GIANTS are #1 seed in April 2013 ABA playoffs

The Giants record is 28-1 on the season after defeating the Florida Makos 150-91 at UNF Arena on March 2nd. Jerrod Tucker had an impressive showing leading the Giants in scoring with 32 points. Additionally, Horton added 5 assists and 5 rebounds in the victory. The Jacksonville Giants played Saturday without star center Jermaine Bell, the 2011-12 ABA MVP, and former NBA player Damone Brown. Tony Hooper contributed to the win with 24 points, 5 steals and 6 assists. “This was another good outing by the team. Heading into the ABA Playoffs we have the #1 overall seed which is the goal we have been working toward all year,” Coach Waters said of his team.

The Giants jumped out to an early 19 point lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Giants pulled in 21 offensive rebounds, capitalizing on several second chance opportunities; additionally the Giants forced 37 turnovers taking advantage of the ABA 3D rule. With this win, the Giants have won their last 20 contests for a 28-1 season to date. The Giants have clinched the South Atlantic Division Title for a 3rd consecutive season and clinched the ABA #1 seed for the first time in team history. The Giants have held the #1 ranking in the ABA Power Rankings for seven consecutive weeks.

The Giants will be hosting the ABA Final Four in April. The Final Four will take place at UNF Arena on Thursday April 11. The winners of each Final Four game will advance to the ABA Finals, a best of three series. Game 1 of the Finals will take place at UNF Arena Saturday April 13th. Game 2 will take place at Veterans Memorial Arena on Sunday, April 14. If necessary, game 3 will be played Monday, April 15, at Veterans Memorial Arena.

Team sets another VMA attendance record for an ABA game

The Jacksonville Giants defeated the Fayetteville Flight 157-89. The Giants were ahead by 32 points going into half time leading 73-41.

“We came out and got a good win against a good team,” Coach Kevin Waters said of tonight’s win.. Our guys have hit their stride, which we are going to carry into the playoffs. Our goal all season has been to secure the number one seed, now that we have done that, the players and coaching staff can focus on the Final Four. This is no time to let up; our end goal is in sight.”

Jermaine Bell led all in scoring, rebounding and blocks with 31, 14 and six, respectively. Currye Todd and Ed Horton both added double-doubles in the winning effort with 22 points and 10 rebounds each.

The Giants have played the out-of-division Flight the past three seasons. With this win, the Giants have won 19 straight games to improve to 27-1 overall on the season. Last weekend the Giants clinched the Atlantic South Division Title for the 3rd consecutive season. The Giants are currently ranked #1 in the ABA Power rankings, a position they have held for six straight weeks.

night the Giants played in front of 4,236 fans, a record attendance for the team. This marks the 3rd consecutive weekend at Veterans Memorial Arena in which the Giants set their single game attendance record. The Jacksonville Giants will playe their final regular season game this season at UNF Arena, Saturday March 2nd at 3pm.

With this win, the Giants have secured themselves the #1 seed entering the ABA Playoffs. The ABA Final Four, will be hosted in Jacksonville at the University of North Florida and Veterans Memorial Arena in April, visit www.jacksonvillegiants.com for more details or call the Giants ticketing office at 904-355-6531. Check our Facebook for updates on the team and ABA.

The Jacksonville Giants defeated the Bahama All-Pro Show 155-115. Jermaine Bell led the both teams in scoring and rebounding with 37 points and 19 rebounds. Tony Hooper recorded a double-double as well with 26 points and 16 assists to go along with a team leading 5 steals.

“A good win this afternoon, we got off to a slow start but our starters came out in the second quarter and put us on track. We have done a great job all season long and are on our way to securing the #1 seed in the playoffs and a bye to the Final Four,” Head Coach Kevin Waters said after the game.

The Giants have defeated the Bahama All-Pro Show for the 4th time in as many meetings this season. With this win, the Giants have won 18 straight and improve to 26-1. For the 5th consecutive week, the Giants are ranked atop the ABA Power Rankings.

The Giants will next play Sunday Feb. 24th against the Fayetteville Flight at 5pm in Veterans Memorial arena, the team’s last regular season game at VMA this season. A March 1 or 2 game is being planned for UNF Arena. Check the website for updates. Jacksonville will be hosting the ABA Final Four and Finals. Games will be played in April at the UNF Arena and Veterans Memorial Arena

The Jacksonville Giants defeated the Albany Blazers 151-112. The Giants were ahead just by five going into half time leading 51-46. The Giants outscored the Blazers 46-36 in the 3rd, by Ed Horton who scored 19 of his 27 total points in the 3rd quarter.

