April 25, 2006 > Ballers continue undefeated streak

by Biff Jones

The Tri-City Ballers of the International Basketball League hosted the Central Oregon Hotshots playing out of Bend, last Saturday at Newark Memorial High School. The Ballers came into the game undefeated with a record of 2-0 and came out firing in the first half behind the shooting of forwards Joe Buck and Rock Winston. The Ballers led the Hotshots 32-19 after one quarter and 74-46 at half time.

In the second half, last year's league scoring leader, Javon Harris, took over. Harris was playing in his first game of the year for the Ballers after being "shared" with another team in a higher ranked minor league during that team's playoff run. With teammate James Bridgewater joining Harris' hot hand, Tri-City pulled away with a 140-108 victory. The Ballers had seven players in double figures led by Harris with 19 points, Bridgewater, 18, Buck, 15, and Winston, 14. Although the team regained the services of Harris, they lost high scoring forward Anthony Lackey to a team in New Zealand.

Next up for the Ballers is Bay Area rival Oakland Slammers who visit the Newark Memorial campus this Friday the 28th at 7:15 p.m. The Slammers will be coming in with a record of 5-2, having just defeated previously undefeated Aurora, Colorado Cavalry with a 118-115 road victory last Friday night.