PORTLAND – There’s nothing like a buzzer beater to ramp up the energy and create some excitement.
Lawrence Hill drained a 3-pointer with no time left on the clock to propel the Maine Red Claws to a 97-94 win over the Idaho Stampede in a NBA D-League game played in front of 3,045 at the Portland Expo.
“(Assistant Coach Donyell Marshall) was actually the one who drew up the play,” said Red Claws head coach Dave Leitao.
“We kind of figured they might switch, and when you do that you are looking for the guards to pop out. We switched it up and inverted it to allow the big guy (Hill) to come out. He’s a really good shooter and he got a good look at it.”
An excellent defensive stand gave the Red Claws (9-16) a final chance with 1.5 seconds left. Morris Almond inbounded the ball to Hill, who made no mistake in lifting Maine to a second straight victory.
“We didn’t know what we were going to run because we have a lot of sideline plays that we all have a lot of confidence in,” said Hill, who finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. “Coach said for me to pop out and shoot. Everyone said to knock it down with confidence.
“It was definitely a great ending to the effort we put in.”
Almond started the comeback for the Red Claws, who trailed 80-72 heading into the fourth quarter. He scored Maine’s first eight points of the quarter and ignited a 12-4 run that allowed Maine to take an 89-88 lead with 5:04 left.
Antoine Walker ended the run with two of his 19 points to restore a one-point lead for the Stampede, only to see Kenny Hayes and Almond score back-to-back baskets for the Red Claws.
Mikki Moore and Tony Bobbitt answered to put Idaho back up by one. Hill tied it with a foul shot with 26.4 seconds left.
“It was a tough game all around and I don’t think we played well today,” said Leitao.
“We didn’t look good, but we just hung around enough and made enough plays to give ourselves a chance. That’s actually something good to build on, because anytime you can play below par and still win the game you look at it as a positive.”
The game started with a rather unspectacular quarter by both teams. Neither team was sharp offensively, although the Red Claws did go on a 13-4 run midway through the quarter to grab a 17-8 lead. The nine-point advantage, highlighted by Jerome Randle’s seven points, represented Maine’s biggest lead of the half.
The quarter ended with the Red Claws leading 23-19.
The Stampede came to life at the start of the second quarter. They scored the first six points to take their first lead, 25-23. Idaho worked its way to a five-point lead four minutes into the quarter, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Hill and Hayes vaulted the home side back ahead, 37-36.
The Stampede led 50-49 at the half.
Idaho stretched its lead to 11 points in the third quarter before Maine started its comeback.
Almond paced the Red Claws with 21 points, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter. He added 10 rebounds.
Terrico White led the Stampede with 20 points.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