“When we needed it most, our All-Stars shined. (Ed) Horton in the 3rd quarter really sparked this team. Jermaine also did his part. He was the games leading scorer and pulled in a lot of offensive rebounds. (Albany) Ranked in the top 10 we knew this was going to be a tough game, but our guys are in the zone right now,” Coach Waters said of his team in the win.

The Giants were led in scoring by Jermaine Bell who finished with 37 points and 16 rebounds to go along with 3 blocks. Ed Horton and Damone Brown both recorded double-doubles with 27 points and 11 rebounds and 10 points and 10 rebounds respectively.

The Giants have defeated their division foe, the Albany Blazers, for the second time this season. With this win, the Giants have won 16 straight, improve to 24-1 and clinch the Atlantic South Division Title for the third consecutive season. The Giants are currently ranked #1 in the ABA Power rankings, a position they have held for 4 straight weeks.

For the second consecutive weekend at Veterans Memorial Arena the Giants set record attendance in a weekend with 6,293 fans in attendance. Some of tonight’s fans included the Scottish Women’s National Soccer team who were in town after playing the US Women’s National team at Everbank Stadium. Last night, Saturday Feb. 9, the Giants set their single game record for fans in attendance with 4,330. The Giants will next play the Bahama All-Pro Show at UNF Sunday, Feb. 17th at 1 pm and will conclude the regular season at Veterans Memorial Arena, Sunday the 24th at 5pm.

The Giants will be hosting the ABA Final Four and the Finals at the University of North Florida and Veterans Memorial Arena.

Fans flock to Veterans Arena for Winn-Dixie Weekend game

The Jacksonville Giants defeated the Gainesville Heat 191-102. Ed Horton led all players in scoring with 31 points off 12 of 16 shooting in addition to pulling in 8 rebounds and dishing 5 assists. Three Giants recorded double-doubles: Currye Todd, Damone Brown and giants newcomer, Chris Moore, all scored at least 16 points and grabbed at least 10 rebounds.

“We are playing great basketball right now. Everything is clicking. Tonight (Ed) Horton was on fire and the team fed off his energy. With eight of our players in double figures, there isn’t much to complain about. We have a handful of regular season games left, this team is putting themselves in a good position for the playoffs.”

The Giants have defeated their division foe the Gainesville Heat for the second time in as many meetings this season. With this win, the Giants have won 15 straight and improve to 23-1. For the 4th consecutive week, the Giants are ranked at the top of the ABA Power Rankings.

Tonight the Jacksonville Giants set their attendance record with 4,330 fans in attendance. The Giants return to Veterans Memorial Arena tomorrow night, Sunday, Feb. 10 at 5 pm, where they will face the Albany Blazers. The Blazers are currently ranked #10 in the ABA Power Rankings with their only loss coming at the hands of the Giants on their home court. With a win tomorrow the Giants will secure the Atlantic South Division Title. The Scottish Women’s National Soccer Team will be in attendance as they are in Jacksonville after losing to the US Women’s team 4-1 at Everbank Stadium.

The Giants will be hosting the ABA Final Four and the Finals at the University of North Florida and Veterans Memorial Arena.

Ex-GIANTS Harris, Wallery, Norman, Lawrence, Ruffin on Grizzlies team

The Jacksonville Giants defeated the Savannah Grizzlies 135-101. Jermaine Bell led the Giants in scoring with 30 points off 13 of 18 shooting in addition to pulling in 12 rebounds. Tony Hooper recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 assists to go along with a team leading 6 steals.

Coach Waters said of the Giants win, “This is crunch time. Playoffs are just around the corner and the #1 overall playoff seed is in our sights. Our goal coming into the season was to make it back to the ABA Championship and securing the top seed is our next step.”

The Giants have defeated their division foe, the Savannah Grizzlies, for the 4th time in as many meetings this season. With this win, the Giants have won 14 straight matches and improve to 22-1. For the 3rd consecutive week, the Giants are ranked atop the ABA Power Rankings.

The Giants will next play back-to-back nights the weekend of February 9th. Both games will be held at Veterans Memorial Arena, with the game on February 9th beginning at 7pm and the game on Sunday, Feb. 10, beginning at 5 pm. Saturday night is Duval County Public Schools Employee night in which the Giants are inviting those employed by DCPS to attend the game at no cost.

