From Jalopy to Hot Rod as Skyforce Dumps Drive with Late Rally
Owning the right quarter was key to victory. The Sioux Falls Skyforce rambled past the Grand Rapids Drive 105-96 on Saturday night at the Sanford Pentagon.
For the first 12 minutes, Sioux Falls (22-17) shot 66 percent to lead 33-21. The second and third quarters went to Grand Rapids (17-21) to open up a 13 point advantage of 86-73. In the fourth quarter momentum pitched hard back to the home team when a 32-10 spurt put the game away.
Andre Dawkins says trouble on offense led to the sour stretch for the Skyforce in the middle portion. “I think playing poor offense led to bad defense. We got back to moving the ball late in the third and in the fourth quarter. Everybody was getting touches and that helped our defense out.”
The turning point of the game came with 8:52 left in the game when Hasheem Thabeet was called for a foul on Dawkins and immediately protested the call. The raw emotion led to Thabeet’s ejection and the Drive’s main rim protector left with 10 points, 9 rebounds and 6 blocks. Grand Rapids led by 8 at the time and Dawkins was able to capitalize at the charity stripe. “For them to have one of their better players taken out of the game is tough. We got three points on that possession, That was a big sequence for us.”
From that moment Sioux Falls went on a 16-2 run over 5 minutes to place the ‘Force back in control. Dawkins finished with 26 points and Fuquan Edwin supplemented the effort with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals off the bench. Shawn Jones shouldered the double-double load with 11 points and 14 boards. Both Dawkins and Edwin were golden tonight if you want to take a look below.
Kevin Murphy’s 27 points plus 8 rebounds grabbed top honors followed by Adonis Thomas netting 26 points with 6 rebounds and 2 steals. In his NBADL debut former South Dakota State stud Nate Wolters scored 5 points with 4 assists in 22 minutes.
Grand Rapids will be back to the grind on Monday night for a home date against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Sioux Falls has one more game on the home stand Tuesday night in a clash of division leaders with the Maine Red Claws.
Watch Dawkins going inside and outside for the Skyforce.
Edwin flashes offense and defense in his reel.