GIANTS fall to Shreveport MAVERICKS in Game 1 overtime stunner

SHREVEPORT, LA –After a stellar 96-93 win over the South Florida Gold to advance to the ABA Finals, the Jacksonville Giants were unable to establish a 1-0 lead in the finals as they drop Game One to the Shreveport Mavericks by a score of 136-127. The Giants leading scorers were Jermaine Bell with 33 points and Anthony Jackson with 30. While the fall was hard for the Giants in the initial game of this three-game series, they certainly didn’t go down without a fight.

Giants came out slow, only scoring 5 points in the first 3 minutes of play and falling behind by 10 points just minutes into the game. While they trimmed the lead to just four by the end of the first quarter, their struggles continued as they entered the second quarter. The Giants shot a very unordinary 35% from the field and gave up a 17-29 rebounding deficit. Entering the half with only a twelve-point deficit, the game definitely seemed in reach. “As a team, we were really unhappy with our play offensively, but maintaining a low deficit put us in a very positive state of mind even given our poor play,” said Assistant Coach David Graham. Unfortunately for the Giants, the Mavericks came out firing and increased the deficit to 23 points half way through second half.

Midway through the third quarter Shreveport was up by 23 points and seemed poised for a blowout, but with the help of an offensive explosion by the entire Giants’ team, especially reserve Guard Jaleel Nelson (23 points), they were able to tie the game up with just 4:47 left on an alley-oop pass from Antonio Lawrence to the veteran Center, and reigning ABA MVP, Jermaine Bell. Just one minute later, the Giants took their first lead of the game following a huge block by Bell on former Giants’ Captain Ed Horton which led to two made free throws by All-Star Guard Anthony Jackson (30 points).

With just 5.4 seconds left in the game, Jackson hit a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game up and send it into overtime; the first game to do so in this year’s ABA Playoffs. Jacksonville was unable to come out with a win though as the Mavericks were simply perfect in overtime as they did not miss a field goal attempt.

The Mavericks leading scorers were Ed Horton (26 points), PJ Coussinard (24 points) and Trey Moore (23 points) who collectively made eight three-point field goals.

The Giants will face the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks again Monday evening for Game Two of the ABA Finals. Tip off at the Hirsch Coliseum will be at 8:30 pm EDT. All games will air live on ESPN3, links to the games and game details can be found at www.abafinals.com. After an instant ABA Classic in Game One, the Giants will certainly come in Game Two poised for a comeback victory to force a Game Three of the ABA Finals. The Giants will be holding a “GIANT Watch Party” at Latitude 30 on Monday night for Game Two of the ABA Finals. Doors open at 8pm and the game will tip off at 8:30pm EDT.

GIANTS come through in clutch to advance to ABA Finals

SHREVEPORT, LA – The Jacksonville Giants began their title defense Saturday night against the South Florida Gold at the Hirsch Coliseum. The Gold advanced to the Final Four to face the Giants after beating the North Dallas Vandals the night before. This was the Giants fifth time facing the Gold (Giants held a 3-1 series lead going into tonight’s game) and with a trip to the Finals at stake this promised to be great match-up.

From the start the Gold came out firing and were up on the Giants by 16 points at one point in the first, but the Giants quickly responded to close the gap 23 to 34 by the end of the first quarter. The Giants came out strong in the second quarter as Guard, Anthony Jackson, began to take control of the game by scoring 19 of his 25 points. With Defense to set the tone, the Giants caused 10 turnovers and put two of Gold’s key players in foul trouble to end the half up 58 to 56.

The Giants again came out strong in the third and were up by 12 at one point, as reigning MVP, Jermaine Bell scored 8 of his 16 points while grabbing 7 of his 16 rebounds before finishing the game with a double-double. But like most heavyweight bouts, the Gold came back swinging as reserve guard, Fred Brown scored 8 of his 25 points including a big 4-point play, all while causing 5 turnovers to end the third down to the Giants 76 to 80.

The Gold began to gain momentum in the fourth as they gained their first lead since giving it up before the end of the second. With the game in the balance, Jerrod Tucker and Anthony Jackson, drew 4 consecutive fouls in the final minutes to knock down 6 clutch free throws to both tie and take the lead in the game. Jermaine Bell and veteran, Antonio “Red” Lawrence stepped up defensively as Bell recorded all 4 of his blocks in the final minutes and Lawrence came up with a key block to save the game in the final seconds. In the end, clutch free throws and big defensive stops would prove to be the difference as the Giants would hold on to win 96 to 93, and earn their third straight ABA Finals appearance. The Giants leading scorers were Anthony Jackson with 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals and Jermaine Bell with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

The Giants will face the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks today at 4 pm CST in Game 1 of the three-game Championship Series. All games will air live on ESPN3 , links to the games and game details can be found at www.abafinals.com. With the last 4 ABA Championships (two back-to-back titles each) between these two teams and a possible “3-peat“ in the balance, this long awaited series has promised to be a match for the ages! Monday night Latitude 30 will be hosting a watch party for game 2 of the Championship Series, doors open at 8pm EST and the game starts at 8:30pm EDT.