    GIANTS Guard Ed “Hollywood” Horton powers up for a goal.   Photo: J. D. Wilson

Jax SHARKS LaRoche Jackson plays as 13th man

Saturday afternoon the Jacksonville Giants played in their second game in just sixteen hours, defeating the Memphis – Bluff City Reign 138-104, before a crowd of 1,980 at the Veterans Memorial Arena. The Giants defeated the Florida Makos Friday night before a crowd of 3,739, making this weekend’s two game attendance total (of nearly 6,000 fans) the largest weekend in Giants history. Giants’ owner Ron Sholes commented on the great turnout Friday night and the better than expected noon-time game, simply saying that “We’re making progress and it’s catching on. It’s a great family friendly event, and we’ve got a winner on the court.”

Led by 2010 ABA All-Star, Ed Horton with 33 points and shooting 65% from the field, the Giants took a 20 point lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Reign would use aggressive defense and 3 point shooting to keep it close, but never got closer than 14. ABA All Star and MVP Jermaine “Slim” Bell also led the Giants and dominated the Reign in the low post with 24 points, 18 rebounds and 7 blocks.

LaRoche Jackson, defensive back of the 2011 AFL (Arena Football League) Champion Jacksonville Sharks, played for the Giants as the celebrity 13th man. Jackson added four points and two rebounds to the winning effort. Jackson commented before the game that he had some of Shark’s Nation coming out to cheer him and the Giants on. “This is great action out here and something everyone should come check out. It’s a great experience for the fans,” he added. And, it seems Jackson is hoping to make some Giants fans Sharks fans as well by taking to the hardwood in his second appearance as a Giant.

After the game Coach Waters said, ”Our guys are playing well, but considering two games back to back against a team like the Reign, we knew it would be close. Taking that early lead made the difference.” The Giants defeated the Reign for the 2nd time this season, the first win coming December 18th in Memphis. This marks the 12th straight win for the Giants who are currently 20-1 on the season and ranked #1 in the ABA Power Rankings.

The team will next play the Atlanta Warriors in Atlanta, Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th. The Giants will return to Jacksonville Saturday February 2nd where they will play the Louisiana Gators at UNF ARENA, 8 PM

Feisty MAKOS squad challenges GIANTS early on

The Jacksonville Giants defeated the Florida Makos, 174-87. Jermaine Bell led the Giants in scoring with 33 points and 9 rebounds. Former NBA player, Damone Brown, contributed with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

/We got off to a slow start, but the team was able to put things together to gain the lead going into the 2nd quarter. Jermaine Bell continues to dominate the competition and is making a case to repeat as MVP.” Head Coach Kevin Waters said of his star Center. The Giants came stumbling out of the gates but won their 11th in a row to improve to 19-1 on the season. Former Captain and current assistant coach, Anthony Lumpkin played as the 13th man for the Giants scored 14 points in his first game since winning the ABA Championship.

Tonight was Military Appreciation Night in which the Giants honored Petty Officer Second Class Michelle Workman of Patrol Squadron 8 of NAS JAX who had just returned from her second deployment.

The Giants will play Memphis Reign January 26th at noon at the Veterans Memorial Arena. The team will play the Atlanta Warriors in Atlanta, Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th.

Duke U. star Christian Laettner played on ’92 Dream Team, 12 years in NBA

Friday evening, Jan. 25, Duke University standout, NBA veteran, and Olympic “Dream Team” gold medalist, Christian Laettner, will be presented with a National Championship Ring from the 2012 National Champions Jacksonville Giants owner Ron Sholes. Laettner played five games for the Giants during its 2011-2012 Championship run before being selected mid-season as Assistant Coach of the NBA Development League team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

According to Sholes, “Laettner will be best remembered by the Giants for his assist in the first game of the Giants 2011-2012 season where the Giants faced the tough Gulf Coast Flash. With three seconds left and the GIANTS behind by two points, Laettner inbounded the ball with ease to Mike Polite who dropped it off to Currye Todd who drained a 30-foot jump shot. The crowd went wild!” Head Coach Kevin Waters said of Laettner, “He not only played, he coached, too. The team enjoyed learning from one of the all-time champions of the sport of basketball. His efforts in that first game accomplished our win and gave the team well-needed confidence to win.”

At the end of the 2012 season, Laettner was selected as a television color commentator for the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London, England. And this past December, the 1992 Olympic Dream Team was recognized with a float in 2012 Macy’s Day Parade, with Laettner waving proudly from the float. When asked about the experience, he modestly stated, “Being on that float was one of the highlights of my life. It is hard to put into words the feeling you get being cheered on by millions of spectators and knowing that nearly 100 million people are watching on television.”

Today, Christian, 42, runs his own youth basketball training camp (Christian Laettner Basketball Academy) and works with professional athletes wishing to improve their basketball skills and technique.

