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Storm Brewing

Jamestown’s Michael Davenport drives the lane while DuBois’ Sam Roselli defends during their North American Basketball League playoff game Tuesday evening at Jamestown Community College’s Physical Education Complex. P-J photo by Valory S. Isaacson

Late in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s North American Basketball League game, Jamestown’s Michael Davenport fell awkwardly to the court and eventually walked slowly to the bench.

The Cincinnati native, who appeared not to be seriously hurt, watched the final two minutes from there.

By then, he had put in a full night’s work anyway.

Playing primarily point guard, Davenport stuffed the stat sheet, finishing with 8 points, nine assists, nine rebounds and six steals to help the Jackals down DuBois, 109-97, in the first round of the NABL playoffs at the Physical Education Complex on the campus of Jamestown Community College.

The win vaults the Jackals into the best-of-3 championship series against the Chautauqua Hurricane. Game 1 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, followed by Game 2 at 4 p.m. Sunday and the if-necessary Game 3 at 6 p.m. Tuesday. All games will be played at JCC.

Jamestown’s Leventrice Gray shoots over DuBois’ Haslin Dixon during their North American Basketball League game Tuesday evening at Jamestown Community College’s Physical Education Complex. P-J photo by Valory S. Isaacson

“It was a big game. DuBois never quit,” Jamestown coach Ken Crosby said. “Our boys had their spurts where they were tremendous and then they had spurts where they struggled a little bit, but overall they played a great game. It’s exciting to win the first playoff game in Jamestown (Jackals) history.”

Four of Davenport’s teammates scored in double figures, led by Latrell Alford’s 25 points. Damien Harris added 20, Leventrice Gray collected 18, Daniel Mulamba had 17 points and 19 rebounds, and Brandon McClester chipped in 10 points.

DeOndre Terrell led the Dream with 29 points, Tristan Pierce had 24, Trey Johnson had 19 and Albert Varacallo chipped in with 12.

DuBois used an 11-2 run in the first three minutes of the second quarter to open a 32-24 lead, but the Jackals responded with a 25-8 burst, capped by a Mulamba dunk on an assist from Davenport, to end the first half with a 49-40 lead.

Davenport was just getting started.

In fact, Jamestown opened the third quarter on a 22-10 surge with the former St. Bonaventure University player assisting on four field goals, including a trey by Harris and a dunk by Alford. By period’s end, the Jackals’ lead stood at 79-58 after finishing the final two minutes on an 8-1 run..

“It’s something I realized at Bonaventure. They taught me how to play-make,” Davenport said. “A lot of my game opened up with my floor game. Coach (Mark) Schmidt saw that I was really good at pick-and-roll situations. Once I realized that, it just grew and grew. I always felt I had good decision making and being able to anticipate open teammates.”

In the fourth quarter, DuBois trimmed the deficit to 10 points with 6:24 remaining on a pair of Johnson free throws, but Jamestown put the game away with a 10-0 run in a two-minute stretch, setting the stage for a championship round showdown with Chautauqua, beginning Friday.

“Being at home is so special,” Crosby said.

The Jackals and the Hurricane each won two regular-season games, both on their respective home court.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Davenport said. “They’re a very good team and they have a really good point guard in Ralph (Williams, a former Jackal). They’re just as athletic … as we are.”

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