Destroyers Out Gunned By Groove, 145-129

Hungry To Prove Themselves

January 14, 2009
By: John Keuvelaar

In a game where both teams played Saturday night, Augusta Groove at Willmington, NC and the Destroyers having their inaugural game, one would expect a more defensive low scoring game. But then this is the Premier Basketball League with players hungry to prove themselves. The end result was a game full of runs with the Augusta Groove having the final say with a 145 to 129 win.

#14 Eugene Seals is about to experience rejection by Augusta's #14 AJ Millien.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

#25 Luke Lloyd and #25 Rodderick MacGhee look for a rebound.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

This fan is about to loose more than just the lay up game.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)



The Groove started the game going on a 15-3 run seemingly taking command of the game. But the Destroyers fired right back with a 15-2 run of their own and before you knew it, the Destroyers were ahead 18-17. By the time the dust had settled, the Groove held a 26-23 lead at the end of the first quarter.

#23 Justin Hall dribbles out of trouble.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

#14 AJ Millien of Augusta finds it tough going when trying for a rebound against #25 Luke Lloyd.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The second quarter saw a more even match for a while. The Destroyers pulled to within 2 points, 50-48 before Augusta went on a 11-4 run to end the period leading 61-52.

#3 Otis Williams fakes a shot and hits a teammate with a pass in the paint.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

#23 Justin Hall scores two of his 17 points.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The third period saw the Destroyers erase the 9 point deficit by going on a 13-4 run to start things off tying the game at 65. But it takes a lot of energy to come back from a deficit, especially several times as the Destroyers found out. The Groove responded with 35 more points including a 13-0 run to end the quarter to the Destroyers 13 and held a 100-78 lead starting the fourth quarter.

#15 Odgra Bobo uses plenty of air time for this lay up.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Evan this fan launches one from the outside.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)



The Destroyers could have easily coasted the rest of the way but not these guys. They tried to rally by knocking down 51 points in the final stanza. However the shootout was matched by the Groove who posted 45 points of their own and they came away with a 145 to 129 victory.

Coach TJ Newsham was positive and upbeat even thou his team was still winless. "Detroit made a 75 foot bank shot to win game one," Newsham said.

"And (we) came back in the second game so I thought at the end we had chances. We were in it (67-67) in the third quarter, and were not far out of it," Newsham went on.

"We just need to come up with that one stop or that one possession that we can just knock it down and start driving rather then chasing. We need to be the one driving rather than be the one in the back seat. We could easily be at 2-1," Newsham concluded But there a lot of positives coming out of this.?

Augusta was lead by Idaho State standout, AJ Millien who tallied 38 points on a blistering 16-20 shooting including 6-6 from the free throw line. Not to be outdone was the Destroyer's Odgra Bobo who countered with 35 points of his own.

Luke Lloyd hits one of his 12 points.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Eyeing up the competition, these guys are ready to race.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

#23 Justin Hall adds two more for the Destroyers.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

#14 Eugene Seals launches one from the outside.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The Destroyers have 12 days to rest and make the necessary adjustments before they take on the Chicago Throwbacks Saturday, Jan 23 at Western High School. Tip-Off is scheduled for 7:05 pm.