Click HERE to go to ESPN3 webcast channel and click on the menu link for the game.

GIANTS extinguish FIRE to coast into ABA Championship playoffs

The Jacksonville GIANTS played their final regular season home game Saturday evening at the Veterans Memorial Arena as they defeated the South Coast FIRE, 104-89. The GIANTS’ leading scorer for the night was Anthony Jackson with 19 points. GIANTS veteran big man, Jermaine “Slim” Bell, posted his first triple-double of the season with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 blocks.

The FIRE stuck it out through halftime as they kept it close by creating a rebounding deficit in their favor of 66-57. The FIRE’s rebound deficit was not enough to hold on though. Jacksonville assistant coach David Graham remarked after the game, “They kept it really close through the first half, but our real problem was that we were unable to convert on easy shots.” The Giants shot 40% in the first half and passed up on several inside opportunities for outside shots. “We just had to work the ball down low and use our size,” Graham continued. South Coast’s Jeremy Fountain led the game with 22 points on just 9/19 shooting from the field.

This win keeps the Giants near the top of the ABA league power rankings with a 29-1 record and helped the GIANTS secure a spot in the ABA Playoffs as they will receive a three-round “bye” going directly to the ABA’s Final Four. They receive this bye along with the Shreveport MAVERICKS who are starting three former GIANTS’ 2012-2013 starters Currye Todd, Ed “Hollywood” Horton and Tony “Super” Hooper. The GIANTS squad will definitely be up against some strong competitors this April in Shreveport. Check the Facebook page and this website for Jacksonville GIANTS news updates.

“Hot Rod” Harris leads scoring to win over Charleston at UNF Arena

The Jacksonville Giants improved to 26-1 after a 54-point win over the Charleston, South Carolina LIONS with help from their veteran guard, Sherrod Harris’ 36 points. Harris shot 75% from the field including 8 three-pointers. Center Jermaine Bell, posted 27 points and led the team with 5 offensive rebounds.

The GIANTS started off slow, but picked up momentum when their second unit entered the game with 6 minutes left in the first. GIANTS forward Elijah Smith posted all of his 12 points in the first when he subbed in for Josue Mulamba, who led the team with 11 total rebounds. The ABA Champs put their foot on the gas in the third quarter as they outscored the Lions 61-27.

The LIONS’ Todd Justin, Mario Thompson, and Sam Hilton all scored over 20 points in the game, but weren’t able to overcome the daunting rebound deficit of 32 boards. Jacksonville also had a turnover differential of 23-10, which was a product of Coach Waters’ full court trap defense.

The GIANTS will be back at the Veterans Memorial Arena on March 8th as they take on Georgia’s South Coast Fire for their FINAL home game of the 2013-2014 regular season.

Jermaine Bell sinks 51 to ensure GIANTS victory

JACKSONVILLE, FL. (Feb. 15, 2014) – The Jacksonville Giants (23-1) played an all around great game Saturday night as they beat the Montgomery Blackhawks 195-127. This was the second time this season the Giants fell just short of the 200-point mark. After their last home game, when they scored a record 222 points against the Georgia Roadrunners, it was clear the team wanted to prove their record game was not a fluke.

The Giants entered halftime with a lead of 104-58 with Jermaine Bell leading all scorers with 33 points. The Giants continued their concentrated rampage with a 92-point second half including a 42-point fourth quarter, which showed the Giants depth as they used the bottom of their bench with great effectiveness. Jermaine Bell lead the Giants with 51 points on 20/28 shooting from the field in just 3 quarters of action. Bell’s game was nothing short of astonishing as he scored double digits in each of the three quarters in which he played (he sat out all of the 4th quarter on a coach’s decision). Montgomery Blackhawks Guard, Warren Bealluh, led all scorers with 53 points.

After the game, Coach Waters said of his team, “This was just one of those nights when you just knew the team was in control. They played a hard, team first game, and earned an explosive win.” As for his All-Star Center and back-to-back ABA MVP’s night, Waters said, “We’ve always known Slim (Jermaine) to be capable of games likes tonight and he surely proved that to his fans tonight. He’s undoubtedly deserving of his third ABA MVP award.”

Power Forward, Josue Mulamba, utilized his extra playing time in the fourth quarter to add 15 points to his previous 7 to push his game total to 22 points to go along with his 11 rebounds which was good for a double-double. Jacksonville’s big men, Elijah Smith, Jermaine Bell, Josue Mulum-ba, and Brendon Knox, dominated Montgomery and combined for 94 of the team’s total points. The Giants were also extremely effective on the offensive glass as they hauled in 27 offensive rebounds while only allowing 11 for Montgomery. Assistant Coach, David Graham, thought his “bigs” (Jermaine and Josue) played a tremendous game and said it was the team’s plan to get their big men inside on a much smaller team.

This game marked the fifth time this season that the Giants played a home game at Jacksonville’s Veterans Memorial Arena and will be the second to last game here for the 2013-2014 season. The Giants look to close out their regular season at the VMA on March 8th against the South Coast Fire, a team which gave the Giants headaches earlier in the season. Prior to March 8th, you can catch the next home game at the University of North Florida on March 1st against the 18th ranked Charleston Lions.

