MONROE — Having lost two consecutive games after sacrificing double-digit leads in the second half, the Snohomish County Explosion decided it was time to turn the tables on someone.
The Explosion (5-4) fell behind by 12 points early in the fourth quarter, but battled back behind Jamal Miller and tough team defense led by Milton Wright to gut out a 97-95 victory over the Tacoma Jazz in an International Basketball League game Saturday night at Monroe High School.
“We picked things up when it counted and came through,” said Miller, who scored 10 of his 15 points in the final seven minutes. “I hate losing so it feels really good to get back to winning.”
“(Miller) struggled offensively tonight in the first half,” Explosion coach Randy Redwine said. “But good players will find a way to come back and do great things for you.”
“I thought if we played good defense tonight we would prevail,” added Redwine, who was assisted by Nathan Mumm. Mumm is the CEO of Courtyard Media Group, the organization that operates the Explosion.
“We held them to 40 points in the first half so it paid off (having Mumm on the bench).”
The Jazz (3-5) opened the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run and enjoyed a 79-67 lead with 10:30 remaining.
Over the next four minutes, the Explosion scrambled back to retake the lead with a 16-2 run capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by Miller.
Miller’s steal and fast-break assist to Milton Wright (10 points, six assists, three steals) provided an 87-83 lead with 4:15 to play.
Over the next two minutes the Jazz forged a tie, fell down by five points, and tied the score 92-92 on a breakaway jam by Alex Adediran (20 points, 14 rebounds) with 2:16 remaining.
Miller was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws and the lead reached 97-92 when Donald Watts (18 points, six rebounds, five steals) split a pair of free throws with 17 seconds remaining.
After trailing by nine points at halftime, the Jazz surged to a 55-51 lead with a 15-2 run that gobbled up the first six minutes and five seconds of the third quarter.
Most of the damage came inside with post players Adediran and Dontay Harris (10 points, 14 rebounds) combining for 10 points.
“Those are big guys with lots of experience,” said Redwine, who lost center David White to a left ankle injury midway through the second quarter.
Both teams shot poorly during a first half that ended with the Explosion leading 49-40.
Tacoma was a mediocre 14-for-43 from the floor (.326). Snohomish County wasn’t much better at 19-for-51 (.373). But, the Jazz also struggled at the line with a 10-for-20 effort while the Explosion was a healthy 9-for-11.
At Monroe H.S.
Tacoma21193124— 95
Snohomish County26232028— 97
Tacoma — Rollins 16, Harris 10, Jones 4, Bailey 6, Claxton 14, Shareef 10, Adediran 20, O’Hanson 15. Snohomish County — James 8, White 6, Miller 15, Keller 7, Weakley 17, Booker 10, Watts 18, M. Jones 2, J. Jones 4, Wright 10. 3-point goals — Rollins 3, Bailey 1, Claxton 3, Keller 1, Miller 3, Weakley 4, Booker 1. Records — Tacoma 3-5, Snohomish County 5-4. Attendance — Not announced.
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