GIANTS challenged by ex-teammates Wallery, “Hot Rod” Harris and others

The Jacksonville GIANTS defeated division opponent Savannah Grizzlies 164-122 in a game that featured eight former GIANTS players for the Grizzlies. Jermaine Bell led all scorers with 35 points and 10 rebounds. Former GIANTS player and member of the 2012 Championship team, Sherrod Harris, led the Grizzlies in scoring with 32 points. Harris was also All Final Four guard last season.

A total of three GIANTS finished with double-doubles, guard Ed Horton scored 23 with 10 assists and Tony Hooper contributed 19 points and 10 assists. The Savannah Grizzlies are coached by former GIANTS assistant Willie Ponds. The Grizzlies were also led by 2010 All Final Four power forward Nick Wallery

“Our guys played well tonight. There were a lot of familiar faces on the other side of the ball. It was close in the beginning, but we pulled away as the game progressed.” Coach Waters said of the Giants win.

“To win this game against many of our top players over the past two seasons says a lot about not only our current players, but our coaching staff,” said owner Ron Sholes. The GIANTS were down 15-12 early on but went on a run that extended into the second quarter where they ended the half up 84-55. Jermaine Bell, who scored 24 of his 35 points in the first half, led in the run.   The GIANTS have regained the number one ranking in the ABA Power Rankings after spending the last four weeks ranked number two.

The GIANTS will return to Veterans Memorial Arena Jan. 25 where they will face the Bahama All-Pro Show team. Friday, Jan. 25 is Military Appreciation Night in which all military and their family members will receive complimentary tickets.

Giants end home weekend with two victories, begin 4-game road trip.

The Jacksonville Giants defeated the Birmingham Blitz 119-83 at Jacksonville Veterans Arena Saturday evening in the second of two home games. Shooting Guard Currye Todd led the team with 21 points including five made three-pointers.   Former NBA player Damone Brown contributed with 18 points and 9 rebounds.   The Giants have defeated the Blitz in both of their two meetings this season.

“Our guys played tough tonight, Currye Todd was hot from three and finished with a great game.   The team was able to feed off the energy of the crowd and came out strong,” commented Head Coach Kevin Waters about his team’s winning effort.

The Giants came out hot and took a commanding 38-8 lead at the end of the first quarter and didn’t let up for the remainder of the game.   ABA Final Four MVP Jermaine Bell scored 8 points and pulled in 11 rebounds despite only playing 15 minutes due to foul trouble.   Jacksonville has now won eight consecutive games and the Giants are currently 16-1 on the season.

Tonight was City of Jacksonville Night in which the Giants honored Firefighter of the Year, Pat Copeman.   In addition, the Giants held a Police Zone Sergeant 3-point Shootout in which the East zones defeated the West zones 10-6.

The Giants will next play in Savannah against the Grizzlies on Jan. 11th, the first of four on the road.   Away games results will be posted on the website and Facebook page. The Giants will return to Veterans Memorial Arena January 25th where they will face the Bahamas All-Pro Show team.

FLASH fizzles on Giants home court. Birmingham Blitz challenges on Saturday

In the first of two home games this weekend, the Jacksonville Giants defeated the Gulf Coast Flash 131-99.   Jermaine Bell led the Giants with 25 points in addition to 15 rebounds and 4 blocks. Guard Anthony Jackson contributed with 17 points and 10 assists.  This is the second time the Jacksonville Giants have defeated the Flash this season. The Giants currently have a five game win streak against their in-division rival which includes last season home opener when Currye Todd hit a 3-point shot as time expired to win the game 115-113.

Coach Kevin Waters commended his players on the win: “The team played great tonight, our starters got the job done early which gave us an opportunity to play our reserves late in the game. Jermaine Bell has followed up his MVP season without drop off and continues to lead his team.”

With this win the Giants, winners of seven straight games, improve to 15-1 on the season and are currently ranked #2 in the ABA power rankings. Tomorrow the Giants face the Birmingham Blitz at Veterans Memorial Arena, which will be City of Jacksonville Night.

GIANTS victorious in Georgia. Home for Jan. 4 and 5 at Veterans Arena

The Jacksonville Giants defeated the Atlanta Wildcats 128-118 in the last of three away games played in Georgia.
7-foot Center Jermaine Bell led the team in scoring with 38 points and added 10 rebounds and 7 blocks. Over the past 3 games, Bell is averaging 35 points, 10 rebounds and 6.5 blocks.