Tucker leads scoring in hard-fought game, Giants win 147-134

FAYETTEVILLE, NC (Feb. 9, 2014) –Jerrod Tucker scored 23 points to lead the Jacksonville Giants to a 147-134 win over the Fayetteville Flight Sunday night.

“We held our composure after being pressed by Fayetteville in the second half. We had a big third period, scoring 50 points and that helped us keep the momentum, ” said Jacksonville’s Head Coach Kevin Waters.

The GIANTS’ (23-1) Josue Mulamba added 15 points, 11 rebounds with two assists. Jermaine Bell scored 10 points to go along with 10 rebounds and three assists. Jacksonville led 63-55 at the half, but had to hold off Fayetteville after being outscored 47-34 in the final quarter. Fayetteville’s Brian Callaway scored 29 points. Cornell Holmes had 23 points.

The Giants return home for their Saturday night re-match against the Montgomery BLACKHAWKS at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena at 7 p.m.

Jacksonville GIANTS defeat Charleston City LIONS, 126-97

CHARLESTON, SC (Feb. 8, 2014) – Josue Mulamba scored 25 points and Jermaine Bell added 20 as the Jacksonville Giants (22-1) defeated the Charleston City Lions (7-3) 126-97 on Saturday night.

Jacksonville led 63-45 at the half. “We were concerned about the Lions reputation as a good three point shooting team. But our man-to-man defense took away that weapon for most of the game,” remarked Jacksonville Head Coach Kevin Waters.

Brandon Davis and Anthony Jackson each scored 17 points. Mulamba had 10 rebounds. The Lions were led by Richard Hazel with 24 points and Terry Washington with 22.

The Giants continued their road swing against the Fayette-ville Flight on Sunday then return home to Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena for a game on Sat., Feb. 15 when they host the Montgomery BLACKHAWKS at 7 p.m.

Jacksonville Giants Set Scoring Record in 222-100 Win

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2014) – The Jacksonville Giants (22-1) set a new ABA and national professional basketball scoring record in a 222-100 win over the Georgia ROADRUNNERS (10-3) Friday night before an estimated crowd of approximately 1,000 at the University of North Florida Arena.   The new scoring record came nearly two years ago to the day when the GIANTS set the all-time pro basketball scoring record with 211 points against the Columbus RIVERBALLERS (Feb. 5, 2012). That mark in 2012 gained the Giants national recognition in Sports Illustrated as the highest scoring pro basketball team ever. It was the fifth time in four seasons the Giants have scored 200 points or more, and when the Giants went in to the locker room with 110 points on the scoreboard. “It felt like it was going to be one of those nights,” said GIANTS Associate Head Coach David Graham.

The Giants had a balanced attack led by veteran guard Anthony Lumpkin’s 29 points. Former ABA All-Star Jaleel Nelson added 24, and Sherrod Harris and newcomer Josue Mulamba each scored 22. Mulamba, a native of the Congo, joined the team a few weeks ago and filled in for the GIANTS’ four year starter and 2013 ABA MVP, Jermaine “Slim” Bell, who missed the game due to injury. GIANTS forward, Elijah Smith, added 21 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, while guard Kevin Thomas had 20 points on 4 of 6 shots from beyond the arc and a game high 13 assists. Two-time ABA All-Star Anthony Jackson added 20 points.

In all, 11 players scored in double figures for the Giants and the team shot 64% while holding the Roadrunners to just 38% field goal shooting. Mulamba led all rebounders with 12 and added 3 blocked shots. Jaleel Nelson’s foul shots with 2:12 to play in the game tied the old scoring record and set the new one. Two of Antonio “Red” Lawrence’s 12 points were responsible for breaking the GIANTS’ 200-point plateau for the second time in his career. The first time came when the GIANTS first broke the 200 point mark in their inaugural season and Lawrence was dubbed “Mr. 200” by his teammates.

After the game, GIANTS Team Captain, Jerrod Tucker, said, “It is great having two record breaking nights in Jacksonville,” referring to the record attendance of 8,354 for the game on February 1st at Veteran’s Memorial Arena.

“It’s not just the points, it’s the teamwork that allowed us to break the record,” said Jacksonville Head Coach Kevin Waters. “It really created a bond, everybody working together. We felt good sharing the ball and looked good as a team tonight. You [could] feel the energy on the court,” Waters added.

Regarding the record performance, GIANTS team owner Ron Sholes simply stated, “We play every game for 48 minutes.” He added, “It was a good all-around effort tonight, but we have a game tomorrow night in Charleston and the following night in Fayetteville, so we don’t have a lot of time to celebrate.”

The ROADRUNNERS’ Damien Dickerson led the visitors with 26 points and Eddie Ishman scored 20.

The Giants travel to South Carolina to play the Charleston City LIONS (8-2) today at 5 p.m. “The Lions are a very good three point shooting team which seems to be our Achilles heel,” Waters said. The GIANTS then play in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on Sunday before returning home to Jacksonville to play in the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday, Feb. 15th.

