Thursday night capped off the pool play of the Metro Basketball League at the Omaha Sports academy. The largest crowd of the summer witnessed some hard fought games as some teams have ratcheted up their defense in anticipation of tournament play next week.
Creighton’s Austin Chatman and Ethan Wragge made their Summer League 2011 debuts, while brothers Greg Smith and Dwight Smith of Colorado State joined in on their first action of the summer. Meanwhile UNO Alumni locked up the #1 seed for the start of next week’s tournament finishing 5-0.
A lot of kids were out seeking autographs tonight from their favorite players and older people like us saw eight games in under two hours. Even referee John Higgins put his time in refereeing a couple of games. Here is what we saw tonight.
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Chris Carder Agency 79, John Higgins Weatherguard 69
The Chris Carder Agency was looking for their first win of the summer against an undefeated John Higgins Weatherguard. Colorado State’s Dwight Smith and Nebraska Wesleyan graduate Bob Ludwig joined the Carder Agency for the first time this season as they sported a full roster in this one. The game was back and forth early and Carder Agency went into the half up 39-37.
In the second half, John Higgins Weatherguard took the lead for a large part of the half behind UNO senior Mitch Albers and former Husker John Turek. However, Smith and Jason Dourisseau led a comeback on back to back baskets by both players and the Chris Carder Agency took the lead back 60-59 with 6:45 to go. The lead went back to Higgins 63-62 with 5:07 remaining before consecutive baskets including a basket on a foul by Bellevue University graduate Ben Holling to put the Carder Agency back on top for good. Smith sealed the game with two free throws with 1:25 to go to put them up 75-67 and John Higgins Weatherguard couldn’t had trouble finding the basket in the final few minutes as the Carder Agency got their first win of Summer League and have set themselves up for a run in the tournament next week.
Bellevue University 69, Narmi Group 45
This game had the debut of Creighton’s Austin Chatman and he did not disappoint early. He hit a couple of three pointers early and he looks really fast. Will Artino was not there tonight to help out which let Bellevue University dominate around the basket. Although Bellevue University was only up 32-28 at the half, the Narmi Group had too many turnovers in the second half and the Bruins were able to show off their dunking abilities. Bellevue moved to 4-1, while the Narmi Group finished pool play at 2-3
Bellevue Alumni 100, Shanks Law Firm 85
Creighton’s Ethan Wragge made his first appearance of the summer with the Shanks Law team and didn’t show too many signs of foot injury that kept him out almost all last season, nor the minor knee surgery he had at the end of the spring. Wragge even looks like he put on some good muscle since we have seen him last. He had a few steals in the early part of the game.
It was close in the first half as the Bellevue Alumni took the halftime lead 44-43 after a last second three pointer by Midland’s Jalen Heuser was waved off. In the second half, with no Nevin Johnson or Geoffrey Groselle around to help out tonight, Shanks Law did not have enough firepower to keep up and Bellevue Alumni gets the win 100-85. Bellevue Alumni finished 2-3 while Shanks Law went 0-5 in pool play.
Zurlo’s Pizza 85, Walentine O’Toole McQuillan & Gordon 84
Zurlo’s Pizza looked like they were going to run away with this game early as they raced out to a 41-20 lead with 6:30 go to in the first half. However, if you remember back from week one where Zurlo’s barely survived after giving up a 20-point halftime lead. This week was somewhat similar as WOMG went on a run and cut the lead to 49-44 at the half.
In the second half, WOMG continued their run and took a 71-63 lead with about six minutes left capping a 51-22 run. However, Zurlo’s came back tying the game at 79 with 1:17 to go. Zurlo’s Steven Ferarrini scored a layup with about a minute to go to take an 81-79 lead and another basket put them up 83-79. South Dakota graduate Derek Paben was fouled while shooting a three on a questionable call against Chad Spady and hit 2-of-3 free throws to cut it to 83-81 with 13 seconds to go. Ferarrini was then fouled. The future Husker sank both free throws to extend the lead back to four, 85-81 and Paben responded by hitting a three at the buzzer but it wasn’t enough. Zurlo’s goes to 4-1 while Walentine, O’Toole, McQuillan & Gordon fell to 3-2
Paragas Law 75, Barley’s 68
The Creighton alumni team of Paragas Law raced out to an 11-0 lead and Barley’s played without Rodney Buford and other regulars on the Barley’s team. It looked to get ugly early, but Barley’s kept it somewhat close down 39-28 at the half. In the second half, Paragas Law continued their dominance including back-to-back dunks by Justin Carter. One of his dunks had everyone watching scream out in ahh’s as he got up pretty high and throwing it down. Though it looked close, it wasn’t that close and both teams were sort of trying to show off for each other in the final 6 minutes.
Omaha Mavs 95, EQ School of Hair 80
Both teams were close in the first half as the Omaha Mavs took a 39-38 lead to the half, but EQ School of Hair ran out of gas down the stretch and the Mavs were flying around the court in their win.
Other Scores:
Thompson Basketball Camp 108, Judd Knispel Agency 88
The Judd Knispel Agency again had a slow start and although they kept up in the second half, the damage was already done. The Knispel Agency finished pool play at 0-5 while Thompson Basketball Camp finished with a scoring explosion and finished at 2-3.
UNO Alumni 99, Leach Camper Sales 77
The UNO Alumni dominated like they have all summer and locked up the #1 seed with a 5-0 record.