Thunderbirds Down Skyforce 115-108 in Game One of 2009 D-League Showcase - Jan 5, 2009 (by Surujh Roopnarine)
In a big upset, the previously 3-10 Albuquerque Thunderbirds (4-10) held on to a big second half lead and pulled out a 115-108 victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce (10-6) in game one of the 2009 D-League Showcase in Orem, UT. D-League leading scorer and former All-Star Will Conroy (6'2''-G-82, college: Washington) led Albuquerque with 26 points and a game high 11 assists while playing all 48 minutes of the contest. [read more]
In a big upset, the previously 3-10 Albuquerque Thunderbirds (4-10) held on to a big second half lead and pulled out a 115-108 victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce (10-6) in game one of the 2009 D-League Showcase in Orem, UT. D-League leading scorer and former All-Star Will Conroy (6'2''-G-82, college: Washington) led Albuquerque with 26 points and a game high 11 assists while playing all 48 minutes of the contest. In a game where the lead only changed once, in the second quarter and was only tied twice all game, the Thunderbirds made a big statement on the biggest stage of the D-League regular season. The team shot 55.7% from the field and all five starters scored more than 15 points. Veteran guard Keith McLeod (6'2''-G-79, college: Bowling Green) followed Conroy with 24 points while also playing every minute of the game. Rookie dynamo Gary Forbes (6'7''-G/F-85, college: Massachusetts) scored a game high 30 points for Sioux Falls off the bench, but it was not enough as the Skyforce hoisted up 32 three-point field goals while only connecting on 11. The Thunderbirds also made more (29) free throws than the Skyforce attempted (17). SKYFORCE: Gary Forbes (30pt+5rb+5to), Glen McGowan (14pt+11rb), Bobby Jones (15pt+8rb), Keith Brumbaugh (15pt+5st) T-BIRDS: Will Conroy (26pt+6rb+11as+5to), Keith McLeod (24pt+6as+5st), David Noel (19pt+8to), Cory Underwood (16pt+8rb)
NBA --> D-League Player Assignments
December 29th: The New Jersey Nets assigned second-year forward Sean Williams (6'10''-F-86, college: Boston Coll.) to the Colorado 14ers. The 17th overall selection out of Boston College in the 2007 NBA Draft, Williams has appeared in 16 games for New Jersey this season, averaging 1.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 11.1 minutes. Williams appeared in 73 games for the Nets last season, 29 as a starter, and averaged 5. [read more]
NBA --> D-League Player Assignments December 29th: The New Jersey Nets assigned second-year forward Sean Williams (6'10''-F-86, college: Boston Coll.) to the Colorado 14ers. The 17th overall selection out of Boston College in the 2007 NBA Draft, Williams has appeared in 16 games for New Jersey this season, averaging 1.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 11.1 minutes. Williams appeared in 73 games for the Nets last season, 29 as a starter, and averaged 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds. In two games thus far with the 14ers, the enigmatic Williams has averaged 4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and an impressive 5.0 blocks in 17.0 minutes.
January 2nd: The Detroit Pistons assigned rookie forward Walter Sharpe (6'9''-F-86, agency: Pro One Sports, college: UAB) and second-year guard Alex Acker (6'5''-G-83, college: Pepperdine) to the Ft. Wayne Mad Ants. Sharpe, a 69 forward out of UAB, was selected with the 32nd pick of the 2008 NBA Draft and has notched seven minutes of action in three games with the Pistons this season. Acker, a former star at Pepperdine, was drafted by the Pistons with the 30th overall selection in the 2005 NBA Draft, Acker has played 16 career NBA games, scoring seven points and dishing out five assists. This season, Acker has appeared in five games, scoring seven points, grabbing two rebounds and amassing two steals in 15 minutes of action. During the 2005-06 season Acker was assigned to the Fayetteville Patriots where he averaged 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 17 games. Acker spent the last two seasons with perennial Euroleague powerhouses Olympiakos and Barcelona in Europe.
