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Volcanoes season ends with playoff loss

Albany Legends advance to IBL finals against Bellingham

By Brian T. Smith
Published: July 4, 2010, 12:00am

PORTLAND — The Vancouver Volcanoes’ magic disappeared. And the loss occurred just when the Volcanoes needed it most.

Easily outrun and outgunned by the completely-in-synch Albany Legends, Vancouver was downed 124-105 Saturday in the finals of the National bracket in the International Basketball League playoffs.

With the blowout, the Volcanoes’ season came to a sudden, disappointing end before what was essentially a home crowd at Warner Pacific College.

“I think in the first half we just got lulled to sleep,” said Vancouver guard Brad Lechtenberg, who scored 18 points and sank five 3-pointers. “We were real stationary. We didn’t really move a lot. We didn’t work with each other or use each other enough.”

Meanwhile, Albany will move on, advancing to face the Bellingham Slam in the IBL Championship.

The date, city and format of the title game have yet to be determined.

Andre Murray scored a team-high 23 points to lead the Volcanoes (16-7), while Kevin Bloodsaw added 20 and Porter Troupe contributed 18.

Gordon Klaiber topped the Legends (18-3) with a game-high 33 points, followed by 25 from Rashad Woods and 23 by Kenny Satterfield.

But it was 16 rebounds apiece from Woods and Satterfield that did the most damage. Albany turned long boards into easy fast-break points, an asset that Legends coach Derrick Rowland said was essential to his team’s success.

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“In transition, that’s when we get into all of our stuff on the move,” Rowland said. “It’s been working great for us. We’ve scored a lot of points this year, and it seemed to work great tonight for us.”

Albany scored at least 31 points in all but the fourth quarter, while the Legends held Vancouver to 25 points or less in the first three periods.

Vancouver entered the finals of the National bracket via a last-second game-winning shot by Porter Troupe on Friday night.

But the Volcanoes’ season-long combination of energy and spirit was often nowhere to be found against the Legends.

Albany easily dominated Vancouver during the first quarter, using a strong combination of speed and strength to outmaneuver a Volcanoes team that was initially slow to react and slower to answer.

First, the Legends’ zone defense quieted Vancouver’s perimeter attack. Then Albany shredded the Volcanoes with a three-tier attack of transition offense, an inside power game and pinpoint outside shooting by a variety of soft-handed Legends big men.

“We know it’s a 22-second shot clock and a fast-paced game. …We don’t like to slow down unless we have to,” Rowland said.

Albany rarely had to apply the brakes Saturday.

The Legends held a 31-20 lead at the end of the first quarter, and then stretched the advantage to 43-28 midway through the second period.

It only got worse for Vancouver, as the Legends pounded away with an up-tempo, pass-heavy offense that seldom lacked open runners on the break.

A 65-42 Albany halftime lead said it all.

By the time it was 80-44 Legends with 8 minutes, 31 seconds left in the third quarter, the Volcanoes’ season was nearly complete.

Despite the loss, the 2010 campaign was in many ways the most successful season to date for a Volcanoes franchise in its sixth year of existence.

Vancouver rolled off two separate six-game winning streaks, while continuing to establish itself as one of the most consistent and dependable organizations in the IBL.

Volcanoes coach/owner Bryan Hunter praised his team’s effort, athleticism and personality. And Hunter believes his club’s upward movement will attract even better talent in 2011.

“We’re going to have to continue to build for next year,” Hunter said. “How far we made it this year is going to help make recruiting a lot easier next year.”

ALBANY LEGENDS 124, VANCOUVER VOLCANOES 105

Vancouver — Brad Lechtenberg 18, Kevin Bloodsaw 20, Porter Troupe 18, Andre Murray 23, Gary Muzzy 2, Devin Uskoski 12, Alex Tiefenthaler 2, Bryson McKenzie 9.

Albany — Gordon Klaiber 33, Damone Morris 6, Kenny Satterfield 23, DeAndre Thomas 12, Rashad Woods 25, Jermaine Tate 4, Lloyd Johnson 10, Lloyd Clinton 2, Chris Grant 4, Evan Lane 6.

Vancouver 20 22 25 38–105

Albany 31 34 32 27–124

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