Top players return to Explosion
Published 11:35 pm Saturday, June 7, 2008
MONROE — They’re back. Well, sort of.
Rashaad Powell and Justin Murray, International Basketball League All-Stars in 2007, have returned from playing in the United Arab Emirates and are expected to re-join the Snohomish County Explosion and see a limited role in today’s road game against the Portland Chinooks.
“They looked pretty healthy,” Redwine said of his meeting with the pair after they arrived in Seattle following a 17-hour flight from Dubai. “They’ll play a little bit (today), probably not a whole lot.”
The addition of Powell and Murray could not have come a moment too soon for Snohomish County, which, after posting a glittering 17-5 record in 2007, has struggled to an up-and-down 10-8 mark in a tougher Western Division this season.
With four games remaining the return of Powell — the Explosion’s No. 1 scorer last season at 28.4 points per game who also averaged 7.5 rebounds — and Murray (14.8 points, 7.7 rebounds) is expected to significantly boost Snohomish County’s fortunes ahead of the Western Conference tournament it will host June 27-29.
“I told (Powell and Murray) I don’t want to break up the good chemistry we have right now (after last Saturday’s solid victory over Las Vegas and strong practices this week),” Redwine said. “But, they give us another dimension and come Monday it’s a whole new ball game.”
Notes
Portland profile: The Chinooks (9-13) split two games against the Explosion at Monroe High School in April, but have improved with the midseason addition of David Lucas who leads the IBL in scoring (39.2 ppg). Lucas — a former Oregon State player and the son of Maurice Lucas who helped the Portland Trailblazers to the 1977 NBA title — led the IBL in scoring in 2007 with a ppg average of 36.5.
All-Stars in name only: The Explosion announced Friday Donald Watts, Jamal Miller and Justin James were selected to the Western Conference All-Star team, but the trio will be unable to participate in Thursday’s East-West All-Star game at Gary (Ind.) due to a conflict with previously scheduled games (Friday at Tacoma and Saturday at home vs. Central Oregon).
The Western Conference team will be led by West Division-leading Bellingham coach Rob Ridnour. The roster includes the 13-2 Slam’s Jacob Stevenson, Tyler Amaya, and Ryan Diggs.
Beast of the East: The two-time defending IBL champion Elkhart Express boast the league’s best record (14-1). The All-Star game host Gary Steelheads (15-4) sport the second-best mark in the Eastern Conference.
Adediran responds: Starting center Alex Adediran landed in Redwine’s dog house after poor practices and did not enter last Saturday’s game against Las Vegas until the second quarter.
The 6-foot-11 Adediran, who ranks 10th in the IBL in rebounding (8.2 per game), lasted just three ineffective minutes before getting a fast hook from Redwine. Before Adediran took the floor in the third quarter Redwine let him know where he stood.
“I told (Adediran) if he didn’t produce he was coming right back out, but he stepped it up” Redwine said of Adediran who scored 19 points and snared five boards in 15 second-half minutes.
Cascade alum Jones spurs fast start: Back-up center Mike Jones made a rare start in place of Adediran against Las Vegas and the Cascade High School product keyed a 31-21 first quarter lead by scoring six points and grabbing six rebounds.
“(Jones) earned the start with his hard work in practices,” Redwine said.