NBA Call-Ups January 5th: The Golden State Warriors signed former Idaho Stampede forward Jermareo Davidson (6'10''-F-84, college: Alabama). Originally selected in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft (36th overall) by the Warriors, Davidson was acquired by the Charlotte Bobcats in a draft night trade with Golden State. Davidson went on to play in 23 games for Charlotte during the 2007-08 season. This year, the former Alabama star has started all 15 of his games in Idaho this season, averaging 16.1 points and 10.8 rebounds.
Player Movement Dakota Wizards: Signed fan favorite and D-League veteran Rod Benson (6'10''-F/C-84, college: California) and re-acquired Brad Stricker (6'11''-C/F-77, college: Georgia St.). They also waived Marcus Hubbard (6'9''-C-83, college: Angelo St.) as well as announced that Quemont Greer (6'7''-F-81, agency: Pro One Sports, college: De Paul) was waived for personal reasons. Benson, famous for his blogging as for his standout play on the court, stepped out of the D-League to play for Sluc Nancy Basket Pro in France this season, but was unable to make in impact in either the Fench Pro-A or Euroleague campaigns. In six Euroleague games the former Cal Bear averaged 1.7 points and 2.5 rebounds. He did not fare much better in domestic play, averaging 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in Pro-A. Greer, another D-League veteran, averaged 11.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in 12 games for the Wizards this season.
Ft. Wayne Mad Ants: Signed recently released Taj McCullough (6'7''-F-86, college: Winthrop) and waived Sean Sonderleiter (6'9''-C-82, agency: Weller Sports - Entertainment, college: Iowa). After being released by Erie late in December, McCullough has scored 18 and 23 points in his first two games with the Mad Ants. Sonderleiter appeared in seven games for Ft. Wayne this season, averaging 4.4 points.
Iowa - Ft.Wayne 117-121
The Mad Ants outsmarted Iowa Energy improving on 5-7 record. On the other side, the Energy faced with the second failure this season (8-2). Walker Russell (6'0''-G-82, college: Jacksonville St.) stepped up for the hosts with 25 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds. Alex Acker had 20 points, 8 boards and 5 assists, while DeWitt Scott added 19 pts. Cartier Sims nailed 37 points for the loosing side. [read more]
Iowa - Ft.Wayne 117-121 The Mad Ants outsmarted Iowa Energy improving on 5-7 record. On the other side, the Energy faced with the second failure this season (8-2). Walker Russell (6'0''-G-82, college: Jacksonville St.) stepped up for the hosts with 25 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds. Alex Acker had 20 points, 8 boards and 5 assists, while DeWitt Scott added 19 pts. Cartier Sims nailed 37 points for the loosing side.
Erie - Sioux Falls 92-110 Keith Brumbaugh, who collected 34 points and 8 rebounds, paced the Skyforce to 10th victory of the season (10-5). Glen McGowan helped with double-double, 21 points and 12 boards. Erik Daniels top-scored in defeat with 18 points (also had 8 rebs). BayHawks 9-6.
Albuquerque - Rio Grande 116-105 Third win for the Thunderbirds, mostly owing to Will Conroy, who nailed 25 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. David Monds had 21 pts and 13 rebs, while David Noel also registered 21 pts, but with 11 rebs. Smush Parker scored 18 on the other side. Thunderbirds 3-10, Vipers 7-9.
Dakota - Anaheim 103-98 9-7 for the Wizards and 5-9 for the Arsenal after this game. Blake Ahearn once again was a key player for the winning side draining 27 points. Cedric Bozeman collected 28 pts and 8 rebounds for the hosts.
Austin - Idaho 94-97 Idaho Stampede celebrated against the Toros, thus both teams are on the same 11-4 record now. Jamaal Tatum, who came off the bench shined for the winners with 21 points and 10 assists. Andre Brown had 21 pts and 11 rebs in defeat.
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