The Shreveport Mavericks took game one of the TBL National Championship over the Albany Patroon 125-115 at the Centenary Gold Dome on Saturday night. This will be Shreveport’s last home game of the season and they gave the raucous crowd of 1,567 a thrilling win. The series will now move on to Albany, New York for Game 2 on Wednesday, July 6 and, if necessary Game 3 on Thursday, July 7.
Shreveport shot lights-out from beyond the arc shooting an impressive 17 for 28 (60 percent). Albany struggled in three-point land hitting only 7 for 20 (35 percent). Shreveport needed the outside shot because the Patroon dominated in the paint outscoring the Mavericks 60-36.
Paul Parks led the Mavericks with 33 points. Parks shot 10 for 17 (58 percent) from the field including 7 for 12 (58 percent) for threes. Parks also pulled down 7 rebounds. Tyrone Jordan also had an impressive 28 points shooting 9 for 13 (69 percent) from the field including 4 for 6 (67 percent) from beyond the arc. Paul Harrison netted 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Tyrin Cummings bucketed 11 points. Patrick Meyers and Alani Moore each contributed 10 points.
Albany’s lead scorer was Anthony Moe with 24 points and 8 rebounds. Jared Sam netted 19 points and 9 rebounds. Kameron Williams and Devon Dillard each had 18 points. AJ Mosby bucketed 14 points and 6 assists. Trevis Wyche helped with 5 assists.
Albany took the first run starting with a three from Dillard followed by a couple of free throws. Sam made one of two free throws to close out the 6-0 run and give the Patroon a 10-6 lead. Shreveport had closed within to 14-13 after Moore’s three. Albany went on a two-minute 10-0 run kicked off by a Dillard three. Moe put the Patroon emphasis on a dunk followed by Mosby’s three. Albany was up 24-13 with 2:52 remaining in the first. Shreveport fired back as Cummings buried a three to end the Patroon run. Tyrone Jordan was fouled on the three-point attempt. Jordan hit all three from the charity stripe. Shreveport was back within 5. Albany took the 32-28 lead after one period.
The Mavericks came out early and took back the lead with a 6-0 burst. McIntyre and Paul Harrison scored. Jordan was fouled and added two free throws. The Mavericks had pulled ahead 36-34. It didn’t last long as the New York team countered with their own 6-0 run to take back the lead at 40-36. The two continued to swap leads throughout the remainder of the second quarter. Shreveport exited the second quarter up 62-57.
Albany went early in the third to catch the Mavericks on a 6-0 run and tie at 67-67. The game continued back and forth until Parks and Meyers pushed Shreveport with back-to-back splashes from beyond the arc with 6:37 remaining and a 79-72 lead. Shreveport maintained the upper hand heading into the final quarter at 89-82.
The Patroon dived into the final quarter taking the lead. Albany started with an 11-3 run. Glasford started with a bucket early. Parks nailed a three to push the lead to eight for the Mavericks. Williams, Sam scored to cut the lead in half. Luther Page gets the “and-1” and Shreveport’s lead is down to one. Wyche hits a layup and the Patroon are in command at 93-92. Shreveport regained the lead behind shots from Cummings and Harrison at 96-93. Albany’s Williams went for the three and was fouled by Jordan. Williams hit all three free throws and it was a new game at 96-96. Enough was enough for the Mavericks. Shreveport went on a 14-2 run. Jordan and Meyers hit back-to-back baskets. Parks buried two free throws. Jordan buried a three and Shreveport was up 105-96 with 6:37 remaining. Mosby tried to stop the momentum with a layup. The rolling Mavs as Parks picked a basket and was fouled for the three-point play. Harrison exclaimed the run with a dunk as Shreveport was up 110-98 with five minutes remaining. Shreveport ensured the win with another late 8-0 run with Parks scoring five during the run. Shreveport gave the hometown fans a final gift in the TBL Championship before heading for Game 2 and 3 in Albany.
“It was a Big Win!” Maverick’s head coach Steven C. Tucker. “But we know it is going to be tough. We have to get 1 more. We’re going to go play…..”
Shreveport travels to Albany and will play Game 2 on Wednesday and Game 3 on Thursday, if necessary.
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