Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Lightning splits first weekend’s games

The Southern Crescent Lightning kicked off their inaugural season last weekend with a 92-79 win over the Rome Gladiators Friday and a 95-91 loss to the Raleigh Knights Saturday. Though two wins would have been a better way to start the season, the crowds at Starr’s Mill High School, home of the Lightning, got a solid performance from an up-tempo team and an entertaining evening for the fraction of the cost for an evening with the NBA.

In Friday night’s game, the Lighting opened up with a 20-11 lead at the end of the first quarter and built it to a 48-25 halftime lead with great defensive play and some hot shooting. Though the pace slowed down in a third quarter plagued by foul trouble, the Lightning led 70-43 going into the final quarter. The fourth quarter was filled with dunks, alley-oops, loud music and cheering. It was enough to have several young fans decide to return the next night and sit in the same seats. Derek Allen led the Lightning in scoring with 17 points.

Saturday’s game was much more hotly contested but in the end the victory slipped from the Lightning’s hands. Shernard Long led the Lightning in scoring with 17 points, while Marcus Taylor, Chris “Shakin” Bacon (already a fan favorite) and Dion Gresham each chipped in 14 points.

The Lightning (1-1) will have a busy four days starting Friday when they play at Macon at 7 p.m. They will host Jackson Saturday at 7 p.m., play at Raleigh Sunday at 5 p.m. and at Bristol Monday at 7 p.m.

Info box

4/30 - Southern Crescent Lightning - 92 Rome Gladiators -79

5/1 - Raleigh Knights - 94 Southern Crescent Lightning - 91