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WBA NEWSWednesday, April 26, 2006 11:00 PM
Christopher Walsh, Tuscaloosa News
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TUSCALOOSA | It was fitting that some of the people who showed up to watch the debut of the Druid City Dragons were wearing paraphernalia from the former local high school.
For the first time in a long time, they were also able to celebrate a victory, as the new World Basketball Association team made a successful home debut Tuesday night by defeating the Marietta Storm, 86-77.
The effort was good," coach John Douglas said. “We still didn’t execute the way we wanted because we only had a week-and-a-half of practice, but I couldn’t be prouder. We beat a pretty good basketball team."
Although Dragons forward Najeeb Echols accumulated 15 points and 10 rebounds, the key matchup was in the paint, where former Shelton State Community College center Patrick Culver was often going toe-to-toe with Georgia State product Sylvester Morgan.
Morgan got his points with a team-high 20, but Culver had 19 along with a Dragons-high 11 rebounds.
“In the NBA and most of the developmental leagues, when you’re talking about pro ball, the game starts from the inside out," Douglas said. “The same with the other team, their guy was a beast to contain."
After Marietta started to press and pick up the pace in the third quarter, Morgan managed only a pair of free throws over the final 12 minutes.
They came with 7:23 remaining, while Storm coach Lionell Garrett was yelling to his team: “Come on white, we have to make a move right now."
Instead, Culver made two key baskets and forward Kareem Ward sealed the Dragon’s first victory with a dunk off an impressive wrap-around pass from guard Jeremy Law.
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