GIANTS sweep Flight in Sunday re-match, 142-97, following Saturday’s 161-111 win

JACKSONVILLE – Anthony Lumpkin scored 25 points to lead the Jacksonville Giants to a 142-97 win over the Fayetteville Flight on Sunday afternoon at West Nassau High School. Jacksonville improved to a 20-1 record for the season and Fayetteville fell to 7-8.

The previous evening, the Giants were victorious over the Flight 161-111 before a record crowd of 8,350 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The Giants outscored the Flight 19-10 in the opening six minutes and continued building their lead.

Discussing Sunday’s victory, Giants head coach Kevin Waters said, “It was a great team win today. Matt Fields came off the bench and provided a spark with 17 points. Along with Anthony Jackson’s play-making ability and Anthony Lumpkin’s leadership, we pulled off the win.”

Jackson and Jerrod Tucker each scored 18. Fields had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Josue Mulamba led Jacksonville with 13 boards. The Giants led 63-48 at the half.

The Flight’s Victor Parnell was high point man for the visitors with 22 points.

The Giants host the Georgia Roadrunners Friday night at 7 p.m. at the University of North Florida Arena.

Jackson’ season high 44 points puts Giants past South Florida GOLD

JACKSONVILLE – Giants starter Anthony Jackson hit a season high 44 points as the Jacksonville Giants (17-1) inched closer to an ABA Southeast Division title and cruised past the South Florida Gold (6-3) 128-103 Wednesday night at the Bob Hayes Sports Complex Legends Center.

The first half saw seven lead changes. Each team led by as many as five twice. The Giants pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring the Gold 41-23. Jackson hit seven three pointers and continued his near perfection from the foul line going 10 for 11. Jackson was 4 of 6 from the field and made all four of his free throws in the opening half. “We were kind of lax in that first half. We had to turn things up a notch to win and I was glad to help the team get on a roll,” Jackson said.

Jermaine Bell had 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the team. Josue Malumba came off the bench to score 16 and keep the pressure on the Gold late in the game. Elijah Smith added 12. “We did a better job in team rebounding in the second half. They are a very good shooting team, so we had to take every opportunity to rebound and control the ball and pace of the game,” said Jacksonville coach Kevin Waters.

Andrew Dikas, who briefly played for the Giants in 2011, was the spark for the Gold in the first two quarters scoring 14 of his 21 points. He was three of six from the field including a three pointer and seven of eight from the foul line. “Andrew had been in a slump but he came out of it tonight. We ran into a hot shooter in the third quarter, but I attribute some of that to him being uncontested. Even when he was defensed he was still very accurate,” said South Florida coach J. R. Gamble.

Scott Draughn scored 14 and Sammy Emille 13 for the visitors. Two foul shots by returning Giants player Antonio Lawrence with less than six seconds to play in first half allowed the Giants to take a 51-50 lead at halftime. The Giants were coming off a 120-117 loss to the Gold on Tuesday snapping a 40-game ABA winning streak. Jacksonville’s last loss came on Sunday, Dec. 16 of last season when the Giants fell on the road to the North Dallas Vandals 116 -103. The team they would eventually defeat in to win their second ABA Championship.

Jacksonville succeeded in averting two consecutive losses — something that hadn’t happened since their their trip to the Final Four in their first season. The Giants haven’t lost back to back games since March 2011 when they dropped decisions to the Texas Mavericks and Gulf Coast Flash in the ABA championship finals. The Giants scored 100 points or more for the 16th time this season. They took a 100-83 lead on Anthony Lumpkin’s layup with 7:56 to play in the game. All three of South Florida’s losses have come against the Jacksonville. The Giants took the season series 3-1 and could meet up with the Gold again in the ABA Southeast Division playoffs. The Giants host the Fayetteville (N.C.) FLIGHT (5-7) on Friday, Feb. 1, at the Veterans Memorial Arena at 7 pm.

Davis’ 3-pointers keys win for Giants over Showboats at Veterans Arena

JACKSONVILLE – Last time the Giants and Showboats played Jacksonville came away with a 10-point victory in Jackson, Miss. That wouldn’t be the case Saturday night as Jacksonville improved to 16-0.

The Giants opened on an 11-0 run and never trailed in a 142-100 ABA victory over the Showboats (3-6) before record crowd of 5,290 at the Veterans Memorial Arena.

“We had a great team effort tonight. Brandon Davis came up with some key three pointers in the first half and we were on our way. The Giants opened the game on an 11-0 run and never looked back,” said Jacksonville head coach Kevin Waters.

Davis paced the Giants with 18 points including four three pointers. For the second game in a row Josue Mulamba came off the bench to score 17. Jermaine Bell and Nick Wallery each added 16.

“Mulamba has been a great addition for us. He’s going to be a real asset going into the playoffs and continue to be a force,” noted Waters.

Giants veteran Nick Wallery also helped control the boards with 11 rebounds. Jermaine Bell had nine and Brandon Davis had eight.

