Division Title Now Just One Win Away for Bay Area
Game: Alexandria Avengers (2-10) at Bay Area Shuckers (9-4)
Date: Saturday, February 23, 2013
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Kilby Center, Annapolis Area Christian School, 109 Burns Crossing Road, Severn, Maryland
Last Game: The Shuckers set team records for points in regulation time (143) and largest margin of victory (26) with a resounding 143-117 win over the Hudson Valley Kingz (6-4). The Avengers fell at the Beltway Bombers 128-115.
Common Opponents: Record: Shuckers 1-2, Avengers 0-2, Points for: Shuckers 119, Avengers 119, Points against: Shuckers 122.33, Avengers 131.5.
Career Series: Avengers lead series 1-0. Alexandria defeated the Shuckers on February 9, 2013 134-132.
Shuckers Player to Watch: #34 Dennard Abraham (6’9”, 245, Towson), #23 Ameer Ali (6’6”, 250, Morgan State), #1 Jabril Bailey (6’4”, 193, Slippery Rock), #45 F Gus Chase (6’5”, 250, Georgetown College), #5 G Rocky Coleman (6’3”, 180, Towson), #11 G Terry Hosley (6’, 160, Maryland Bible), #15 G Mike McKenzie (6’1”, 170, Delaware State), #21 G Derek Savage (6’4”, 209, Goldey-Beacom), #14 G Lamarr Shorts (6’2”, 205, Bryan College), #24 G Gerald Stansbury (6’2”, 190, Marymount), #33 F Anthony Thomas (6’6”, 212, American International), #32 F Danny Thompson (6’7”, 230, Mount St. Mary’s) .
Avengers Players to Watch: G Mike Battle (6’5”, Central Florida), F Darnell Dodson (6’7”, Southern Mississippi), G George Johnson (6’4”, Augusta State), G Brandon Simms (5’2”, Shaw), C Ali Djim (6’9”, Bowie State)
Shuckers Snapshot: Bay Area enters this contest as winners of four of their last five games, with the lone loss coming against the Avengers two weeks ago on a last second tip-in by Darnell Dodson. The Shuckers continue to have a solid starting five with Terry Hosley (32.91), Gus Chase (23.73), Rocky Coleman (20.73) and Danny Thompson (15.91) all scoring in double figures, while Mike McKenzie continues to dish out 5.45 assists per game. Thompson also has pulled down a phenomenal amount of rebounds averaging 15.09 a game and has blocked 4.5 shots a contest. The Shuckers bench has also continued to develop as Jabril Bailey is averaging 12 points a game, Derek Savage, a starter last season, just returned from an injury after missing nearly a year, and Dennard Abraham, who missed ten games with an Achilles injury; just returned. In addition Ameer Ali, Lamarr Shorts, Gerald Stansbury, and Anthony Thomas continue to play key roles.
Avengers Snapshot: The Avengers quickly gained the league’s attention two weeks ago with their last second win over the Shuckers. Last week they ran into stiff competition playing at the defending APBL champions, the Bombers, and lost by a wide margin.
Outlook: With their decisive win last weekend the Shuckers now are in position to win their first Colonial Division title, in only their second season, at home this weekend. Hard to believe, but it would be the first professional basketball division title in the Baltimore metro area since the Baltimore Bullets won the NBA’s Eastern Division title in 1972-1973; a span of 40 years. The Shuckers can also clinch with a loss by the Winchester Storm (3-7) at the Rockville Victors (10-1). A division title earns the Shuckers a first round home game in the APBL playoffs.
For more information on the Bay Area Shuckers please visit www.BayAreaShuckers.com.
