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HomeNewsArchivesSpeak the Word Powers by Rockers 76-69 with Pressure Defense

Speak the Word Powers by Rockers 76-69 with Pressure Defense

July 16, 2008 — Speak the Word used a full-court press late in Tuesday night's CBA game to beat the winless rockers 76-69 at the St. Croix Central gym.
For awhile it looked as if the Rockers would get their first victory of the season. They led by as many as seven points late in the third quarter. However, as has been the case in some of their earlier contests, they suffered a late meltdown — this time brought on by Speak the Word's pressure defense.
Speak the word led the closely played contest from the onset and enjoyed a five-point lead at the half at 33-28.
The Rockers, however, got hot in the third quarter and, with a balanced attack, outscored Speak the Word 24-16 in the period to lead 52-49 at the end of three quarters. The Rockers enjoyed leads as large as seven points before late baskets by Danny Kirby and Jermaine Mulley allowed Speak the Word to close the gap to three points.
The Rockers' three-point lead did not last long in the fourth quarter. After an early exchange of baskets, Speak the Word coach Peidy Williams went to the full-court press, which reaped almost immediate positive results. A plethora of turnovers by the Rockers and Mulley's sudden hot shooting enabled Speak the Word to erase the three-point deficit quickly and take the lead.
Mulley, who exploded for 14 points in the final quarter, at one point hit three consecutive three-pointers. Minutes earlier the Rockers looked poised for their first win, but now appeared helpless to avoid yet another tough loss. After one of Mulley's three pointers, Speak the Word had their biggest lead of the game, nine points at 74-65 with 1:50 to go. With the game more or less in hand, the teams would exchange baskets in the waning moments with the Rockers scoring the last two points of the game for a final score of 76-69.
Mulley scored all 17 of his points in the second half to lead Speak the Word offensively. Teammates Danny Kirby and Darnell Phillips netted 14 and 10 points, respectively, but Phillips also had a big night on the boards with a game-high 10 rebounds. For the Rockers, who played their hearts out Tuesday night, veteran star Paul "Ice" Jones led all scores with 16 points while pulling down eight rebounds. Teammates Olani "Pure Stroke" Vanterpool and Patrick "Windex" Price chipped in with 12 points apiece.
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