WBA NEWS

Mayas-USA Triumphant In WBA Home Opener At The Lobo

Thursday, May 5, 2005 12:00 AM

Chris Terrell, WBA

Longview, TX - The Mayas USA Texas basketball team opened its World Basketball Association existence with a flourish, defeating the Atlanta Hardhats 130-106 Friday night at Lobo Coliseum.

Daryl Dorsey (6'1''-G-S.Indiana) of Mayas USA Texas looks to shoot during Friday's season-opening game against the Atlanta Hardhats at Lobo Coliseum. Daryl "Majic" Dorsey led five Mayas in double figures with 35 points in the WBA West Division season opener for both teams. "We came out and there was some pressure on us," Dorsey said. "We had some players that were playing their first professional game and we had some Mexican players that had never played here in America. I came out a little slow also."

The Mayas all adjusted rather quickly, though, and began putting up the points. "We trailed for a little bit, but coach (Lionel) Garrett called a timeout, got us together and told us we needed to get out there and play and do what we have to do to win a championship. We did and things turned out OK," Dorsey added. The point guard/shooting guard and a former WBA Most Valuable Player was joined in double figures by Bobby Brown (6'7" G/F Kennesaw St), Reo Logan (6'11''-C-Georgia St.), Deshawn Anderson (6'3''-G-81,Emporia St.) and Kareem Grant (6'6''-F/G Tennessee St. ). Brown had 28, Logan 19, Anderson 10 and Grant 16. Anderson and Grant did their damage coming off the bench.

Toby Smith (6'10''-C-Connors State) of the Hardhats, who are based in Atlanta, led all scorers with 36 points. He was joined in double figures by Leroy Davis (6'5''-F-Georgia St.) (12), William Howard (6'5''-G/F-N.Carolina A&T;) (11), Mike Toth (6'3''-G-Delaware St.) (10) and Johnathan Burris (6'6''-F-Bethune-Cookman ) (10). The visiting Hard Hats opened with a 7-0 run before Logan scored the Mayas USA Texas franchise's first points on two free throws with 10:46 remaining in the first quarter. With a 6-0 run of their own just moments later, the Mayas closed the deficit to three, 11-8.

The Mayas first lead of the game came at 29-28 as Dorsey converted a jump shot as the first quarter ended. The Mayas led by as many as 11 with 8:19 remaining in the second quarter and led by nine, 56-47, at intermission. Majic and the Mayas really got things going, though, in the third quarter, outscoring the visitors 32-18, extending their lead to 23 (88-65) as Brown ended the period with a pair of free throws. The biggest lead of the contest — 31 points — came on a Brandon Hartley basket, giving the Mayas a 128-97 lead with just 1:20 left to play. In the final minute, the Hard Hats put together an 8-0 run, closing to within 22 before Grant hit a basket at the buzzer, giving the Mayas the victory.

"This was a good win for us," Garrett said. "It's always important to get the first one. But even more important is that we really want to invite everyone in Longview and the surrounding area to come out and be a part of this."

The Mayas, who have been based on the Yucatan Peninsuala in Merida, Mexico since 1999, continue their 20-game schedule with their first road game of the season Sunday against the Mississippi Miracles in Cleveland, Miss. The Mayas return home to Lobo Coliseum for a 4 p.m. contest against the Texas Tycoons on May 13 at 4 p.m. You can get more information on East Texas's Mayas-USA at www.mayasusa.com.

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