Giants cruise past the Steam and stay alive in the ABA Final Four

The #2 Jacksonville Giants faced off against #6 Chicago Steam in the second game of the double elimination Final Four at the Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport, LA. Coming off losses the night before, both team’s backs were against the wall, but the Giants’ defense would prove to be too much. The Giants held the Steam to just 37% shooting from the field and forced 28 turnovers in eliminating the Steam from the Finals by a score of 99-81.

The Giants were led by second year power forward Elijah Smith with 15 points, 5 rebounds and an outstanding ?defensive effort that included 5 blocked shots. Forward Ty Thomas led the Giants in scoring with 18 followed by Jermaine Bell with 16, Jerry Tucker with 11 and Sherrod Harris, who played 38 minutes due to last night’s leading scorer, Maurice Mickens, being out with a nagging knee injury. Giants’ Head Coach Kevin Waters said “it was a balanced attack tonight and the team persevered. We knew Mickens would be a game time decision but Hotrod [Harris] played a great game for us. We’re planning on making it to the championship but we’ve got one more game to win.”

The Steam jumped out to an early lead and took a 19-16 lead into the second quarter. The teams battled back and forth the rest of the first half with Ty Thomas and Jermaine Bell leading the way for the Giants with 9 points each, but the Steam went into the locker room up 46-44.

The Steam took a 6 point lead early in the third quarter, 52-46, ?but the Giants went on a 24-1 run to take a 17 point lead late in the quarter, 70-53. The Steam ended the quarter with an 8-2 run that closed the Giants lead to 72-61, but the Giants defense would prove to be the difference. The Giants held the Steam to just 37 second half points enroute to a convincing victory.

Giants fall to Miami in first match up of Final Four

The #2 Jacksonville Giants faced off against #3 Miami Midnites tonight in the first match up of a double elimination Final Four in Shreveport, LA.

Miami jumped out to an early lead and were ahead by ten at the end of the first quarter, 29-19. Behind the hot shooting of Maurice Mickens and Jerrod Tucker, the Giants went on a 12-1 run to start the second and took the lead 31-30, but the game went back and forth for the remainder of the quarter with the Miami taking the half time lead, 55-53. After several lead changes, Miami finished the third quarter with an 80-75 lead and then opened it up to 14 point lead with 10 minutes remaining in the game, 92-78.

?Miami pushed the lead to as much as 16 before a late surge by the Giants reduced the lead by 5 with less than one minute remaining. The Giants had an opportunity to pull within two points with 30 seconds remaining but missed a 3-D scoring opportunity. Miami took the first game by a final score of 109-103.

The Giants will play again tomorrow night and face the loser of the Shreveport Mavericks and Chicago Steam match up that follows the Giants game this evening.

Giants sign Elijah Smith; Announce the return of 7’4″ Jason Bennett

The Jacksonville Giants announce that they have resigned 6’8″ Power Forward Elijah Smith to a two (2) year extension. Smith played at North Georgia State University and has briefly played overseas for the Cambridge Wildcats. At just 24 years old and in his second year with the Giants, Smith has become a key role player in the Giant’s offense and defense. His near double-double average has gained him a 2015 ABA All-star nomination and has drawn attention of coaches in our division. “There are no limits on what Elijah can do on the court if he sets his mind to it,” said Giants’ Head Coach Kevin Waters. “He has the size and versatility to be a difference-maker on offensive and defensive, and he has been. Now, we need him to help get us another title,” added waters.

“Hopefully Elijah will be playing on [this year’s ABA] Eastern conference All Star team and will be able to demonstrate his talents even further,” said Giants’ owner, Ron Sholes. “He is one of those guys that you can count on to give one hundred percent and do things right, whatever it is. On the court or off the court, he is definitely one of our community service leaders and a role model for Jacksonville area youth. We’re glad he’s chosen Jacksonville.” added Sholes.

Additionally, the Giants announced the return of 7’4″ Center, Jason Bennett to next season’s team. Bennett was an Arlington Country Day School standout that helped lead the highly touted and Nike-sponsored program to their first two State Championships under Coach Rex Morgan (Jacksonville University). Bennett went on to play for the Kansas State Wildcats, setting the school record for the most blocks in a single game, before returning closer to home for family reasons. Bennett, once an NBA prospect, played for the Giants back in 2010 but a nagging injury kept him sidelined in the Final Four where he had to watch the Giants fall to the Gulf Coast Flash by just two points. After his season with the Giants, Bennett became a father and has since concentrated his time and energy raising his son.

