Oklahoma Cavalry won CBA Championship defeating in
the 5th final game Minot Skyrockets 86-76 and ending final series
3-2.
It's important success in the franchise short history as they won
CBA title in their first season they joined the league.
The Oklahoma Cavalry got to a better start as they led 24:19 after
the opening stanza. But the hosts quickly returned into the driving
seat as they outgunned their opponents in the second period and came
out of the first half on top 45:42. But the spectators at the Minot
Municipal Auditorium saw a different Oklahoma in the second half.
The team came out of the dressing room firing from all guns and what
most important playing some impenetrable defense. The visitors
limited their opponents to only 29% accuracy from the field and
outrebounded them 56:39 overall. Minot simply could not find the way
to shake the stinging Cavalry off. Oklahoma accumulated opened up
double-digit lead in the third stanza and never gave it up to
celebrate their first CBA championship. They also became the first
expansion team to win the Jay Ramsdell Trophy since 2002 when the
Dakota Wizards succeeded.
Shawn Daniels (6'7''-C-79, college:
Utah St.) dominated for the Cavalry with game-high 23 points and
16 boards.
Daryan Selvy (6'6''-F/G-79, college:
Oklahoma) notched 22 points and
Brandon Dean (6'2''-G-79, agency:
Naiditch Entertainment, college:
Arkansas) added 14 points for the winners.
Kevin Johnson (6'8''-F-80, college:
Charlotte) answered with 14 points for the Skyrockets.
Lee Scruggs (6'11''-F-79, agency:
Edge Sports, college:
Georgetown) dropped 13 points, while
Ronnie Fields (6'4''-G-77, agency:
Edge Sports) was held to only 12 points in defeat.
Brandon Dean who was the real leader for the Cavalry during the
Final series was trumped the CBA playoffs MVP. Oklahoma's head coach
Michael Ray Richardson joined Phil Jackson, Cazzie Russell and Henry
Bibby on the list of former NBA players to win CBA championship.
CBA
Awards 2007-08 CBA Player of
the Year::Daryan Selvy (6'6''-F/G-79) of Oklahoma Cavalry
CBA Defensive Player of the Year:Marvin Phillips (6'7''-F-83) of Oklahoma Cavalry CBA Coach of the Year:Paul Woolpert of Yakama Sun Kings CBA Rookie of the Year:Anthony Washington (6'9''-F/C-83) of Yakama Sun Kings CBA Newcomer of the Year:James Jackson (6'9''-F-81) (5'10''-G-89) of East Kentucky Miners
All-CBA 2nd Team Nat Burton (6'3''-G-77) of Albany Patroons
John DeGroat (6'6''-F-85) of Pittsburgh Xplosion
Josh Pace (6'6''-G/F-83) of East Kentucky Miners
Marvin Phillips of Oklahoma Cavalry
Steve Thomas (6'8''-F-81) of East Kentucky Miners
National
Conference - American Conference 109:107 The National Conference Team celebrated a close win over
the American Conference in yesterday's All-Star Classic. The
basketball show was held at the Yakama Sun Dome. The Butte
Daredevils'
Odell Bradley (6'4''-F/G-81, college:
IUPU-Indianapolis) was named the Game's MVP. He finished with 22
points to lead all scorers.
Desmond Ferguson (6'7''-G/F-77, agency:
Interperformances, college:
Detroit Mercy) from Yakama added 20 points in a winning case.
Daryan Selvy (6'6''-F/G-79, college:
Oklahoma) and
Nate Green (6'6''-F-75, college:
Dayton) were also productive in the National Conference team win
posting 12 points apiece.
Marvin Phillips (6'7''-F-83, college:
Claflin) was the leading rebounder with 14 boards, while
Demorris Smith (6'10''-F-81) issued team-high 6 assists.
Josh Pace(6'6''-G/F-83) answered with 19 points for the
American Conference side.
Moses Marbury (6'3''-G-80) dropped 16 points in defeat.
James Jackson (5'10''-G-89) added 8 boards down the stretch.\
Earlier Desmond Ferguson grabbed the title of the best perimeter
shooter. He won the Long Distance Shootout with the money-ball that
saw him surpass
Aaron Cook (6'2''-G-83, college:
Hartford) from the Butte Daredevils. The Yakama Sun Kings
Harvey Thomas (6'9''-F-82, college:
Baylor) was the best dunker as he triumphed in the Slam Dunk
Championship. He competed with Oklahoma's
Marvin Phillips and overcame him on the last wild dinamite-dunk
that conquered the hearts of the jury. Interestingly, that this was
the fourth straight All-Star Classic in which the host town players
triumphed in both contests.
