The nightcap of the ABA basketball doubleheader, the SoCal Legends vs. the Strong Island Sound, was witnessed by approximately 500 fans, none of whom seemed to be from Long Island or SoCal,  who stuck around to see which team would advance to face the RazorSharks.

Strong Island moved out to an early 23-12 lead in the first quarter, but the Legends ran off 13 straight points in 3 1/2 minutes to take the lead in the second quarter. The Cinderella season of Strong Island came up all pumpkins as the clock struck midnight when the Legends finished the second quarter with a 63-50 lead and never trailed after that. 

The game was underscored by a combined 77 fouls, including three technicals against Strong Island, one of which was assessed for calling a timeout with none available.

Tarron Williams hit 24 of 29 free throws, with useless protests to some of the theatrics that got him to the line, in the game that ended 123-110 with SoCal advancing to the finals.

Now the Terrific Two

Both the RazorSharks and the Legends went to their proven scorers. SoCal's Jerry Dupree made some early fast breaks, while Rochester's James "Mook" Reaves hit clutch free throws off of fouls.  Reaves, showing no ill effects of the foot tendon injury suffered earlier in the playoffs, scored 10 points in the first quarter.

Fans were on the lookout for Williams, accusing him of drawing fouls with flops and feints. 

"That's what he did yesterday!" shouted Rochester head coach Rod Baker to the officials at the end of the second quarter, "That's how he went to the line 29 times!" 

SoCal finished the second quarter with a 66-57 advantage. 

Rochester fought back after the half.  With 51 seconds left in the game, both teams battled with a series of free throws.  Chris Carrawell hit one of two from the line. Ricky Maiden hit one of two for SoCal.  Keith Closs could only add one more foul shot, and Rochester clung to a 115-114 lead with only 13 seconds left. 

After another foul, Rochester's Lazarus Sims went to the line.  His first shot breezed through the hoop silent in the roar of 6,377 voices strong.

The second shot bounced off the rim. Rochester’s Troy Brown saved the game, the season, and the RazorSharks’ championship by snagging the rebound from a sea of black-shirted opponents.  Carrawell hit one more free throw.  A desperation shot by the Legends missed the basket as time expired with the Rochester Razorsharks on top 117-114 over SoCal.

Home Town Wins Again

 

For the second straight year, the team hosting the ABA championship won the league tournament. 

ABA President Joe Newman presented the league's Most Valuable Player award to Chris Carrawell, who called his teammates over to pose in a group photo. 

When James Mook Reaves took his victory lap with the American Basketball Association Championship trophy, now crowned with a red-white-blue ABA basketball, the aching tendon was silenced by 6,377 cheering fans celebrating their city's first professional basketball championship since 1981.

 

 

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