As a team the Giants outrebounded the Wildcats which contributing to the win. Currye Todd, the team’s ace shooting guard, also added an impressive 23 points and 6 rebounds while Damone Brown scored 17 points and pulled in 17 rebounds. “The team played well on the road. I think we have really hit our groove and I am looking forward to riding this momentum into the New Year,” Head Coach Kevin Waters said after the Giants defeated the Wildcats.

The Giants completed the road trip winning all three games against teams ranked in the ABA Power Rankings. The Giants have won 6 consecutive games and improve their overall record to 14-1. Jacksonville is currently ranked 2nd in the ABA Power Rankings.

The Giants return to Veterans Memorial Arena January 4th and 5th where the team will play back-to-back nights. First the Giants will face off against their rival the Gulf Coast Flash Friday night followed by the Birmingham Blitz Saturday.

GIANTS clinch two of three Georgia road trip games, Atlanta Wildcats next.

The Jacksonville Giants defeated the Gainesville Heat 187-110 in the Giants second of three away games the team will play in Georgia this weekend. Anthony Jackson led the team in scoring with 27 points. ABA Finals MVP Jermaine Bell added 24 points 9 rebounds and 7 blocks. As a team, the Giants had five players with over 20 points. Ed Horton added a triple-double to the winning effort with 22 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Kevin Waters remarked, “As Head Coach I am always looking for areas in which we can improve, but tonight the team played well. It is hard to criticize any part of our game when the team executes as they did tonight!”

This is the Giants second win of their three game road trip which began with the team beating the #11 ranked Albany Shockwave. The Giants have won 5 consecutive games and improve their overall record to 13-1. Jacksonville is currently ranked 2nd in the ABA Power Rankings and looking to regain the #1 spot.

The Giants will conclude their road trip by playing the Atlanta Wildcats on Sunday evening. The Wildcats are currently ranked 16th in the ABA Power Rankings. The Giants return to Veterans Memorial Arena January 4th and 5th where the team will play back-to-back nights. First the Giants will face off against their rival the Gulf Coast Flash Friday night followed by the Birmingham Blitz Saturday.

Giants give Shockwave their first defeat of the season; Bell logs 42 points

The Jacksonville Giants defeated the Albany Shockwave 155-139 in the Giants first of three away games the team will play in Georgia this weekend. The Giants had an impressive showing from ABA Finals MVP Jermaine Bell who dominated the game with 42 points 6 rebounds and 6 blocks. Currye Todd contributed to the win with 23 points, seven of his eight made baskets were from 3-point distance. The Giants as a team made a total of 25 3-point shots.

This is the first loss for the Albany Shockwave who are currently ranked 11th in the ABA Power Rankings. This is the Giants 4th consecutive win which improves their overall record to 12-1. Jacksonville is currently ranked 2nd in the ABA Power Rankings and looking to regain the #1 spot which they held from the pre-season to the 5th week of the season. Coach Waters said of the win “The guys are playing well right now. Obviously the long distance shots were falling for us tonight. Jermaine Bell played great and the rest of the team fed off his energy.”

The Giants will spend Friday in Atlanta before they head to Gainesville (GA) where they will play the Gainesville Heat Saturday the 29th. Jacksonville will conclude their road trip by playing the Atlanta Wildcats and return to Jacksonville for New Years Eve. The Heat and Wildcats are currently ranked 22nd and 16th respectively in the ABA Power Rankings. The Giants return to Veterans Memorial Arena January 4th and 5th where the team will play back-to-back nights. First the Giants will face off against their rival the Gulf Coast Flash Friday night followed by the Birmingham Blitz Saturday, both games tip off at 7 PM.

GIANTS take on Albany Shockwave, Gainesville (GA) Heat, Atlanta Wildcats

After receiving four days off for the holidays, Giants’ players and coaches are ready to hit the road again. The team will travel to Georgia tomorrow where they will spend the next four days before returning home for the new year. The Jacksonville GIANTS are 11-1 on the season and ranked 2nd in the current ABA Power Rankings.

The team will travel to face the Albany Shockwave Thursday, Dec. 27th, then head to Gainesville (GA) where they will play the Gainesville Heat on Saturday. With this road trip the Giants continue to play their toughest season schedule in the team’s three-year history, having already played 7 of their first 12 games against teams currently ranked in the ABA Power Rankings. The Shockwave and the Heat are currently ranked 11 and 22, respectively, out of the 80-team ABA.

The Giants return to Veterans Memorial Arena Jan. 4th and 5th where the team will play back-to-back games. First, the Giants will face off against top ten opponent and division rival Gulf Coast Flash. Last season’s game against the Flash resulted in a thrilling buzzer beater when Duke Blue Devils legend Christian Laettner and C.T. Todd teamed up to go the length of the court in the final three seconds to defeat the FLASH by one point. Friday, Jan. 4th will be Youth Sports Night and all kids wearing their favorite sports team jersey or T-shirt will be admitted free. A thousand lucky fans will also receive free Giants championship T-shirts or Energy Armor balance and power wristbands!

