2008 Woodie Awards
Idaho deflates Skyforce for the 30th win of the season
TATE CASTLETON
Sports Writer
Issue date: 4/5/07 Section: Sports
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The Stampede was led by guard Ronell Taylor, who scored 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
“I felt pretty good out there tonight and it just seemed like all my shots were falling at the right time,” Taylor said. “We got out there as a team tonight and played well on both ends of the floor.”
Four others scored in double figures for Idaho, including Lance Allred who scored 18 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. Eddie Robinson scored 17 points and DeSean Hadley added 13 points.
“These guys all played really well tonight and should be happy about it,” Head Coach Bryan Gates said. “What I was really happy with though is how we controlled Sioux Falls on the defensive glass. That was the difference maker tonight.”
Idaho produced points on offense with ease Tuesday night, averaging more than 100 points per game this season. But Coach Gates wasn’t kidding when he said defensive rebounds made all the difference against a very good Skyforce squad (28-18).
Sioux Falls big man Amir Johnson scored 19 points Tuesday night but managed only six rebounds. For many players those numbers may seem like average statistics, but for Johnson, it’s not good enough. The 6’9” forward from the Detroit Pistons snatched 35 offensive rebounds over a five-game span this season, including one game in which he pulled down 11. On this night Johnson was held to just one offensive rebound.
“That was huge for us,” Gates said. “Give most of the credit to Lance [Allred] because he did a fantastic job keeping him contained and limiting what he could do out there tonight against us.”
As a team, Sioux Falls collected just 13 rebounds and shot 43 percent from the field.
The Stampede allowed a league-best 96.3 points per game by their opponents this season and that, according to Gates, is no coincidence.
“This is what we focus on,” Gates said. “We know our offense will come, but it’s defense that wins games.”
The Stampede led by as many as 13 points but the team shot just 41 percent from the field, which left the door wide open for the Skyforce. Tuesday night’s game featured six ties and five lead changes in the second half. Sioux Falls was able to reclaim the lead with just under nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but two late technical fouls and an ejection for Sioux Falls Head Coach Mo McHone doused any chances of stopping the Stampede late in the quarter.
“We didn’t let the officiating bother us or affect our emotions,” Taylor said. “Our opponents tonight were getting caught up in it and it affected their focus, no question.”
The Stampede did surrender nearly 50 points in the paint when they normally give up just under 25 points. Idaho did make good on 14 second-chance points and dumped in 46 points in the paint of its own.
“We made some plays tonight and got big play from our bench and we really needed that,” Gates said. “We were able to put up 91 shots as a team and even though we only shot 42 percent from the field, when you’re getting that many opportunities it’s hard to lose.”
With the win Idaho captured its 30th win of the season and extended its lead to just one game more than the Dakota Wizards, who lead the Eastern Division. The Stampede has clinched a home playoff game during the 2007 D-League playoffs.
“We just need to keep putting the ball in the basket and play good defense,” Gates said. “When we do that we don’t lose. It’s simple, but we know what we have to do heading into the playoffs.”
On April 3 the Stampede acquired former University of Maryland point guard John Gilchrist.
The 6’3” 201 pound guard went un-drafted in the 2005 NBA Draft but did average 13.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 28 games for the Terrapins.
His first action in a Stampede uniform will be Friday, April 6, when Idaho takes on Colorado in Broomfield, Colo.
The Stampede then returns home on Saturday, April 7, to face off again with the 14ers at 7 p.m. in Quest Arena.
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