The Shreveport Maverick fell in Game 2 of the Central Conference Finals to the Potawatomi Fire 122-117 at Fire Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma on Saturday night. The Fire stayed undefeated on their home court for the season and now advanced to the Regional Finals against the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Seattle Super Hawks and Long Beach Blue Waves. Seattle currently leads that series 1-0.
UTRNWLA Amazon Basketball Items
The Mavericks were without one of their key players Paul Parks. Patrick Meyers took command with 35 points and 7 assists. Jay Hedgeman finished with 27 points and 8 rebounds. Tyronne Jordan scored 23 points with 5 rebounds. Jeffrey Boyd banged the boards with 12 rebounds. Madit Maliet helped with 6 rebounds. Winford Ross-Holmes had 5 rebounds.
Prep For College with these Amazon Links For School Supplies
Potawatomi Fire’s Deshawn Munson was the top scorer with a double-double of 41 points and 12 rebounds, and Daylon Guy bucketed 25 points and 9 assists. Kierre Moore also had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Ricardo Artis II added 13 points with 6 rebounds. Lyletacoma Hexom snatched 10 rebounds. Terry Maston took 6 rebounds.
Help Under The Radar NWLA By Checking Out These Great Amazon Deals
Potawatomi jumped out early and built a 14-10 lead and the Fire jumped on a 7-0 run. Munson started the run with a put-back rebound followed by two free throws. Darin Johns added a 3-pointer to move the lead to double digits at 21-10. Shreveport tried to close the gap later in the first quarter. Meyers started with two free throws. Jeffrey Boyd makes the steal and feeds to Meyers for the layup. Winston Ross-Holmes draws fouls from Hexom and former Maverick Paul Harrison converting all four free throws. Shreveport closed in to within four at 26-22. The Mavericks got within two points but Potawatomi carried out a 30-26 first-quarter lead.
Computer Tablets Computers UTRNWLA Amazon Link
Potawatomi slowly built an eight-point lead in the second quarter to 47-39 with five minutes remaining in the half. The Fire jumped out on a 13-2 run. Guy started with a jump shot. Guy made a steal but missed the shot. Munson rebounded and put the rebound back in the basket. Guy then nailed a three-pointer as the Fire was now a 54-39 lead. Joshua Montgomery gave the Mavericks a score on a layup. Potawatomi jumped back into it with two free throws from Maston following a foul by Montgomery. Moore makes the steal and feeds Hexom for the dunk. Guy ended what he started with a layup. Potawatomi had built a 19-point lead at 60-41. The Fire took a 67-49 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Decorate The Dorm UTRNWLA Amazon Link
Shreveport made a run to close the gap early in the third quarter with an 11-0 run. Jordan started by nailing a three-point shot. Evans took a shot under the goal and missed but Meyers was there to put it back in. Jordan drew the foul from Moore and hit one of two free throws. Maliet went to town to remind the Fire the Mavericks were still there as he emphasized with a dunk. Maliet drove the lane scoring the layup and then drawing the foul to make it a 3-point play. Shreveport cut the lead to eight points with 6:30 remaining in the third quarter. The Mavericks got to within five at 78-73 with five minutes remaining in the third. This was a little too close for comfort for Potawatomi. Maston scored a layup to trigger the run. Moore added a dunk for the Fire. Guy and Munson added scores to push the lead back to 13 points at 86-73. Potawatomi took a 98-31 lead into the final quarter.
With their season on the line, the Mavericks would not go down quietly. Three minutes into the fourth quarter, Shreveport closed the gap to six points. Boyd fought to get his basket after two rebounds the basket fell. Boyd snared a defensive rebound and sent the ball to Maliet who fed Hedgeman for a dunk. Boyd was under the goal again for a defensive rebound and fed Meyers for a fade-away jump shot. Meyers added another layup to close the lead to 102-96. The Fire tried to push away the pesky Mavericks and pushed the lead back to double digits at 11 points with 2:28 remaining. Shreveport went on another 8-0 run with Meyers scoring two free throws to start. Boyd popped a 3-pointer. Meyers drew a foul on Guy on a made layup to make it a three-point play. Potawatomi was up 115-112 with 56 seconds remaining. Shreveport’s Boyd fouled Guy to score two free throws. Tevin Foster scored on a layup as the Fire was in the lead 119-112 with 39 seconds remaining. Meyers added another fade away to keep the Mavericks in striking distance at 119-114. Mavericks in foul mode sent Hexom to the foul line scoring one of two at 120-114. Jordan nailed a three-pointer with 8 seconds left at 120-117. Hedgeman had a final second foul but Moore hit both free throws to run the time out on the Mavericks season.
The Mavericks season may not have ended with a second Lillie but two years in a row at the Central Conference Finals is a fantastic feat. Congratulations to the Mavericks on a fantastic 2023 TBL Season.
This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through links. I will only recommend products that I have personally used! Learn more on my Private Policy page.