Then, on Saturday, the Birmingham Blitz come the VMA on Saturday for a rematch of a tough fought match-up in Birmingham just last week. Saturday night will be City of Jacksonville (COJ) Night where all city employees and their families will be admitted to the game for free. City employees simply need to show a badge, ID or pay stub, for free entry. Both games are at 7 PM.

2nd Home Game after grueling 11-day road trip ends in victory

The Giants improve to 11-1 on the seasons after defeating the Atlanta’ Southwest Fellowship Warriors 158-107. Ed “Hollywood” Horton had an impressive showing leading the Giants in scoring. Additionally Horton added 5 assists and 5 rebounds in the victory. The Jacksonville Giants played tonight without star center Jermaine Bell, MVP of the ABA Final Four. Bell is averaging 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks over the past 4 games. Tony Hooper contributed to the win with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

“A great game tonight by the entire team. Our guys are coming off playing seven games in the last 13 days, but they fed off the home crowd and played through the fatigue to get the win.” Coach Waters said of his team.

The Giants jumped out to an early 22 point lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Jacksonville out-rebounded Atlanta 65-36, capitalizing on several second chance opportunities; additionally the Giants forced 21 turnovers taking advantage of the ABA 3D rule.

This was the Giants second home game of the season and the team’s first game since returning from an 11 day road trip where the team won five of six games.

The Giants next play Thursday, December 27th when they travel to face the Albany Shockwave, in the first of three road games against Atlantic South division opponents in Georgia. The team returns to Veterans Memorial Arena January 4th where they will play division rival, the Gulf Coast Flash.

In the final game of a six game road trip, the Giants defeated the Birmingham Blitz 103-93. The Giants were in control the entire game but held off a late fourth quarter surge with the help of Jerrod Tucker’s nine points and defensive presence late in the game. Jermaine Bell had another double-double with 27 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks to lead the Giants, who are now 10-1 on the season. The Giants, who are averaging 127 points per game, scored a season low 103 point in the win. “It has been a long trip for our guys. Fatigue was definitely a factor in tonight’s game,” Head Coach Kevin Waters said. “We have missed [All Star] Matt Fields on this trip and tonight we had two other players out with injuries, which shortened our rotation.”

With two forwards and a center out of the lineup, the Giants had to rely on their guards to help win the rebounding battle. “It was a solid effort by our guards. They knew we were undersized and did a great job getting in the paint and crashing the offensive and defensive boards,” Waters added. Of the teams 41 rebounds, 25 were attributed to the guard position.

This concludes the Giants 11 day, six game road trip in which the team played in five different states. Four of the six teams the Giants faced are currently ranked in the ABA Power Rankings. The Giants return to the Veterans Memorial Arena Friday where they will face a division opponent, the Atlanta (Southwest) Warriors, at 7 pm.

The Jacksonville Giants defeated the Memphis Reign 148-113 in the fifth of six straight road games. Leading 76-56 at halftime, the Giants never let off the gas as they went on to score 72 points in the second half maintaining at least a 20 point lead for the remainder of the game.

Jermaine Bell led the Giants in scoring with 25 points as well as contributing six rebounds and three blocks. Ed “Hollywood” Horton added 20 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals. Taking advantage of the ABA 3D rules, the Giants as a team tallied 27 steals in last night’s game. “Our guys were disappointed with the loss in Dallas so they came out with something to prove and made a statement against last season’s Central Division Champions,” Coach Waters said of his team. Giants’ owner, Ron Sholes, added that “a loss can do one of two things to a team. It can cause turmoil or it can be a source of extra motivation. Coach [Waters] motivates and we knew this eleven day road trip would be a tough stretch against some quality opponents. A regular season loss isn’t going to stop us from competing at a championship level each and every night.”

Wednesday night (12/19) the Giants will face the Birmingham Blitz, currently ranked 28 in the ABA power rankings, at the Bill Harris Arena at 7 PM in Birmingham. This will be the first meeting between the two teams. This will mark the Giants final road game before returning to Jacksonville where they will face the Atlanta (Southwest) Warriors at VMA Friday, December 21st at 7 pm.

