Mixed results for D-League coaches
By Dave Ryan
Chris Finch and Nick Nurse both saw their teams split their NBA D-League games over the weekend.
Finch and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers won 124-106 at Bakersfield before losing 116-114 in the following day’s game, while Nurse’s Iowa Energy snapped a three game losing streak at Erie on Friday, but suffered a surprise defeat the following day.
On Friday, Vipers’ forward Ernest Scott scored a career-high 29 points on nine from 15 shooting from behind the arc, while Kenny Hasbrouck finished with a career-high eight assists to go with 19 points. Stanley Asumnu had his best game of the season, with 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals and Julian Sensley finished with 13 points and nine rebounds in his return from injury.
The Vipers converted 16 of their 28 shots from the Land of Plenty including five of their first seven as they rushed into a 40-24 first quarter lead before Jam scored 17 of the first 21 points in the second period to close the gap to three with 5:41 left in the half. But Vipers hit five of their next six shots, including two three-pointers, and went into the locker room 64-53 ahead.
Scott hit a pair of three-pointers Craig Winder hit one and Julian Sensley drained a lay-up as the Vipers opened the third quarter on an 11-3 run to take a 75-56 lead, and they never looked back.
Things were different the following day as Jam guard Trey Johnson hit a fall-away jumper to give his victory.
Craig Winder hit a long three-pointer from the left wing to tie the game 114-114 with 10 seconds left before Johnson hit the game-winner.
It was definitely one that got away for Vipers, as they led 101-89 with 5:50 remaining. They had trailed 23-20 at the first break and 53-41 at half-time before outscoring the home side 41-21 in the third period to take control of the game.
Vipers’ Kenny Hasbrouck finished with a career-high 29 points while hitting 12-of-20 shots. Winder scored 28 points to go with a career-high nine rebounds, five assists and a career-high tying five steals.
Finch’s team are still top of the Western Conference in the D-League with a 27-11 record. They host Austin on Tuesday and Wednesday before Tulsa are the visitors on Saturday and Sunday.
Meanwhile Nurse and the Iowa Energy continue to stutter, but remain on top of the Eastern Conference.
Thirty-five points and 24 rebounds from Earl Barron helped them to a 116-111 win at Erie BayHawks on Friday, but the following day they went down 127-120 at the same side as they finally got a win against Iowa at the tenth time of asking this season.
In Friday’s game, Barron scored 11 early points as Energy led by 16 points in the first period before Erie fought back over the next two periods and were up by eight with 7:28 to play in the game. But the Energy responded by outscoring the BayHawks 24-11 in the remaining minutes to chalk up the win.
Jeff Trepagnier added 22 points and Pat Carroll and Tyndale each chipped in 17 for the first place team in the Eastern Conference.
The following night saw Energy lead 36-30 at quarter-time before the teams went into the locker room tied at 66 following a high-scoring half. The third period saw five lead changes, but it was the home team who shaded it by a point before wrapping up the win with a 35-29 fourth quarter.
Energy were led by Cartier Martin’s 37 points, including six of his eight attempts from downtown, and Earl Barron’s double-double of 23 points and 10 boards as Nurse’s team slipped to 31-10.
Iowa now travel to second placed Maine for a double header on Friday and Sunday.
