Baseline finishes 2-0 at Atlanta Metro Classic, after 105-96 win over Albany Tech...

Baseline goes 2-0 in AMC Classic, after 105-96 win over Albany Tech...

BJ Puckett

by David Archer - Nov 24, 2007  Atlanta, GA (Nov. 24, 2007) - Baseline finished the Atlanta Metro College Thanksgiving Classic with a 2-0 record, after dispatching Albany Technical College 105-96 on Saturday evening. DeJuan Clark (6'2''-G, college: Tougaloo), who rejoined Baseline for the game on Saturday, and Adrian Jones (6'5''-F/G, college: Georgia) led the way in the first half. Clark had 12 point and A.Jones 11 in the first half as the Warriors built a 17-point cushion at 43-26. Atlanta, GA (Nov. 24, 2007) - Baseline finished the Atlanta Metro College Thanksgiving Classic with a 2-0 record, after dispatching Albany Technical College 105-96 on Saturday evening. DeJuan Clark (6'2''-G, college: Tougaloo), who rejoined Baseline for the game on Saturday, and Adrian Jones (6'5''-F/G, college: Georgia) led the way in the first half. Clark had 12 point and A.Jones 11 in the first half as the Warriors built a 17-point cushion at 43-26. The Warriors would go cold for a stretch, shooting a string of ill-advised three points. Albany Tech would take advantage, battling back with quick transition buckets and C. Ransom also got hot from the wing, drilling four threes for Albany in the final six minutes of the half. Albany would trim their deficit to 49-42 by half-time. For the Warriors, Adrien Borders (6'0''-G-83, college: Wofford) would come off the bench to score eight points, including going six of six at the freethrow line. In the second half, Baseline would maintain its spread most of the way, fighting off several Albany rallies. Each time Albany would generate a run, Adrian Jones and Rodney Kirtz (6'3''-G-79, college: Mercer) would come with a huge three to counter. In the latter stages of the game, Albany's defense triggered several turnovers and subsequent baskets. Their high-energy play saw a number of offensive rebounds and follow-up dunks. Baseline saw their double-digit lead shrink to 88-84 with four minutes remaining. Jones and Kirtz would drill threes on consecutive trips down the floor. Ronny LeMelle (6'5''-G-81, college: Auburn) would be the recipient of two nifty tansition passes from Clark and Borders. LeMelle's buckets capped a 10-0 Baseline run to put the game out of reach. Ransom and O'neal finished with 21 each for Albany Tech, who slipped to 3-3 on the season. Pierce got 18 and Thomas 10. For Baseline, Adrian Jones led the way with 23 points, on 6/9 shooting from beyond the arc and also grabbed five rebounds and dealt four assists. Clark turned in 18 points and 15 assists on the night, while LeMelle had 16 points. B.J. Puckett (6'9''-F-83, college: Clayton St.) scored 13 points and pulled 10 rebounds, Kirtz downed 12 and Borders finished with 10 points and four assists. Chris Jones (6'6''-F-82, college: Reinhardt) had six points and eight boards, while Antonio Cook (6'6''-G/F-80, college: Tennessee St.) got five points and Bobby Rouse (6'5''-G/F-76, college: USC-Salkahatcie JC) had two points and eight boards. The Warriors, who improved to 5-1 on the season, and 22-4 overall since July, will be off until a Dec. 2nd re-match against the Atlanta Speedboys. Tip off is set for 2:30pm at JH Morgan Gym on Aubrey Street in Cartersville (GA). On Dec. 2nd, at JH Morgan Gym, the Summer Hill Blue Devils will also host the Orangeburge Krazy Kats' women's and men's teams. The women's game will tip off at 4:00pm, while the men will clash at 5:30pm.

