Jacksonville Giants 166 Panama City Dream 103

The Jacksonville Giants played the Panama City Dream Friday evening at UNF Arena. Jacksonville got off to a good start and led after the first quarter 37-20. Fields and Norman had 6 points each after the quarter.

At the half, it was Jacksonville leading 67-54. After the third quarter, the Giants led 110-77. In the fourth quarter the Giants were hot hitting several three points shots and had numerous offensive rebounds to extend their lead and win the game 166-103.

Leading scorer for the Giants was Anthony Lumpkin with 26 points. Scoring a double/double was Lamar Sanders with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Renaldo Norman chipped in with 23 points. Seven foot Giants center, Jermaine Bell,who did not score in the first half, wound up with a double/double with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

High scorer for Panama City was Martez Ricks with 28 points. Brandon Russell scored 22 points.

The ABA Power Rankings through January 22, ranks the Jacksonville Giants as the 8th best team in the country.

The Giants next home game will be Saturday, February 4th, at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena at 7:00pm.

South Carolina Warriors 115 Jacksonville Giants 109

The Jacksonville Giants played the South Carolina Warriors Sunday afternoon at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The ABA Power Rankings through Sunday January 15, 2012, ranked the Jacksonville Giants #5 and the South Carolina Warriors #3. Final score: South Carolina Warriors 115 Jacksonville Giants 109.

The Jacksonville Giants got off to a fast start and led after the first quarter 31-19. South Carolina closed the gap in the second quarter and the Giants led 55-50 at half time. After three quarters, it was Giants 84 Warriors 78.

High scorer for Jacksonville was Currye Todd with 21 points. Scoring 17 points each, were Lamar Sanders and seven foot center Jermaine Bell.

Leading scorers for South Carolina: Tony White Jr. scored 35 points. John Roberson with 20, and Mike Vogler with 18 points.

On Friday Jacksonville traveled to Fayetteville, N. C. to play the Fayetteville Flight and won the game 149-112. High scorers were Antonio Lawrence and Todd with 24 points each. Sherod Harris had 12 assists. Bell had another double/double with 20 points and 17 rebounds.

After the South Carolina game, Head Coach Chris Beard praised the Jacksonville Giants, saying he talked to Giants coaches and Giants players after the game and was impressed with their coaches and the talent of the Giant players. Coach Beard said he is looking forward to play again against the Giants in Jacksonville.

Photo courtesy of Jodi Arnold:(j-vision.smugmug.com).

Next Jacksonville Giants home game is scheduled for January 27, 2012 against the Heartland Heat at 7:00 pm at the UNF Arena.

Meet ABA Referee: Sam Wright

Basketball fans who attend ABA games know about the fast pace action with most teams employing the fast break on most possessions. Fans who attend the Jacksonville Giants home games notice one of the three referees on the court at most games, he is 63 year old, Sam Wright.

Sam Wright has been a referee for 25 years. he has been a referee for high school basketball games, college basketball, professional USBL referee. For the past 8-9 years he has been a referee in the American Basketball Association league(ABA). Wright states, "I try to do the best job I can officiating every game to give both teams an equal opportunity".

Wright graduated from George W. Wingate High School in Brooklyn, New York. In his senior year, he wanted to play sports, but the coach wanted to work with only underclassmen. For one year he attended Virginia Union University. Wright took a break from college to serve four years in the United States Air Force. After service, Wright attended Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York. He received his degree in Early Childhood Education from South Carolina State University.

Sam Wright received a Bachelor of Church Ministry Degree from The Sure Foundation Theological Institute in Seminole, Florida. His wife, Sandy, is an Ordained Minister. To view the Wright's Ministry, go to their web site:haverefwilltravel.

Jacksonville Giants 112 East Point Jaguars 97

The East Point Jaguars returned to Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena Saturday evening to play the Jacksonville Giants(8-1). On December 30, 2011, the Giants defeated the Jaguars 137-92. The Giants won again Saturday night, 112-97.

