Jacksonville Giants 154 Chicago Fury 109

The Jacksonville Giants played the Chicago Fury, a traveling ABA team, Saturday evening at the North Florida University Arena.

The Giants, noted for their fast starts, led at the end of the first quarter, 49-14. Matt Fields scored 11 points for Jacksonville in the quarter. Seven foot center Jermaine Bell had five blocked shots.

At the half it was Jacksonville 86, Chicago 54. Bell had 15 points at half time. Playing his first game for the Giants, Tim Ware, had 13 points.

Leading scorers for Chicago at half time:Maurice Carter scored 17, Grant Smith scored 14, and 6'-10" center Leon Smith scored 11.

Jacksonville led after three quarters 126-76. Final score Jacksonville Giants 154, Chicago Fury 109.

Recording a triple double, Bell scored 24 points, blocked 11 shots, and grabbed 12 rebounds. Scoring 22 points were Ware and Currye Todd.

Leading scorer for Chicago was Jerrod Tucker with 23 points. Maurice Carter scored 22 points.

After the game I met with Chicago Fury's Head Coach, Danny Little. Coach Little described the setting as a "Big Venue." We need to play hard and at the beginning of the game and we did not play hard. I do not know the shooting statistics, but Jacksonville shot well and made most of their shots. Chicago has a seven foot center who did not make the trip. I wished Coach Little good luck as his team travels to Myrtle Beach, S. C. to play the number ranked team in the ABA, the South Carolina Warriors.

Leon Smith played high school basketball at Martin Luther King High School in Chicago. In the 1999 NBA draft he was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs 1st round(29th pick, 29th overall), then traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

Picture courtesy of Jodi Arnold.

South Carolina Warriors 113 Jacksonville Giants 111

Fans saw a great re-match game between the Jacksonville Giants and the South Carolina Warriors Sunday afternoon at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The Warriors won the first game in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 115-109 on January 22, 2012. Jacksonville made a great come-back but lost the game in the final seconds, 113-111.

The ABA Power Rankings list South Carolina tied for first place with the Colorado Kings Through February 19, 2012. Jacksonville is ranked #8.

Both teams traded baskets in the first quarter. Jacksonville led at the end of the quarter, 29-28. The second quarter was also even, with South Carolina leading 54-53. Giants seven foot center, Jermaine Bell scored 15 points at the half and the Warriors point guard, Tony White Jr. had 20 points at intermission.

In the third quarter, South Carolina extended their lead by 15 points and lead at the end of the quarter 86-71.

Jacksonville made a great comeback in the 4th quarter and took the lead at 109-108. Warriors three point shot gave them the lead, 111-109. Fans saw an exciting finish when Jacksonville had the final possession with under 10 seconds left in the game, but failed to get a shot off, Warriors won 113-111.

Leading scorer for Jacksonville was seven foot center Jermaine Bell with 30 points. Guard Hot Rod Harris scored 20 points. For the Warriors, point guard, Tony White Jr. scored 30 points and center/power forward Marquise Gainus scored 29 points.

Several fans after the game made the comment how well the South Carolina team was well coached by their head coach, George Tuttle, and his staff. Their guards were good bringing up the ball against full court pressure, several players made three point shots, and their big men did a good job rebounding and scoring in the paint.

The Warriors point guard, White, was an excellent ball handler, shot the three point shot with ease, showed quickness which enabled to get his own shot off the dribble, and unselfishly distributed the ball to his teammates. I look for him to make the ABA All-Star team.

After the game, I spoke with Jacksonville Giants Head Coach, Kevin Waters. He praised the South Carolina team saying, their is a reason they are ranked number one. I am proud of my players coming from a 15 point deficit, they did not give up, the guys battled back.

It was the Giants first home loss in two years.

Giants Make History

Last season the Jacksonville Giants set an ABA record when they scored 206 points in a game. To the delight of 2,500 fans Saturday evening at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, the Giants broke their record when they scored 211 points against the Columbus Riverballers. Final score Jacksonville Giants 211 Columbus Riverballers 84.

Jacksonville got off to a tremendous start scoring 56 points in the first quarter. Their full court press caused numerous turnovers enabling them to score transition baskets. Giants tenacious and stifling defense allowed Columbus only 15 points in the first quarter.

The Giants defense was also effective in the second quarter allowing Columbus only 11 points. At the half, Jacksonville led 108 to 26. Giants Seven foot center, Jermaine Bell scored 29 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and blocked 5 shots at the end of the half. Anthony Lumpkin scored 19 points in the second quarter and had 8 assists.

Giants Ass't Coach Jerry Williams, was pressed into service when forward Nick Wallery left the team. Guard/forward Dwayne Jackson also left the team. Playing his first game for the Giants, A C Stewart, 6'-7'' guard from the University of Kentucky did a good job of rebounding.

It was an exciting finish as fan were on their feet in the final minutes cheering their team on to score 207 to break their record from last year. Coach Jerry Williams scored a free throw to tie the record at 206 and scored another free throw to break the record.

Leading scorer for the Giants was Renaldo Norman with 36 points. Anthony Lumpkin scored 33 points. Bell had another double/double with 32 points and 10 rebounds.

Columbus was led in scoring by Tyrone Myrick with 28 points and he had 10 rebounds. Fred Ford scored 22 points.

Prior to the game, Giants Head Coach Kevin Waters told me a scout from the NBA-Developmental League was at the game to scout Jermaine Bell.

The ABA Power Rankings through January 29, 2012, ranked the Jacksonville Giants as the 7th best team.

The next Giants home game will be Saturday February 18 against the Panama City Dream.