Giant’s assistant Coach Jerry Williams commented on Bennett’s return stating that “I told Jason [before he agreed to terms] that I would personally commit to helping him get into top physical shape during the off season, but I also told him that it would be a lot of sweat, tears, and hard work if he really wanted to be a Giant again.” “When Jason was healthy, he was a huge asset to our low post play,” said Coach Waters, who was also the Giants coach five years ago when Bennett played for the team. The Giants envision Bennett and his large 280-300lb frame, giving more versatile low post players “room to do their work.” according to Sholes. Jason has told the organization that he is ready to come back and give it everything he has. He is signed to a two-year agreement.

Giants General Manager, Pam Masters, reports that the team will be working closely with several other players whose contracts are expiring and that more signings are expected soon. In the past, the Giants have delayed putting their roster together until mid-summer something they hope to avoid this next season. “We plan on improving every aspect of our organization and signing [Elijah and Jason] is a part of that process. We’re very pleased to have them and we hope to have several other players returning as well.” said Masters.

Giants head to Final Four for the 5th consecutive year

The Jacksonville Giants (27-4) are the Southeast Division Champions and are heading to the ABA Final Four for the 5th consecutive year. With one of the most challenging schedules in the league, the team’s only losses were to the #1 ranked Shreveport Mavericks and the #3 ranked Miami Midnites, two teams the Giants will likely have to defeat to win their third championship. “We have played the toughest schedule out of any ABA team this year. The Miami Midnites are a real good team and as we know, so are the defending champs [Shreveport]. We think we are playoff tested and ready to go to win the Title.” says Waters. The Giants went just 2-4 against the league’s top teams, but those were the Giants’ only defeats and “we know both these teams very well.” added Waters.

This year’s Final Four will be in Shreveport, LA, and along with the Mavericks, Giants and Midnites, will be the Chicago Steam. As the team prepares to take on Miami on Tuesday night (April 7) in the double elimination round, they have been focusing on building a strong defense. 7′ Center, Bruce Brown was brought in late in the season to give the Giants some much needed help in the low post. “Getting rebounds and playing defense. That’s why I am here,” Said Brown. Brown is also expected to provide valuable relief for two-time ABA MVP Jermaine “Slim” Bell, and to also compliment him on the floor at other times. Bell will be needed for his offensive prowess if the Giants are to be successful. Additionally, Forwards Elijah Smith , Jerrel Houston and Jerrod Tucker will have their hand full trying to close the rebounding margin against some of the league’s best low post teams. In the last year’s Championship Finals, the Giants lost two close match-ups to the Maverick due primarily to being beaten on the low post by an average of 20 rebounds per game. “We can do better on the boards and I’m confident that we will. We have a group of players that are really coming together for one common goal – to bring Jacksonville another championship,” said Giants’ owner, Ron Sholes. “But, win, lose or draw, I know they will play their hearts out for this organization and to represent Jacksonville, and they will be true professionals about it,” added Sholes.

The Giants’ back-court has seen some shuffling around this year but with the addition of former LSU guard, Terry Martin, and Maureece Rice, the former George Washington University and NBA D-League player, the Giants backcourt has improved since the beginning of the season when the team was reeling from the loss of 3-time ABA All Star and last year’s Final Four scoring leader, Anthony Jackson (now with Shreveport). Additionally the team brought in Ty Thomas, formerly of South Florida Gold and according to Coach Waters, “[Ty] will be a force to be reckoned with in the Finals.” The Giants also welcomed back Maurice Mickens who missed most of last season with an injury (but is now ready to go), and have added veteran point guard Sherrod “Hotrod” Harris and defensive standout Antonio “Red” Lawrence, who both helped lead the team to its first National Championship in 2012. Defensive standout Kevin McDonald is also on the championship roster although his plat this year has been limited. Finally, the Giants also have the first year player RJ Wright who has turned in an excellent rookie year and could be a difference maker in this year’s finals.