The first half saw the Giants having a cold shooting performance-they had good shot opportunities but had trouble making their shots which they usually make. At the end of the first quarter, Jacksonville led 19-16, with Nick Wallery scoring 9 points.

It was a close game at the half, the Giants led 45-41. Wallery had 14 points for the Giants at the half. At the end of the third quarter, Giants increased their lead, 81-70.

Wallery was the leading scorer for the Giants with 27 points. Antonio Lawrence added 14 points. Seven foot center, Jermaine Bell, scored another double/double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

For the Jaguars, Herman Mains, scored 26 points and Chris Marr scored 25 points.

The ABA Power Rankings through Sunday, January 8, 2012, lists the Jacksonville Giants as the 7th best team in the ABA.

Picture of Nick Wallery taken by Jodi Arnold(j-vision.smugmug.com).

After the win, Jacksonville Giants Head Coach Kevin Waters talks about the game on the video.

The Giants next home game, scheduled against the Heartland Heat, is Friday, January 27, 2012 at 7:00pm at the UNF Arena.

Giants 132 Experience 118

In a rematch the Jacksonville Giants played the Atlanta Experience Saturday evening at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The largest crowd of the year saw a close game for the first half. In the third quarter the Giants led by 13 with 6:27 minutes left in the quarter. The Giants avenged their loss (120-107) to the Experience on December 11th 2011 in Atlanta. Jacksonville Giants 132 Atlanta Experience 118.f

In the first quarter, the Giants led 42-37. Jacksonville's seven foot center,Jermaine Bell, scored 12 points, on his way to an outstanding game.

It was close at the half with Jacksonville leading 68-64. For the half, Bell scored 20 points and pulled down 9 rebounds.

The third quarter saw the Giants pull away and they led 101-85 at the end of the quarter. At that point Bell had 31 points.

High scorer for the game was Bell with 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 blocked shots. Bell scored on slam dunks, dunking ally-op passes from his teammates, and made several of his patented jump shots from the corner. Second leading scorer for the Giants was Nick Wallery with 19 points and 9 rebounds.

Leading scorer for Atlanta was Tim Ware with 34 points and he grabbed 9 rebounds.

Jacksonville added a new player for the game,Anthony Jackson, who last year was an ABA All-Star player for the Columbus Riverballers. When the Giants played the Riverballers on December 17th, 2011 Jackson had a triple double against the Giants.

The next Giants home game is January 14, 2012 against the Savannah Storm at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena with tip off at 7:00pm.

Picture courtesy of Jodi Arnold(www.j-vision.smugmug.com).

Giants 167 Flight 99

The Jacksonville Giants(6-1) played the Fayetteville Flight(6-6) Tuesday evening at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Final score Giants 167, Flight 99.

It was a cold night in the Arena and the Giants were cold in the first quarter missing several shots-it-was the lowest score by the Giants at home in the first quarter. Giants led 29-16 after the first quarter.

Both teams warmed up in the second quarter with Jacksonville leading at the half 76-42. Leading scorer for the Giants at the half was Renaldo Norman with 11 points.

Jacksonville reached the 100 mark with 5:21 minutes left in the third quarter and built their lead to 115-71 at the end of the quarter.

Scoring on several slam dunks and three points shots, leading scorer for the game for the Giants was point guard, Dwayne Jackson with 29 points. Norman scored 23 points and Lamar Sanders scored 20 points.

Leading scorer for the Flight was Brian Calloway with 24 points. Eugene Jenkins added 22 points.

The ABA Power Rankings through Sunday, January 2, 2012 list the Giants as the 14th best team. Jacksonville next opponent Saturday night, The Atlanta Experience is ranked #8.

On December 11, 2011, the Atlanta Experience defeated the Jacksonville Giants 120-107 in Atlanta. This Saturday, January 7th, Atlanta will play the Giants at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena with tip-off at 7:00pm. Energy-Armor will be featured at the game and EA staff will be on hand to to talk with fans about EA products(www.energy-armor.com).

Photo courtesy of Jodi Arnold, photographer.(j-vision.smugmug.com).