The difference in the Jackals’ season finale wasn’t hard to identify for those who filled the gym Sunday afternoon. The hardest part, in fact, may have been finding it on the stat sheet after the final buzzer, but the numbers still jumped off the page.

It sure made Jackals coach Mark Anderson smile after the final horn, because on the line labeled “bench points,” the Jackals (14-13) outscored the Firebirds by a whopping 54-18.

“All week we’ve been talking about how we want to leave … the fans wanting more Jackals’ basketball (next season), and I think we did today,” Anderson said.

Leading the way were Corey Wilford with 19 points, Austin Hamilton with 18 and Jay Dupree-Gibson with 10. Toss in 4 points from Kofi Mills and 3 from Cooper Nolte and it was a nice way for Anderson’s team to conclude its campaign.

Jamestown’s Daniel Mulamba attempts to score over Raleigh’s Jaimee Jackson on Sunday. P-J photo by Valory S. Isaacson

“They’ve taken the name the “bench mob,” Anderson said of his second unit.

That’s not to say that his starters didn’t do their jobs.

Highlighting that effort were Michael Davenport with 23 points, and Glenroy Carr Jr. with 17 points and nine rebounds. And it was Davenport’s acrobatic, driving layup with just under six minutes remaining that stemmed a Raleigh run that had cut a 16-point fourth-quarter lead to six.

“Michael finished strong,” Anderson said. “When he gets going downhill, nobody can stop him.”

After Davenport’s drive, his two free throws and two more charity tosses by DaVonte Harris, Jamestown’s lead expanded to 103-91 with 4:43 left in the fourth quarter. The Firebirds didn’t get closer than seven points the rest of the way.

“We’ve struggled at points during the year, and the guys could have said, ‘I don’t want any part of this now’ and gone home, but they didn’t,” Anderson said. “We’ve played 27 of the 32 (scheduled games). That happens in minor league basketball. Every game was competitive, and that’s what we liked.”

Jared Grady scored 23 points to pace Raleigh. Demontez Loman had 18 points and 16 rebounds, Brock Young tossed in 18 points, Julian Harris added 17 and Nathaniel Hill had 12.

“We knew they traveled so far. They went from Raleigh (early Friday morning ) to Albany and played (that) night and got beat by 60,” Anderson said.

The Firebirds kept the game close for most of yesterday’s game, however.

The Jackals trailed 30-26 after the first quarter, and led 50-49 at halftime and 84-72 heading into the final period. But Raleigh drilled three straight 3-pointers early in the final period and then went on a 6-0 run three minutes later, trimming the deficit to 97-91. That prompted Anderson to call a timeout. When it was granted, he walked out almost to the foul line nearest his bench in obvious disgust.

Enter Davenport, who made his impressive drive to the hoop, allowing the Jackals to end their inaugural season in The Basketball League on a winning note, albeit a half-game out of the playoffs.

“Things look bright for next year,” Anderson said. “I’m sure we’ll have some roster moves, but I’d like to keep the core guys here and build upon it. It’s not a coincidence that the top four teams (in The Basketball League) played in the league last year. That makes a difference. They kept their core guys and they knew how to play the game. That made a difference, so I think we’ll be in the thick of things next year.”

RALEIGH (101)

Hill 5-9 0-0 12, Loman 9-17 0-0 18, Grady 8-13 3-4 23, Young 5-16 5-5 18, Harris 7-17 1-2 17, McKoy 2-5 1-2 6, Everett 0-1 0-0 0, Jackson 2-9 3-4 7. Totals 38-87 13-17 101.

JAMESTOWN (112)

Taylor 2-10 2-4 6, Carr 6-9 3-3 17, Harris 2-14 2-2 8, Wilford 5-16 8-8, Mulamba 1-3 2-2 4, Hamilton 7-10 1-2 18, Mills 1-3 2-2 4, Nolte 1-5 0-0 3, Davenport 10-17 2-2 23, Dupree-Gibson 3-7 2-2 10. Totals 38-94 24-27 112.

Raleigh 30 19 23 29 — 101

Jamestown 26 24 34 28 — 112

3-point goals–Raleigh 12-28 (Hill 2-3, Grady 4-7, Young 3-10, Harris 2-4, McKoy 1-3, Everett 0-1, Jamestown 12-34 (Taylor 0-2, Carr Jr. 2-2, Harris 2-7, Wilford 1-7, Hamilton 3-5, Nolte 1-3, Davenport 1-3, Dupree-Gibson 2-5). Rebounds–Raleigh 57 (Loman 16, Jackson 10), Jamestown 50 (Mulamba 11, Carr 9). Assists–Raleigh 19 (Young 9, Taylor 7). Steals–Raleigh (Young 3), Jamestown 15 (Taylor 2, Harris 2, Hamilton 2, Nolte 2, Davenport 2, Dupree-Gibson 2).