The Giants will also play Wednesday night, and depending on the whether they are successful in the first two games, possibly Thursday night, as well. The Championships series will start on Saturday, April 11th. The Giants will leave Jacksonville early on Sunday, April 5th, and will enjoy a GIANT Send Off Party on Saturday, April 4th at 4pm at Taverna Yamas! There will be photo opportunities as well as an autograph signing. Fans will have the opportunity to sign a sendoff banner for the team to take to the Final Four! Giants’ fans can follow the team on Twitter at hashtag, #GiantsPlayoffs2015.

GIANTS win 5th straight division title after split weekend series

The Jacksonville Giants (27-3) lost to the Miami Midnites tonight in a very close game 101-110. Last night the Giants defeated the Midnites 97-86.

Veteran Giants star, center Jermaine Bell, led the team in an outstanding display of athleticism tonight with 25 points. Elijah Smith, in his second season with the Giants, also played an impressive game with 17 points scored and several slam dunks. Maurice Mickens was another frontrunner tonight with 15 points.

“The guys played a great game tonight but we were unable to bring in the win. It is always a great opportunity to play against the Miami Midnites, we put up a good fight but were unable to bring it back in the end,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters.

The Giants have two more games this week before heading into the playoffs later this month as they press on for another National Championship. Check our Facebook page and website for details on the upcoming games!

JACKSONVILLE back on winning track, beating PHILADELPHIA, 130-104

The Jacksonville Giants (22-3) defeated the Philadelphia Spirit last night on their home court after a long trip to South Florida.

Long time Giants star, Jermaine Bell, led the team in an outstanding display of athleticism with 30 points. Elijah Smith, in his second season with the Giants, also played an impressive game with 25 points scored. Ty Thomas was another frontrunner last night with 16 points.

“The guys played a great game last night. We were excited to get back on our home court and bring in another win for our dedicated fans,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters.

This weekend, the Giants play two back to back games against the Georgia Warriors at the Legends Center. The Giants will return to the Veterans Memorial Arena to take on the Fayetteville Flight next Saturday, February 28th at 7pm for Medical Appreciation Night. All employees in the medical field will get in free with an employee ID.

Player ineligibility question results in 2-game forfeiture for GOLD

For the second straight night, the Jacksonville Giants came up on the short end of the scoreboard against division rival, South Florida Gold. Unfortunately, the game was overshadowed by the possibility that both games will likely be forfeited by the Gold due to an ineligible player on the Gold roster. The league has made a preliminary decision in favor of forfeiture, but the final decision should be made in the next day or two, said ABA CEO, Ron Tilley.

“Each team has rules to follow when it comes to their roster,” said Giants’ owner Ron Sholes. “For any team to fail to follow the rules, hurts the integrity of the game. It’s kind of like the NCAA violations we hear about or sometimes, even professional sports at the highest level. It happens. And, when it does there needs to be consequences. I’m not sure forfeiture is enough in this situation,” said Sholes, speaking of the Gold actually playing a current Jacksonville Giant’s player in the last two games.

Lavell Payne was signed by the Giants and was being paid ‘per game’ he played. His contract specifically said that he was signed for the 2014-15 season, and that he was “not eligible to play for any other team.” Payne attempted to unilaterally terminate the contract and then proceed to tell the Gold that he was not under contract. “[Payne] just played in two games with the Giants in Miami and then less than 48 hours later he is suiting up for the Gold,” said Giants’Head Coach Kevin Waters. “I can’t understand it and his teammates can’t understand it.” Besides the fact the Giants were shorthanded on the road trip with power forward Jerrell Houston unable to play due to a fractured rib and guard RJ Wright not making the trip, “the loss of Payne was unexpected and wholly unfair. While you expect contract disputes on occasion, you certainly don’t expect this,” added Waters.

The ABA Rules provides for a team to forfeit any games where they have violated league policy and the opposing team timely protests. In this case, the Giants did just that.

It appears clear that the Gold blatantly failed to take the necessary steps to ensure player eligibility, and then, after notice by the Giants and warning from the league, still proceeded to interfere with the Giants’ contractual rights to the player. “The league was provided a copy of the player contract today and the CEO [Ron Tilley] agreed with the clearlanguage of the agreement that the player was ineligible,” added Sholes.

