Troupe keeps Volcanoes alive in postseason run

PORTLAND — Porter Troupe jumped, spun and shot. The ball soared and floated while time appeared to stop. And just as Troupe’s feet touched the court, his game-winning basket softly fell through the net.

Troupe was spectacular Friday night. And his last-second field goal allowed the Vancouver Volcanoes to knock off the B.C. Titans 105-103 in the semifinals of the National bracket in the International Basketball League playoffs.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Troupe, who finished with 22 points. “I just got the ball and made a move.”

Like Troupe’s play throughout the game, the move was brilliant. And his six-foot turn-and-spin jump shot moved Vancouver (16-7) one game away from its first-ever appearance in the IBL Championship.

To advance, the Volcanoes must defeat the league-leading Albany Legends (17-3) at 4:30 p.m. today at Warner Pacific College in the finals of the National bracket.

“If we play like we did tonight in the second half, we have a chance to beat anybody in the league,” Vancouver coach Bryan Hunter said.

Troupe was not the only Volcanoe to soar, though.

Andre Murray was deadly. Devin Uskoski was relentless. And as they played side by side with Troupe, the trio united to guide the Volcanoes to their best all-around performance of the season.

“This is the most talent I’ve ever played on with this team,” said Troupe, who attended the University of Portland. “I believe we can do anything when we play like this.”

Uskoski scored a game-high 26 points for Vancouver, while Damon King added 13.

Lawrence Blackledge poured in a team-high 23 points for the Titans (15-8), whose season ended with the loss.

“We had three or four games like that in the regular season,” Blackledge said. “It’s a tough situation.”

A contest that was played hard and tight from the opening tip was tied at 95 with 2 minutes, 32 seconds to go.

A long 3-pointer by Uskoski then gave the Volcanoes a 98-95 lead at the 1:55 mark. And when a smooth back-to-the-basket field goal by Bryson McKenzie followed, it appeared Vancouver had found enough energy and luck to outlast a no-quit Titans squad.

However, B.C. guard Emmy Unaegbu answered with a nearly unmakeable layup that turned into a three-point play, giving the Titans a 103-102 advantage with 3.9 seconds remaining.

It then took Troupe’s in-the-lane floater with 1.2 seconds left on the clock to save the Volcanoes.

“That’s how it’s been for us all season,” Troupe said.

Ten first-quarter points by Troupe helped push the Volcanoes out to an early 26-17 lead.

But B.C. countered with a 8-0 run, and the Titans pulled within 33-31 at the end of the period.

Strong play by Troupe and Kevin Bloodsaw kept Vancouver running, though, and it was 48-43 Volcanoes early in the second quarter.

However, an aggressive B.C. defense that made several in-game adjustments slowly began to figure out Vancouver’s attack. The Volcanoes were limited to 22 points in the period, and the Titans took a 57-55 advantage into halftime.

But just as Vancouver began to slip, Murray stepped up. The former Portland State standout punished B.C. from the perimeter and swiftly penetrated the paint, giving the Volcanoes a new edge.

A swished 3 drilled from the top of the key by Kevin Tyner then stretched Vancouver’s lead to 77-68 with 1:30 left in third quarter.

B.C. entered the playoffs having won 10 consecutive games. But Vancouver was just as hot, having gone 15-3 in its last 18 contests.

To answer a Titans offense that relied on the quick first step of Blackledge, a 6-foot-8 forward from Marquette, the Volcanoes re-inserted McKenzie into the game. He, along with Uskoski, then fought for enough rebounds and tipouts to hold off B.C.’s late rally.

And Troupe’s magic was waiting.

VANCOUVER VOLCANOES 105, B.C. TITANS 103

B.C. — Chad Troyer 4, Terrence Hundley 9, Galen Young 11, Emmy Unaegbu ,5 Lawrence Blackledge 23, Casey Archibald 8, Wanye Marshall 22, Josh Washington 21.

VANCOUVER — Brad Lechtenberg 0, Kevin Bloodsaw 10, Porter Troupe 22, Kevin Tyner 9, Andre Murray 5, Damon King 13, Gary Muzzy 2, Devin Uskoski 26, Alex Tiefenthaler 5, Michael Cooper 2, Bryson McKenzie 11.

B.C. 31 26 17 29—103

Vancouver 33 22 24 26—105