The Giants led 61-43 at the half. The Showboats’ Jonathan Phelps had 33 and Flawaan Flaggs scored 27 points for the visitors. Both were 4 of 12 from the three point line. The teams scored 25 three pointers between them. The Showboats didn’t score until the 8:13 mark when Chris Miller sank a three pointer. The teams traded a total of eight baskets from beyond the three point arc in the first period alone.

“The Showboats are a great three point shooting team. They gave us a close game up there, so we knew we had to establish a lead early. Our guys came out with a lot of energy and is translated into that lead,” Coach Waters said.

Jacksonville returns to the court Tuesday night to host the South Florida Gold (5-2) and their new coach J. R. Gamble in Callahan at the West Nassau High School at 7 p.m. The Gold’s only two losses have come against the Giants.

Jacksonville Giants lose Mickens but rally to douse the Fire

JACKSONVILLE, FL. – Jaleel Nelson scored 21 points and Jermaine Bell returned to the lineup to contribute 19 as the Jacksonville Giants improved to 15-0 with a 113-94 victory over the Southcoast Fire (5-5) Friday night at the University of North Florida Arena.

The game took a somber turn at the end of the first quarter. Jacksonville’s Maurice Mickens was taken to the hospital for evaluation after suffering a left knee injury. The injury came after Mickens made a layup to give Jacksonville a 33-18 lead. When he fell under the basket the crowd and team knew it was serious.

“It really changed the tempo and enthusiasm. We had to adjust not only to the loss of Mickens, who has been really coming on as of late, but the whole team felt a deeper loss that was reflected in our play on the court,” said Giants’ head coach Kevin Waters.”

The team rallied. And looking for veteran leadership led 53-39 at halftime. “I told them at halftime about what it takes to be a championship team. Reminded them that we are defending champions,” Waters said.

Bell, who saw limited action in the win against Montgomery last weekend due to an injury, answered the call as did Nelson and the rest of the team led by four other players who scored in double figures.

Jerrod Tucker scored 15. Josue Mulamba came off the bench to contribute 12. Nick Wallery and Brandon Davis each added 10. It’s was the ninth game the Giants have had six players score in double figures. Nelson and Bell each had seven rebounds to lead the club. Nelson was a perfect seven for seven from the free throw line. Jacksonville hit the century mark for the 13th time this season on Bell’s dunk with 5:28 to play in the contest.

Rick Lamb paced the visiting South Coast Fire. Dwayne Joshua has 12 points. Michael Hilliard, A.J. Stewart and Devon Lam each had 11.

The Giants host the Jackson Showboats (3-5) Saturday night at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena at 7:30. Jacksonville defeated the Showboats 144-133 earlier this season in Jackson, Miss.

GIANTS rout WARRIORS to stay undefeated in 10 games

The Jacksonville Giants defeated the Atlanta Southwest Warriors Saturday night at Veteran Memorial Arena by a score of 180-78. The Giants scored 58 of their 180 points in the fourth quarter with a large boost from their reserve players. First year point guard Maurice Mickens took advantage of the extra time by putting up 22 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter. Leading scorer for the game, Brandon Davis, put up 30 points including his 15 points in the first quarter as he came off the bench to provide an early spark.

Head Coach Kevin Waters, speaking of their slim margin of victory Thursday night against Savannah,said, “The players were all tired after the road trip but the extra day of rest helped a lot.”

Prior to the game, USMC Private First Class Colby Raven surprised his family by returning to Florida from California for the holidays, popping out from a large gift-wrapped box courtside, to the delight of his little sister. As part of the Giants Employee Appreciation Program, the team hosted employees of JEA, JTA, USO, and Red Cross. The national anthem was performed in front of a huge U. S. flag on the court by new Nashville talent “Chasin’ Jaymie” a duo hailing from Jacksonville.

The Giants play a 4 pm grudge match against the Warriors on Sunday at the Bob Hayes Sports Complex on the Northside in a game free to the public. After their short stretch back home in Jacksonville, the Giants hit the road again as they take on the Ft. Lauderdale Gold. The Giants next home game will be on January 4th and 10th at the University of North Florida. Their next game at the Veteran’s Memorial Arena will be on January 11th when they play the Jackson Showboats.

GIANTS pull off tough win over SOUTH COAST FIRE, 97-86

The back-to-back ABA Champion Jacksonville Giants returned to Florida from their week long road trip yesterday and were back in action tonight against Savannah’s South Coast Fire. Playing at Palatka High School, the Giants appeared a little battered, but brought it together by the fourth quarter to finish off the Fire, 97-86. The win brings the Giants record to 9-0 on the season and still atop the ABA’s Power Rankings.

The Giants head coach, Kevin Waters, chose to use this game to play a few of his promising alternate players including Jaleel Nelson who put up 11 points and provided a late third quarter spark with 8 points. Anthony Jackson and Nick Wallery continued the push with a combined 18 points in thefourth quarter to help the Giants outlast the Fire. Wallery added 14 rebounds to go along with his 23 points to register a solid double-double.

The Giants play their next two games at home including their Saturday, Dec. 21st game at the Veterans Memorial Arena where they will take on Atlanta’s Southwest Warriors. They also host a free game at the Bob Hayes Sports Complex, located at 5054 Soutel Drive in Jacksonville, FL, on Sunday, December 22 against the Warriors at 4:00 PM.

