The Legends were looking to avenge their overtime loss the night before. E.J. Gallup, Lloyd Johnson, Tiki Mayben, Tadre Sheppard, and Kenny Tribbett were the team's starters.
The Legends started the game off hot and were up 9-0 with 10 minutes left in the quarter. They continued to dominate and went up 19-2 with 8:10 left. A 3-pointer by Gallup put the Legends up 32-20, but the Soldiers came back and ended the quarter on a 12-3 run. The Legends were up 35-32 at the end of the 1st.
The Soldiers and the the Legends went head-to-head in the second quarter. A dunk by Billy Rush put the Soldiers up 36-35. Midway through the period, Marcus Snipes and John Coffino had a verbal confrontation on the bench. After taking him out of the game, Coffino said to Snipes, "Where were you on that play?" After Snipes talked back, Coffino said, "Take your uniform off" twice. They both cooled off and seemed cool with each other later in the game.
Later in the second quarter, when the game was tied 46-46, Mayben was fouled while going up for a layup and rolled around on the floor in pain. It looked like he hurt his back. He left the gym for the locker room, but checked back in the second half and was productive. The Legends were up 70-60 at the end of the first half.
The Legends maintained their lead in the third quarter, but I didn't pay much attention because I was too busy watching Guy Dupuy. Coffino and Dupuy started arguing on the bench shortly after the second half started. Dupuy left the gym after more unfriendly words were exchanged between them, including Dupuy saying something about it being his "last game." He walked back through the gym a few minutes later in street clothes and talked to Nick Dean, the General Manager of the Legends, in the lobby. Dupuy later returned to the gym carrying a baby and spent the rest of the game in the bleachers with Dean.
The Legends were up 95-86 at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Soldiers jumped out and went on a 7-0 run to start the period. Later, two free throws by Ryan Edwards tied the game at 99-99. The Soldiers went up 107-102 with 5 minutes left in regulation. Edwards had the ball at the top of the key and was being guarded tight by Kyle Downey when I yelled, "Yo Edwards, you got nothing!" He responded by missing an off-balance mid-range jumper.....Yeah, I totally psyched him out.
The game went down to the wire and was tied 115-115 with 1:32 left. A layup by Johnson put the Legends up 119-118 with less than a minute left. Two free throws by Rush after an odd intentional foul by Mayben put the Soldiers up 122-119 with 20.5 seconds left. Johnson tied the game with a clutch 3-pointer and the Soldiers took a timeout with 11.5 seconds left. Edwards missed a long shot off the backboard and the Legends took a timeout with 3 seconds left. Johnson missed a long three at the buzzer and the game went into overtime with the score at 122-122.
Edwards made a 3-pointer to start overtime and put the Soldiers up 125-122. A free throw by Sheppard cut the lead to 1 and the Legends were down 133-132 with less than 2 minutes left in overtime. A free throw by Mayben with 1:10 left put the Legends up 134-133. However, Edwards responded by making a 3-pointer with 57.7 seconds left and putting the Soldiers up 136-134. A free throw by Mayben tied the game at 136-136 with 44.5 seconds left. Anthony Kyle made a pair of free throws with 17.1 left and put the Soldiers up 141-138. Sheppard missed a 3-pointer and Edwards made a pair a free throws with 7.8 seconds left, putting the Soldiers up 143-138. The Legends were unable to come back and lost 144-140.
The Soldiers out-rebounded the Legends by a noticeable margin again (59-40). In a blog entry before the season started, I predicted that lack of size would be a problem for the Legends. These last two games have proved my point. The Legends are really missing Scott Morton right now. Also, the Legends couldn't get defensive stops when they needed them again.
Player of the Game: Ryan Edwards (51 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists)
Anthony Kyle helped out with 35 points and 8 assists and Stan Chismark chipped in with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Billy Rush finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Legend of the Game: Lloyd Johnson (40 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists)
Tiki Mayben also had a great game and finished with 31 points and 7 assists. Tadre Sheppard had a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds. E.J. Gallup scored 22 points in the game, but was a non-factor in the second half and overtime.
Random Highlight of the Game: Anthony Kyle to Ryan Edwards for alley-oop dunk
The Albany Legends (7-2) will play the Kankakee County Soldiers (7-1) today at 6 pm at CBA to end the series. The Legends need to win this game to avoid getting swept.
Have any thoughts on the Legends losing their second straight game to the Soldiers? Has Albany seen the last of Guy Dupuy? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.
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