TBL GAME OF THE WEEK
Omaha’s Finest and the Dallas Skyline both needed big weekends during Week 11. Prior to their Saturday afternoon matchup with the Skyline, Omaha sat at 10-10, clinging to the 4th spot in the Central with only four regular season games left to play. Dallas was right behind them in the standings at 8-12. Both teams had played far better basketball than their records would indicate. But, such is the fate of any team who often faces the likes of the Houston PUSH and Enid Outlaws. And on Saturday, June 19th, these two very good teams played like their respective seasons depended on a W – because they did.
With 3:37 remaining, Dallas had the ball and a 120-118 lead. Point guard George Brock, who led the team with six assists on the night, drove the ball left . He found Chancellor Ellis on the backdoor cutting along the baseline. Ellis would pour in his 27th point by putting two Omaha defenders in the spin cycle at the rack, splitting them and finishing with a spectacular rainbow of a reverse. But with Dallas up four, Ellis’ former Prairie View A&M teammate, Omaha’s Devonte Patterson, would answer quickly. His was a more traditional, but no less effective, layup on the other end. That brought the Finest back within one possession at 122-120.
A Nailbiter To Final Whistle
Dallas would expand the lead to 126-120 behind a layup from Lyle Hexom and put back off his own miss by Ricardo Artis. JC Show would bring Omaha back within four on a smooth little floater from 8’. A somewhat head-scratching series of technical fouls would get called against the Omaha coaching staff. They resulted in three free points from the line for Dallas, ballooning the lead to seven with just over two minutes left. But Omaha’s Devin (not Devonte) Patterson refused to let his team wither as he nailed a deep three from the left wing. That made it 129-125, and on the ensuing possession for Omaha, drew a foul and poured in both free throws to draw the visiting team back within two at 129-127 with 1:30 left.
After Omaha’s Da’Jon Streeter missed two golden opportunities right at the tin to tie the game, Dallas quickly moved the ball down court. Eventually getting it to Hexom on the right baseline. Hexom took one power dribble and exploded towards the rafters to throw down a thunderous two-handed jam. That sent the crowd, and the commentators, into a frenzy, and put Dallas up 131-127. With just over 38.9 seconds left, Omaha decided not to intentionally foul. That gamble wound up paying off as Dallas’ Malachi Davidson blew a layup resulting in an Omaha fast break. Deonte Patterson would find Devin Patterson for the easy lay-in. Davin’s 26th point game Omaha a fighting chance, down just two, 131-129, with 23 seconds remaining.
A Shot To Tie!
With 10 seconds left, Davidson found himself at the line for two following an intentional foul. He would make only the back end to push the Skyline lead to three at 132-129. Omaha called timeout. Inbounding from right in front of their own bench as the Dallas commentators espoused their perimeter shooting prowess for the TBLTV viewers at home, Omaha barely managed to get the ball inbounds before getting called for a five-second violation.
The Skyline stacked the three-point line with defenders. Doing all they could to make it difficult for the Finest to find any space for a shot. With the clock racing to zero, Da’Jon Streeter wound up with the ball on the left wing with an opportunity to make up for his earlier blunder at the rim. He rose up between two Dallas defenders, put up a three as the horn sounded. Unfortunately for him and Dallas, he saw it rim out and fall to the floor as the home crowd burst into communal elation.
The Skyline would use the momentum from this big win to best the Lewisville Leopards the next afternoon. Omaha appeared depleted in a difficult loss on the road against Little Rock. And so, as we now enter the final week of the season, Dallas and Omaha are neck-and-neck at 10-12, both fighting for their playoff lives.
30% Off Exciting TBL Basketball
If you want to make sure you catch all of back-and-forth action from games like this, sign up for a TBLTV League Pass. Use the URL and coupon code below to save 30%.
Omaha’s Finest vs. Dallas Skyline
Saturday, June 19, 2021
thePeachBasket’s TBL Game of the Week
Purchase a TBLTV League Pass – Coupon code: tPB
WACO SHOW POISE IN WACO SHOW POISE IN WACO SHOW POISE IN
A HIGH SCORING AFFAIR A HIGH SCORING AFFAIR A HIGH SCORING AFFAIR A HIGH SCORING AFFAIR