GIANTS team rolls home with three more wins

The Jacksonville Giants return to Jacksonville after sweeping their 3-game road trip Tuesday night. The Giants defeated the Birmingham Blitz this evening, 105-81, to conclude the series sweep against their division rival. The Giants, now 8-0, still hold on to their #1 ABA ranking.

Veteran Nick Wallery stood out this evening with 12 points and 16 rebounds. Leading scorer for the Giants was ABA All-Star and Giants veteran Anthony Jackson with 16 points. Head Coach Kevin Waters commented, “Our veteran players are coming out to win these games. We have strong leadership this year and our players are in great shape, but there is still a lot of work to do to. Thanks to our strength and conditioning partner Godspeed Elite Sports Performance, our players have been able to maintain high energy this entire trip. Giants had six players scoring in the double digits.”

Returning back to Jacksonville tomorrow, the Giants will play Thursday night at Palatka High School at 5pm against Savannah’s South Coast Fire. This game is free to all fans! Then, returning to their home venue of Veterans Memorial Arena, the team plays the Atlanta Southwest Warriors for their “Home for the Holidays” game Saturday night at 7 pm.

ABA Champs on the road, sink the Showboats in Jackson, Miss.

After their second game on the road in as many nights, the GIANTS remain undefeated after a close win over the Jackson (Mississippi) Showboats. After losing the lead in the second quarter the GIANTS went into halftime for the first time this season trailing, 74-67. The Showboats took the lead off the hot shooting of their guards who made thirteen 3-point baskets in the first half of play. But Head Coach Kevin Waters also commented, “We weren’t playing the best defense during the first half and gave them too many open looks.”

The team made some adjustments at the half, which made the difference. The GIANTS won the game 144-133, bringing the Giants season record to 7-0. Long time Giants veterans and 2012-13 ABA All Stars Jermaine “Slim” Bell and Anthony “2K” Jackson led the way, scoring 34 and 32, respectively.

The GIANTS will have a rematch against the SHOWBOATS in Jacksonville on Jan. 11th at Veterans Memorial Arena. The team heads to Birmingham for the final game in the 3-state swing on Tuesday, Dec. 17th before returning home to play the South Coast Fire on December 19th at Palatka High School in Palatka, FL (Game time is 5 pm – come out and support your team!). Then, Saturday night the GIANTS are “Home for the Holidays” when they face Atlanta’s Southwest Warriors at the Veterans Memorial Arena at 7pm.

See related story and slideshow on our Season 4 Newsviewer,
courtesy of EU Jacksonville
GIANTS trade close leads with Birmingham BLITZ, surge to win

The back-to-back ABA Champion Jacksonville Giants overtook the Birmingham Blitz tonight with a 31-point fourth quarter push. The Giants started off slow, but ultimately survived Birmingham’s best effort by a final score of 108-90. Leading scorer for the night was Anthony Jackson with 21 points to go along with 5 steals. Rookie Elijah Smith provided a spark with 12 points and 14 rebounds to highlight his home debut. Assistant coach David Graham called the win a “gritty, grind-it-out type of win. This is the type of win that really shows our mental toughness.”

Prior to game time, the Giants presented last year’s National Championship team with their championship rings. Owner Ron Sholes then presented the fans with their second National Championship banner, which will hang in the rafters of Veterans Memorial Arena. Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap, was the guest performer of the U. S. National Anthem. The crowd of nearly 6,000 was the largest attendance ever recorded for the Giants, consisting of City of Jacksonville employees, sailors for the USS Hue City, and over 600 Black Pages supporters. The fans were more than pleased as they greeted their Giants with an overwhelming applause. The Giants showed their love back to the fans after the game by signing autographs in the lobby of the Veteran’s Memorial Arena, a tradition they will be carrying on all season.

The Jacksonville Giants go on the road next week to Biloxi, Mississippi to take on the Gulf Coast Flash before returning home for their December 21st game against the South West Warriors at the Veterans Memorial Arena.

Friday, 12/6 – City employees and families free admission with ID;
GIANTS vs. BLITZ after Championship Ring Ceremony

The Jacksonville Giants open their home schedule this Friday with a 4-0 record, following road trips to Georgia and Alabama where the Giants had big victories against four different division foes. The back-to-back ABA National Champions will play their division rival, Birmingham Blitz, at the Veterans Memorial Arena. The game is scheduled at 7:00 P.M. and will start with a championship ring and banner ceremony, in commemoration of last season’s second consecutive championship. All of last season’s players and coaches will be presented with 2012-13 ABA Back-2-Back Championship rings before the game tips off.

It is also “City of Jax” night at the arena and all city employees and their families will be admitted into the game for free with their city badge or identification card. The game is being sponsored by Sea Spine Orthopedics and Johnson & Johnson – Vistakon. The Jacksonville Giants are also hosting a Toys for Tots drive. Bring a toy gift donation to receive 50% off admission.