Team takes first loss of the season during 11-day road trip

The Jacksonville Giants have been on the road for the past seven days and have played some of the leagues best competition. “It has felt like a playoff run,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters after the victory Friday night against the Texas Fuel in San Antonio. After coming off a big championship rematch at home this past Saturday, the team hit the road for its longest road trip in franchise history. The past three games included victories against rival Gulf Coast Flash, the Louisiana Gators (9 point victory) and the Texas Fuel, in San Antonio.

Sunday afternoon the Giants played in Dallas, Texas against a Final Four contender from this past season, the Dallas Vandals. It would prove early to be a battle of closely matched teams as they would trade leads 17 times and have 11 ties during the game.

In the end it was the defense and hot shooting of the Vandals that turned the tide. The Vandals went on a 16-point run in the fourth quarter and ended the Giants eight game winning streak with a 116-103 victory at the Dr. Pepper Arena.

Although both teams finished 9 of 22 from behind the arc (41%), the Vandals had the field goal advantage hitting 51%, while the Giants were at 44%. But the statistic that may have made all the difference was the Vandals forcing five more turnovers than the Giants. Ultimately, the turnover battle lead to the Vandals outscoring the Giants 30 to 17 in fast break points, a statistic that seldom favors a Giants opponent.

“It was a game of runs and their defense gave them more opportunities,” said Waters. The Giants also had an 11-point run and were up by 13 points at one point in the 3rd quarter. The story line almost mirrored that of the championship rematch a week earlier, where the Giants erased an 18 point deficit in the third quarter to defeat the South Carolina Warriors. “That’s why the game is 48 minutes long,” said Giants#146; Owner Ron Sholes after the game. “It’s games like this that make us a better team, playing the best teams we can across the country during the regular season.”

Currye Todd led the way for the Giants with 22 points, and the Vandals had a balanced attack, with four players scoring 20 points or more.

Team faces challengers in Miss., Ala., Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee

The Giants were in San Antonio Friday night taking on the 2012 Southwest Division Champion Texas Fuel. For the second game in a row, the Giants got off to a blistering start on offense and defense. Creating a half dozen backcourt turnovers early, and shooting greater than 50% from the field, the Giants went into the half up by 22 points (64-42). Jermaine “Slim” Bell scored 9 of his team high 24 points off three 3D baskets early in the half. The Giants defense led the way as they cruised to a big victory against one of the league’s best teams, 137-90.

Tony Hooper had a breakout game for the Giants, putting up a double-double with 19 and 10 assists. Freeman Taylor and Curry Todd added 18 and 17 points, respectively, for the Giants. Seven players were in double figures for the Giants. “This was probably our best game of the year,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters. “Outstanding defense, great ball control and real team work tonight made it look easy.”

The Giants will enjoy lunch at the Hard Rock Café on the San Antonio Riverfront before heading to Dallas. The Giants will take on last season’s Final Four contender, Dallas Vandals, on Sunday at Dr. Pepper arena. the game will be played before the NBA D-league game.

Team faces challengers in Miss., Ala., Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee

The Giants continued their eleven day road trip with a game against the Louisiana Gators last night. The Giants came into the matchup undefeated (6-0) and coming off two key victories against top ten opponents. Behind the strong play of Jermaine “Slim” Bell, the Giants defeated the Gators 129-118. The Giants got out in front of the Gators early and didn’t look back. With a 74-53 halftime lead, the Giants led by double digit the entire second half. Bell led the Giants with 26 points and another double-double (10 reb). Ed “Hollywood” Horton (19 pts, 10 reb) and Currye ”C.T.” Todd (25 pts, 10 reb) also recorded double-doubles in a balanced attack. Giants’ leading scorer, Anthony Jackson, added 19 points in just 24 minutes of play.

The team continues on to San Antonio for a Friday evening game against the Texas Fuel, last season’s South Central Division winner. “The team is playing well, but we have some tough games this weekend in Texas. The GIANTS are taking it one game at a time, but it feels like a playoff atmosphere as we’re playing some really good teams and we’d like to return home for the holidays still undefeated,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters. The Giants will also play on Sunday against last season’s Final Four contender, the Dallas Vandals. Sunday’s game will be played at Dr. Pepper Arena before Dallas’ NBA D-league matchup.

Victory in first game of 11-day, 5-state trek

Following the Giants big win over the #3 ranked South Carolina Warriors Saturday night in Jacksonville, they departed on an eleven day road trip. The first stop was Monday in Gulf Port, Mississippi to take on arch nemesis and the #8-ranked Gulf Coast Flash.

Trailing at halftime for the second consecutive game, the Giants found themselves battling back once again to try and pull out the win. And that’s exactly what they did. Behind the strong performance of two-time ABA All Star and last seasons Final Four MVP, Jermaine “Slim” Bell, the Giants (6-0) pulled ahead for good in the fourth quarter and defeated the Flash (5-2) 123-106.

