PlainfieldSportsNews

Express Lock Down Division

Posting Date: March 08 2010

Augustine Dashiell

Paul Gause leads the Express back onto the court.

	1	2	3	4	T
Suns	27	26	31	20	104
Express	31	40	44	48	163

EAST ORANGE – (Saturday March 6) Don’t let the 163-104 score mislead you, the Jersey Express out-talented the undermanned Tri-City (Maryland) Sun. Uncharacteristically the Express failed to execute their offense crisply, and started the game in sluggish fashion.

Tri-City, playing with no inside presence, found open shots from behind the arc and connected on 39 percent (5-13) from deep. Turnovers plagued the Express early. Board dominance offset poor decisions with the ball and missed shots keeping the Express in the game. Devin Davis combined with Paul Gause for 15 points in the quarter as the Express limped to a four-point advantage at the end quarter.

Chuck Thompson connected from three-point land to cut the Express lead to a single point in the second quarter. Over the next four minutes, the Express blew the game open with an 18-3 run. Davis did most of the damage during the run, consistently beating the Sun down court for 10 easy points. Davis finished the game with 33 points in a

little over two quarters of playing time.

Paul Gause added a spark from the backcourt pouring in 29 points, joining five other Express players in double figures. John Jones turned in a monster game grabbing 22 rebounds to go along with 21 points. Overall, the Express outrebounded the Sun 69-40 for the game.

Captain Elijah Thorpe chipped in with a strong floor game adding nine rebounds and six assists to his 19 points.

“I didn’t let the trash talking get to me,” Thorpe said. “They (the Sun) wanted me to shoot but I just got a step closer and made a better pass.”

There was not much to say after the game, as the Express shifted their focus toward the playoffs.

“We can’t just rely on talent on Saturday,” Express owner Marsh Blount said. “Execution will be the key.”

The win solidified a playoff bye for the Express; the ABA Northeast Division champions await the results of the opening round for the name for the identity of their Saturday opponent.

Suns

2PM

2PA

3PM

3PA

FTM

FTA

R

A

S

B

P

Kelly

8

10

2

4

3

5

10

2

0

0

25

Matey

4

12

1

2

1

2

7

2

2

1

12

Darden

2

9

2

3

1

2

6

1

0

1

11

Thompson

2

11

1

4

4

5

2

4

0

0

11

Petty

3

6

6

12

6

7

4

1

2

1

30

Hill

2

6

1

2

5

9

7

1

0

0

12

King

0

5

1

2

0

0

4

0

0

0

3

Totals

21

59

14

29

20

30

40

11

4

3

104

Express

2PM

2PA

3PM

3PA

FTM

FTA

R

A

S

B

P

Mosby

1

6

2

7

1

1

3

8

2

0

9

Gause

7

9

5

6

0

0

11

2

3

0

29

Robinson

10

15

0

0

0

0

10

1

0

2

20

Geary

4

6

0

0

2

3

2

0

2

0

10

Davis

16

18

0

0

1

1

4

0

1

1

33

Thorpe

3

8

4

7

1

1

9

6

3

0

19

Fowler

2

8

1

3

0

0

3

3

1

0

7

Jones

10

16

0

0

1

1

22

2

2

3

21

Ailey

4

8

0

0

1

1

3

1

1

0

9

Johnson

3

12

0

2

0

0

2

2

0

0

6

Totals

60

106

12

25

7

8

69

25

15

6

163