The National Anthem will be performed by Miss America 2004, Erica Dunlap, who will be available for autographs. The half-time performance will include the GIANTS very own “Dunkin’ Dancers”, among other performances!

Fans are encouraged to arrive early so they don’t miss any of the action as the Giants expect their largest crowd in team history! All media and their families are invited out as well and encouraged to contact the Giants ticketing office for information on how to obtain media credentials and/or complimentary tickets to the game.

Please check our Facebook for updates on the team and ABA. For more information on the Jacksonville Giants, please visit our website at www.jacksonvillegiants.com or call the Giants ticketing office at 904-355-6531.

GIANTS host Thanksgiving Feast for less fortunate

The Jacksonville Giants ABA Basketball team fed over 100 homeless and less fortunate today. The back-to-back national champions hosted their fourth annual Giant Thanksgiving Feast at the Jacksonville Sports Tavern (232 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.), formerly known as the City Hall Pub. Ron Sholes, PA, sponsored the event.

The GIANTS players, coaches, and staff served a full Thanksgiving spread next door to the Veterans Memorial Arena, for their fourth consecutive year. The dinner included 15 turkeys, five large hams, and traditional Thanksgiving style helpings. ֻThere are a lot of folks out there that need a helping hand and Thanksgiving is a time of year where we can give back and be thankful that we can,” said GIANTS owner Ron Sholes. Head coach Kevin Waters stated, “The guys on our team know they are so blessed with their health and talent and they truly are thankful. This is a great opportunity for us to show that.” The GIANTS also gave away a team T-shirt to every person served and as in years past, the players signed autographs after the meal.

GIANTS head to Georgia and Alabama for road games

After giving back to the community and a hard week of practice, the GIANTS are back on the road this weekend. With a 2-0 record, the returning champs are ready to take on the Columbus Roadrunners and Montgomery Blackhawks. The GIANTS are expecting another big weekend from rookie Brandon Davis who scored a total of 55 points in the GIANTS’ first two games. The GIANTS veterans Anthony Jackson, Jerrod Tucker, Renaldo Norman and Nick Wallery will need to show true leadership to keep the team going strong and remain undefeated.

The team takes on the Birmingham Blitz in their first home game at 7:00 PM on Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 at the Veterans Memorial Arena. There will be a ring and banner ceremony in honor of the Giants 2013 ABA National Championship. It’s “City of Jax” night and all city employees and their families get in for free. Come out and cheer on the Giants to a home opening victory!

Please check out the Giants’ Facebook page for updates on the team and ABA. For more information on the Jacksonville Giants, please visit our website at www.jacksonvillegiants.com, call the Giants ticketing office at 904-355-6531, or e-mail Morgan O’Keefe.

GIANTS vanquish GWIZZLIES, 172-98; beat WARRIORS, 173-107

The Jacksonville Giants traveled to Atlanta this past weekend to kick off Season 4 for the back-to-back ABA Champs! With only four returners from last year’s squad, the Giants were eager to see the chemistry the guys had on the court. After three weeks of vigorous practice and training, the Giants did what they do best, played high scoring basketball throughout the entire weekend. On Saturday, ABA All-Star and 3rd year GIANTS veteran, Anthony Jackson, led the team with 27 points and 9 assists. Newcomer Brandon Davis did everything but look like the rookie that he is, and scored 27 points coming off the bench. “The guys were ready to get on the court and they played their hearts out. We have strong returners in Jackson, Tucker and Wallery but our new guys really put on a show for us. Our season is looking good with the skills and chemistry that were displayed in Atlanta.”, stated head coach Kevin Waters. The Giants beat the Georgia Gwizzlies with a final score of 172-98.

Coming off of their first game of the season with a win, the Giants were ready for the Southwest Warriors on Sunday. Smacking down the Warriors with a final score of 173-107, the Giants had 9 out of their 12 players scoring in the double digits. Two of the Giants’ newcomers made it known that they were meant to be on this winning squad. Again, Brandon Davis was shooting lights out with 28 points leading the team in scoring. Also, former Memphis Reign guard, Maurice Mickens, had an all-around great game with 16 points and 15 assists. Renaldo Norman, season 1 and 2 GIANTS veteran, came ready to play, scoring 26 points.

Leaving Atlanta with two huge wins in their pocket, the Giants will be practicing in Jacksonville this week, hosting their Annual Thanksgiving Day Feast at the Jacksonville Sports Tavern (formerly City Hall Pub) next to the Arena, then they will hit the road again this weekend heading back to Georgia.

The Giants will open up their home schedule on December 6th at the Veterans Memorial Arena, tipping off at 7pm. This will be Champions night, featuring the ring ceremony and banner revealing, making it a game to remember. We are thanking the City of Jacksonville for all of their support; all city employees get into the game free with their family! This includes police, fire, and any other City of Jacksonville employee.

Please check out our Facebook page for updates on the team and ABA. For more information on the Jacksonville Giants, please visit our website atwww.jacksonvillegiants.com or call the Giants ticketing office at 904-355-6531.