Bell recorded another triple double with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 10 block shots to lead the Giants. The team’s leading scorer this season, Anthony Jackson, started slow but scored most of his 18 points in the second half to help seal the victory. “The team showed a lot of resilience again tonight, but I think they could use a day off,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters following the victory. “Our guys full court press to take advantage of the ABA 3-D rule and at that intensity, it takes a lot out of them. This December schedule is not going to be easy.””

The Giants continue their road trip to New Orleans where they will enjoy a day off before facing the Louisiana Gators on Wednesday (Dec. 12). This weekend they will be matched up against two playoff teams from Texas which includes last season’s Final Four contender, the Dallas Vandals.

Team faces challengers in Miss., Ala., Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee

Coming off the team’s biggest regular season victory this past Saturday night against the South Carolina Warriors in an ABA Championship rematch, the #1 ranked Jacksonville Giants (5-0) are back at it as they begin an eleven day road trip. The Giants will face several of the ABA’s top teams during the trip, including rival Gulf Coast Flash tonight in Gulfport, MS.

The Flash ended the Giants first season when they defeated the Giants by just two point in the Final Four Championship semi-finals match-up. The Giants avenged their loss on a 3-point buzzer beater in their season two home opener against the Flash. Then, it was the Giants who ended the Flash’s season this past year in the playoffs. The Flash (5-1) is ranked #8 in the ABA and tonight’s winner takes the lead in the South Atlantic Division. “They [the Flash] are well coached and always give us a fight. It’s tough playing this level of competition after what we went through Saturday night, but it’s what the fans and media want, so we’re doing our part,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters.

The Giants will also face the Texas Fuel, Dallas Vandals and Memphis Reign, all playoff contenders this past season, on this road trip. The Vandals also played in the 2012 Final Four.

The six game road trip includes stops in Gulf Port, MS; New Orleans, LA; Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas TX; Memphis TN; and Birmingham AL against the new Birmingham Blitz.

“This is part of expanding our pro basketball effort in Jacksonville,” said Giants owner, Ron Sholes. “We need more than just regional opponents coming to Jacksonville, and we’re expecting to develop some rivalries with these teams.” During the Giants first season the team’s schedule included a 3-game series in California and the San Francisco Rumble came to Jacksonville as well.

“Whenever and wherever we travel, opposing team’s see how we do business. They see professionalism from our players, coaches and organization,” says Waters. “It certainly helps us expand our scouting ability.” The Giants have signed several key players that have played against them previously, namely this season’s leading scorer, Anthony Jackson. The Giants won’t return home to Jacksonville until Dec. 20th, and will play their next home game against Atlanta’s (Fellowship) Warriors, on Friday, Dec. 21 at Veterans Arena.

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GIANTS – 116 / SOUTH CAROLINA WARRIORS – 112

Jacksonville, FL – In the most anticipated professional basketball game in the history of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Giants opened the season at home with an ABA Finals Rematch against the South Carolina Warriors. Both teams game undefeated and ranked one and two in the ABA power rankings. The game opened with a Championship Ring Ceremony in which owner Ron Sholes presented members of last season’s team with their Championship Rings.

The Giants jumped out to a quick lead in the first quarter leading 32-27 headed into the second period. Despite the team’s hot start, they found themselves trailing by 20 in the third quarter. Thanks in large part to Anthony Jackson’s hot hand off the bench the Giants were able to rally in the 4th quarter outscoring the Warriors 37-19. “This team showed a lot of heart tonight.” Coach Waters said of his team. “We could have thrown the towel in but this team never gave up, I think we can thank the fans in the stands for keeping our guys in the game mentally.” Tonight’s game had an attendance of nearly 3,500 fans in Veterans Memorial Arena.
Ron Sholes, the GIANTS owner, added, “What a great way to begin the season! Last year it was a 3-point buzzer-beater, this season overcoming a 20-point deficit. South Carolina came out with a vengeance after we defeated them in the Finals, but they are the only team who have defeated us at home. Our guys weren’t about to let that happen again!”

The Giants defeated the Warriors 116-112. Anthony Jackson led the giants in scoring with 32 points in only 27 minutes. ABA Finals MVP Jermaine Bell contributed with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Marquis Gainous of the South Carolina Warriors led all in scoring with 33.

Next for the Giants is an 11-day road trip to five states to take on ABA Southeast Division teams in six games. The team returns to Jacksonville for a Dec. 21st match-up with Atlanta’s Southwest Fellowship Warriors.