Wayne in 2016. In the other semifinal matchup, Indianapolis (6-2) will face Mississippi (4-4) in a rematch of the season opener, where Indianapolis held on for a 90-87 victory. Indianapolis will be advancing to their second consecutive semifinals in as many years in the league, while Mississippi will be in the playoffs for the first time since 2015, as they finished with a 1-7 record last year. As for Illinois (4-4), they will join Baltimore (3-5) and Middle Tennessee (1-7) as the three teams who did not qualify for this year's postseason, and will look to rebound in 2018. 2017 CBA Postseason Tournament The playoffs this year will be held next weekend at Schlarman Academy at 2112 North Vermilion Street, in Danville, Illinois, which also serves as the home venue of the Illinois Coal Miners. The semifinals will be played on Saturday, May 13th, with Fort Wayne and Bowling Green playing each other at 5:00 p.m. Central Time, followed by Indianapolis and Mississippi squaring off at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. The winners of each of the aforementioned games will participate in the league championship game the next afternoon on Sunday, May 14th at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. Courtesy of: playcba.com
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