Santa Barbara Breakers win WCBL crown - Jun 2, 2011 The Santa Barbara Breakers Professional Basketball team won two games on saturday, May 28, to take back the WCBL crown that denied them in 2010, with a resounding 130-108 semi-final win over the Venice Beach Ninja's (3rd seeded of 8 teams) and 4 hours later, defeated the West LA Advantage 110-107 in the Championship Game at Santa Barbara High School Gymnasium. In the earlier semi-final contest, the Advantage came back from a 26 point deficit to defeat the previous undefeated Nationwide Allstars (11-1) 120-115. The hero's for the Breakers were MVP Keith Closs (7'4''-C-76, college: Cent.Conn.St.) who set WCBL and Breaker Alltime Records with 25 rebounds and 13 blocked shots in the semi-final game. He followed this up with 11 rebounds and 6 blocked shots in the Title game and was supported fully by Tim Taylor (6'3''-G-82, college: Wayne St., NE) 's 31 points, Deon Marcus (6'8''-F-84) 's 26 points and the saavy defense of James Powell (6'2''-G-87, agency: Limelight Hoops, college: UCSB) and Anthony Danridge (6'5''-G/F-86, college: N.Mexico). In the Title Game, the Breakers trailed early 23-16 but got the transitional game ignited with the inserted bench additions of Stan Fletcher (6'4''-G-80, college: Moorpark CC) and Donald Lee (6'6''-F). At the end of the break, it was tied up at 28 apiece In the second quarter, the fastbreak tempo continued for the Breakers behind Powell's 9 and Marcus's 11 points, respectively. With the aid of Closs's patrolling of the paint, the Breakers gained a 61-46 until the Advantage finished the quarter off with a 7-0 run, resulting in a Breakers 61-53 lead at halftime. The third quarter witnessed the Breakers unleashing another 'tsunami attack' with the transitional game behind the smaller lineup of Taylor, Powell, Fletcher, Dandridge and Closs. This produced a 80-63 lead. But, like their previous game character, the Advantage staged a monolith defense, hit transitional 3's and when the dust cleared, the Breakers were holding on to a precious lead of 86-80 at the end of 3 quarters. The Breakers re-built their lead to 11 points in the 4th and final frame but gutsy play by the Advantage notted the game up at 105-105 with 40 seconds to play. An off balance 13 footer on the right wing produced a 2 point lead and off a missed jumper, Tim Taylor secured the defensive rebound and was fouled excessively by Jushey Rockett (6'6''-F-84, college: Alaska-Fairb.) of the West LA. James Powell sank the technical free throw and Taylor hit both of his charity shots for a 110-105 lead. David Vik (6'11''-C-72, college: Washington St.), 6'11 center for West LA, hit a quick bucket with 2.0 seconds to play. And just to keep the suspense and drama alive, the inbounds pass was deflected off a Breakers fingertips and the Advantage had the ball back for a possible 3 point shot attempt and tie. Fortunately for the Breakers, Vik's deep 3 pointer over the outstretched hands of James Powell was short and the Breakers recorded their 3rd WCBL title in 4 years. All WCBL Tournament selections, besides Keith Closs 's MVP award, went to Tim Taylor and Deon Marcus. Additional WCBL All-League Awards will be announced on June 3. |
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