Oklahoma's inside game too much
By GEORGE GEISE
Tribune Sports Editor
Link: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071207/SPORTS/712070341/1006/SPORTS
What the Great Falls Explorers really could use is a breather.
The Explorers had to play the best teams in the Continental Basketball Association on three consecutive nights, a difficult challenge for any club in any pro league.
Coach Scott Wedman's team fell 114-104 Thursday night to the Oklahoma Cavalry, a team that was unbeaten in its first five games before getting outplayed by Great Falls on Wednesday night.
The Explorers won the first quarter 28-26, but that was the only point they picked up on a night when only about 225 fans showed up at Four Seasons Arena. In their first three home games, the Explorers have attracted about 1,000 fans in all.
The fans who have stayed home have missed some good basketball, much of it played by the visiting squads. Whereas the Yakama Sun Kings (9-0) outlasted the Explorers Tuesday night with excellent athleticism and outside shooting, the Cavalry used superior size and inside power to do most of the damage.Walt Walters, a 7-foot, 280-pound post player, had a CBA-career high with 17 points, and a pair of 6-10 athletes — Adam Spanich and Pierre Darden — combined for 21 points.
"That's probably the biggest team in the league, from what I've seen," said Explorers center Tyler Hughes, who's no shrimp himself at 6-11 and 250 pounds. Hughes scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds, one night after getting 12 points and 11 boards in Great Falls' 107-103 victory over the Cavalry.
Hughes said the Explorers weren't intimidated by the competition this week, even though the club saw its overall record drop to 2-8.
"We're not going to say we're the best game in the league," said Hughes. "but we proved last night by beating Oklahoma that we can play with anybody in the league. We're going to get nothing but better.
Hughes, a rookie who played last year at NCAA Div. II Henderson State in Arkansas, scored five straight field goals in the fourth quarter to keep his team close. But Daryan Selvy, a 6-5 guard who played college ball for the Oklahoma Sooners, sank six straight free throws to keep coach Micheal Ray Richardson's team safely in front.
Selvy, who averages 26 points per game, settled for 18 points including all 10 of his charity tosses. Guard Curtis Haywood led the Cavs with 27 points — twice his season average — and eight rebounds. The much bigger Cavs outrebounded the Explorers 43-28.
The Explorers had five players in double digits including three with 20 or more — the first time this season that's occurred. Southpaw guard Cody Toppert led the charge with 23 points including two 3-pointers. Nate Green, a 6-6 forward, came off the bench to score 22 points and grab eight rebounds. Guard Keith Salscheider added 18 points and forward Eric Strand added 12.
Wedman used seven players most of the game after starting guard William Maupins sprained his ankle in the first quarter. He returned in the fourth period but clearly was bothered by the injury.
Post players Mike Harmon and Najeeb Echols combined for only one point and five rebounds, and backup forward Mike Chavez of Browning didn't score in limited court action.
The good news is that a breather may be on the way.
The Explorers finally get a day off today, then they open a two-game set Saturday night against the Rio Grande Valley (Texas) Silverados, who are 0-10 after losing Thursday night at Butte.
The Cavalry, who practiced at 6 a.m. Thursday because Richardson was upset by their play Wednesday night, travel to Yakama for a two-game series starting Saturday.