Meet Team, Jewels dancers, coaches and mascot Mr. Biggs

The back-to-back ABA National Champions are hosting their 4th Season Launch Party on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. The Jacksonville Giants will be out at Whiskey River in the St. Johns Town Center to meet and greet the fans. This includes this season’s players, the Jewels dance team, the coaching staff and management, and the one and only Mr. Biggs. This will be a special event filled with prizes, giveaways, and fun for fans of all ages. Fans 21 and over that are wearing Jacksonville Giants gear will receive a free drink ticket. There will also be free sodas for all kids!

Head Coach Kevin Waters will be introducing the new-look Jacksonville Giants and speaking about the upcoming season. Everyone is invited to come out and help launch the Giants into their fourth season! The team is making a run at their third consecutive national championship and continuing the Giants’ effort at bringing the NBA D-League to Jacksonville.
Orlando Magic interested in NBA D-League team in Jacksonville

The Giants home opener is at 7:00 P.M. on December 6, 2013 at the Veterans Memorial Arena. Following the ABA championship ring and banner ceremony, the Giants will play their division rival, the Birmingham Blitz. The Giants took both games last year against the Blitz, and one was a closely fought match down to the final minutes. The Blitz are already talking upset, so come out and cheer your Giants on to a home opening victory!

Single game business appreciation packages are a great way to show your appreciation to your business associates, staff and their families. All at an affordable low price!

For more information about the launch party and game tickets, call 355-6531 during office hours, or email [email protected]

JACKSONVILLE GIANTS HALLOWEEN EVENT

The two-time ABA National Champion Jacksonville Giants are hosting a Halloween Party on Thursday, Oct. 31st from 6 PM to 8 PM. The party will take place at the Bob Hayes Sports Complex and Legends Center at 5054 Soutel Drive, North Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Giants Halloween costume party is open for the entire community to enjoy. Coaches, Players, Dancers, and Staff will be attending the event to show their support for the surrounding communities. There will be candy, games, and prizes galore.

October 31st is also the jump-start date for The Jacksonville Giants Tryouts and Veterans camp, also held at the Legends Center prior to the Halloween celebration. Forty to 50-plus players are traveling to Jacksonville to tryout for a position on the Jacksonville Giants 2013-14 ABA Basketball team. There are several active and reserve roster spots that need to be filled and the Giants are looking for a few local players, specifically. “We are looking for 3 or 4 local players to help fill this seasons roster,” says Giants Head Coach Kevin Waters. Fifty players are expected to participate and help the Giants finalize this seasons roster. The 50-plus professional basketball players will have to prove their abilities in order to secure a position. This year’s team will look to carry the Jacksonville Giants to a “three-peat” victory making the organization one step closer to achieving their goals and bringing a D-League team to Jacksonville.

For more information about the event, call 355-6531 during office hours, or email[email protected]

GIANTS rebuild team, aim for a “3-peat” ABA championship

The American Basketball Association recently announced the 2013-2014 pre-season Power Rankings, and the Jacksonville Giants are number one. As the league’s returning champions, the Giants top the list of over nearly 90 competing teams. ABA CEO Joe Newman stated, “With two consecutive league championships, there was only one choice” The North Dallas Vandals are ranked second, followed by the Shreveport/Bossier Mavericks (the former ABA champion Texas Mavericks).

The Jacksonville Giants have been replenishing their depleted championship roster for the second straight season following their title run. This year, three of the Giants’ four guards have signed with Mississippi’s Shreveport Mavericks, the team that won back-to-back ABA titles in 2010 and 2011. However, with the addition of several new players, and the Giants’ returning All-Stars, the ABA has positioned Jacksonville as the pre-season favorite to win it all.

A great addition to the team is Hamidu Rahman, a 7-foot traditional center who played college basketball at New Mexico State and played in Austria last year. ABA All Star Anthony Jackson (5-foot-10 Guard) is a returning leader for the Giants.

This is the third straight season, the Giants have been atop the ABA’s pre-season power rankings. In 2011, the league also correctly pegged the Texas Mavericks (now Shreveport-Bossier) to take the crown, so if history has anything to say about it, “Giants fans may be in store for a three-peat,” said Giants’ owner, Ron Sholes. “Our coaching staff has done a remarkable job putting champion teams together, and I’m confident this year that we will be right there competing again. But, there are some great teams in the league and we know it comes down to just a few points at the end of every season,” Sholes added. The Giants defeated the Dallas Vandals last season by one point each in a two game sweep to win their second consecutive ABA championship. In 2012, it took an overtime victory to defeat the then undefeated South Carolina Warriors team.

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Commenting on the pre-season ranking, Giants’ Head Coach, Kevin Waters stated, “It’s an honor to be the pre-season ranked number 1 team in the ABA. Years past have shown that whenever we received the honor we have gone on to win the ABA Championship.”

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With an exciting season ahead, the Jacksonville Giants will have to work hard to hold the number one spot. “No doubt, you’ll see a lot of movement in the Power Rankings when the season begins in November,” said ABA CEO, Joe Newman. The Jacksonville Giants’s first home game is at Veterans Memorial Arena on December 6th against the Birmingham Blitz, in which they will also be celebrating their April 2013 ABA championship win with a ring and banner ceremony.