Baseline Warriors hang on for 80-77 win over Atlanta Metro... Adrien Borders by David Archer - Nov 23, 2007   Atlanta, GA (Nov. 23, 2007) - Baseline worked out to double-digit leads on several occaasions through out the second half, but had to hold off a frenzied Atlanta Metro run in the closing minutes to hang on for an 80-77 win in the opening game of the AMC Thanksgiving Classic Friday night. The Warriors, behind the scoring of Ronny LeMelle (6'5''-G-81) of Baseline-2 and Rodney Kirtz (6'3''-G-79) of Baseline-2 worked out #s# #e#5 Rodney Kirtz LeMelle Puckett Borders Atlanta, GA (Nov. 23, 2007) - Baseline worked out to double-digit leads on several occaasions through out the second half, but had to hold off a frenzied Atlanta Metro run in the closing minutes to hang on for an 80-77 win in the opening game of the AMC Thanksgiving Classic Friday night. The Warriors, behind the scoring of Ronny LeMelle (6'5''-G-81) of Baseline-2 and Rodney Kirtz (6'3''-G-79) of Baseline-2 worked out an early lead. The duo combine for four threes as Baseline built at 20-13 lead. But, the Panthers went on a run mid-way through the half and eventually led by as much as 29-23. Baseline's BJ Puckett nailed a three and Scott Windom came off the bench to get two key buckets to ignite a 9-0 run. The Warriors took a 42-40 lead into the intermission. In that first half, Baseline shot 57% from the field on 16-28 shooting, while holding the Panthers to 43.6% on 17 of 39 from the floor. But, AMC was still in the contest through a huge 24-12 rebounding advantage, including 14 offensive boards. The second opportunites were paying off for the Panthers. LeMelle and Rodney Kirtz had 12 and 10 points, respectively in the first half for Baseline. Shopaka led AMC with 14. In the second half, Baseline opened on a 6-0 run to push it's lead out to eight. Though Atlanta Metro was cold, Baseline could not capitalize consistently. The Panthers got two quick buckets from Pellot-Rosa to trim the lead down to four. But, Baseline would counter with consecutive old-fashioned 3-point plays from BJ Puckett and Adrien Borders (6'0''-G-83) of Baseline-2. Borders would have an impressive stretch of offense, hitting a three-pointer, then later connecting on three free throws after drawing a foul on a trey attempt. Baseline built a cushion it would keep for most of the second half. After enjoying its biggest lead at 71-58, Baseline began to tighten up, taking a series of tough, low-percentage shots. The Panthers got quick baskets and trimmed the lead to 76-70, with only 2:20 remaining. Baseline would increase its lead on two Ronny LeMelle freethrows. After a Panther miss, Adrian Jones (6'5''-F/G, college: Georgia) drew a foul, hitting one of two at the line, with only 1:10 remaining. Baseline was seemingly in control with a 79-70 lead. But, Atlanta Metro would hit a three pointer, cutting it to six with 35 seconds remaining. Then, after a Baseline turnover, Metro drew a foul in the lane and hit both free throws, trimming their deficit to 79-75. Baseline went into a spread to utilize time, after running the clock down, the Warriors missed a shot attempt. Metro got the ball back and promptly missed a shot, but got two offensive rebounds before nailing a desparate floater from the baseline to get to with in two, at 79-77 with 16 seconds left. On the ensuing inbounds, Baseline broke the Panther's full-court pressure, before Chris Jones was fouled with nine ticks showing. Jones missed the first freethrow, followed by a make. Down 80-77, the Panthers inbounded and got a three attempt off quickly, missed, but the long rebound went out to another Panther, who missed another try. The loose ball bounced to another Panther player, who quickly flipped to a teammate, who launched another desparation trey attempt as the buzzer sounded. The shot lipped in and out of the rim, allowing Baseline to escape with the win. Shopaka led Atlanta Metro with 23 points, while Steverson had 12. Brown and Pellot-Rosa both finished with nine for the Panthers, who will play Snead State on Saturday evening at 7:30pm, in the final contest of the Classic. Adrien Borders finished with 17 points, six assists and two steals on the night for Baseline, while LeMelle had 15 points. Jones had 14 points on 5-5 shooting from the floor, to go along with seven rebounds, while Rodney Kirtz turned in 12 points, six assists and two steals. B.J. Puckett (6'9''-F-83) of Baseline chalked up 11 points, Chris Jones five, Scott Windom four and Bobby Rouse two. Baseline, now 4-1 (21-4 overall) will now face Albany Tech (3-2) on Saturday evening at 6:00pm on the Atlanta Metro College Campus. Albany Tech fell to Snead State on Friday evening by the score of 83-67.