Skyrockets blast past Explorers
By GEORGE GEISE
Tribune Sports Editor
Link: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/SPORTS/801030329
The Great Falls Explorers caught a break Wednesday night when the Minot Skyrockets' leading scorer, Ronnie Fields, was sick with the flu and couldn't play.
They also got a little lucky when the Skyrockets missed 18 foul shots.
But all the good fortune in the world isn't going to help a professional basketball team that misses two-thirds of its shots, as the Explorers did in a disappointing 106-79 loss before about 400 fans at Four Seasons Arena.
It didn't help that the Skyrockets (12-5), the top team in the American Division, shot 51 percent from the floor and attacks the basket enough to shoot 44 free throws.
"Basically, I mean, we've got to buck it out on defense and get stops," said 6-5 Great Falls guard Marlyn Bryant, who made his season debut at Four Seasons after rejoining the team last week in Texas.
"All the other stuff, the offense, will come together, will work out for itself," added Bryant, who scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds while adding some energy to the offense.
"It's a learning experience, with new guys, but if we play hard it'll come together," said Bryant, who was a strong player for last year's Explorers, who went 24-24 under coach Steve Aggers.
These Explorers are now 5-15 under coach Scott Wedman and on Wednesday didn't earn a single quarter point against a team that had only eight players in uniform.
Fields, a 6-4 guard who averages better than 21 points per game, sat on the bench in street clothes.
"I've got the flu and I'm day-to-day, man," said Fields. "If I could get two days off, it would be good."
The Skyrockets obviously didn't need Fields Wednesday, so coach Chris Daleo might well rest him again tonight when the CBA rivals meet at 6:05 at the arena.
"I hope he doesn't play (tonight)," said Great Falls guard Cody Toppert, who scored 17 points despite not getting to the foul line.
"They're a good team, a real good team, but in the second quarter it went awry for us," said Toppert. "They had a 4-point possession, then their guy hits a 40-footer, and they get a 3-pointer at the buzzer."
Minot scored 17 straight points late in the second period to turn a 37-35 lead into a romp. At one point, the Skyrockets hit nine free throws and a 3-pointer while the Explorers missed six straight shots.
Great Falls could at least have escaped with a quarter point in the third period, but reserve Marshall Phillips sank a short field goal from the lane with 1.7 seconds to play to give the visitors a 21-20 victory.
Great Falls also used some good outside shooting to build a solid fourth-quarter lead, but Minot's superior strength inside wore down the Explorers.
Still, the addition of Bryant has to help the strugging Explorers, Toppert said.
"What we saw tonight, he gets on the boards, crashes as hard as he can," said Toppert, a smooth-shooting southpaw.
"We need that kind of intensity on the offensive and defensive glass. Marlyn will bring lots of quickness and that will help in the offense we run."
Five Skyrockets scored between 16 and 20 points, led by 6-7 forward Ray Cunningham with 20 points. He also grabbed 15 rebounds. Phillips came off the bench to score 17 points and grab eight boards as Minot owned a 54-49 advantage on the glass.
Keith Salscheider led Great Falls with 19 points including a 3-for-4 effort from 3-point range. Post players Tyler Hughes and Joe Principe combined for only five points and nine rebounds, and were whistled for 10 fouls.
Explorers forward Mike Chavez, the former Heart Butte and Browning prep star, was waived from the roster earlier Wednesday, but sat on the bench and supported his former teammates.
"There's no more injured-reserve list," said Wedman. "We hope Mike stays around and practices with us."