The Jacksonville Giants will return home to the Veterans Memorial Arena next Friday, February 20th at 7pm for City of Jacksonville Night, where all city employees and their families will be admitted into the game free of charge. The Giants will play host to the Philadelphia Spirit. It will be the first ever matchup between the two clubs.

GIANTS RETALIATE WITH GAME 2 WIN AFTER GAME 1 LOSS TO MIDNITES

After losing a close match up Wednesday night by a score of 104-96, the Giants managed to split the two game series last night, 102-87.

Behind solid defense and rebounding the Giants went up by as many as 20 in the first half and ended by 18 at the break, 51-33. After the Midnites owned the game to within 2 points late in the fourth quarter the Giants ended the game on a 15-2 run, to maintain their first place standing in the Southeast Division, and likely their #2 ranking in the ABA

Elijah Smith was the lead scorer in last night’s comeback game against the Midnites with 22 points. Kevin Thomas brought an impressive 14 points to the game and Ty Thomas came in with 13 points.

“Great bounce back win tonight. The guys played team ball and great defense down the stretch. We are looking forward to our two game series this weekend againstanother strong team, the South Florida Gold,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters last night of the win.

The Giants and Midnight will meet again in Jacksonville in early March. The Giants now travel to Boynton Beach to play the South Florida Gold, another ABA top 10 team. The Giants will be back on their home court at the Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday, February 20th at 7pm.

GIANTS taken to school by ABA reigning champions, Shreveport MAVERICKS

Jacksonville Giants (17-2) fell at home for the first time this season at the hands of the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks, losing 115-82 tonight.

The Mavericks had a hot start and never looked back. Leading by 23 at the break, their intensity never withered as they cruised to a 33 point victory. The Giants were outrebounded 31-54 and could never establish an offensive rhythm, converting on only a disappointing 37% of their shot attempts on the night.

Forward Josh Pace and led the Mavs with 26 points to go along with 13 rebounds, both game highs. P.J. Cousinard had 25 points, and former Jacksonville Giant Brandon Davis posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 boards.

Jacksonville’s Jermaine Bell had 22 points in the loss, and Terry Fields made all five of his field goal attempts enroute to 14 points of his own. Elijah Smith chipped in 14 with a pair of athletic dunks but overall the Giants effort wasn’t enough.

The Giants will look to bounce back next week against the Atlanta Wildcats. The game will be on Saturday, February 7th at the UNF Arena.

Jacksonville has a winning weekend on the road

The Jacksonville Giants (17-1) completed the two game sweep of the Fayetteville Flight this evening at Robeson High School in Rowland, North Carolina, defeating the Flight 151-136.

Last night, the Giants defeated the Blackhawks 162-114 on the outstanding play of R.J. Wright who lead the Giants with 29 points. Team captain and veteran forward, Jerrod Tucker, added 27 in last night’s win.

The Giants defeated the Flight 161-117 on the fantastic athleticism of Elijah Smith who posted 20 points, veteran and former league MVP, Jermaine ’Slim’ Bell, added 18, and the Giants’ floor general Anthony Lumpkin put up a game high 26.

“I am proud of our guys’ performance today. We had to fight through adversity and we took complete control in the fourth quarter.” remarked head coach Kevin Waters following the game.

Next week, the Giants will take on the #1 ranked Shreveport Mavericks in a rematch of the 2014 ABA Finals. The Giants’ only loss this season was at the feat of the Mavericks on their home court in December. The Giants have been playing their best basketball of the season as of late and look to carry that momentum into next week’s game. With such a hyped matchup, they hope to break their previous ABA record attendance (8,354) from last season. The game on January 31st is also Military Appreciation Night and will highlight several local military charities and servicemen and women as part of the night’s in-game entertainment.

JACKSONVILLE scores two more wins before Fayetteville road trip

The Jacksonville Giants (15-1) completed the two game sweep of the Montgomery Blackhawks Sunday evening at the Bob Hayes Legends Center, defeating the Blackhawks 150-127.

The Giants defeated the Blackhawks 162-114 on the outstanding play of newcomer R.J. Wright who lead the Giants with 29 points. Team captain and veteran forward, Jerrod Tucker, added 27 in last night’s win.

Sunday, the Giants had another solid win even with the absence of league MVP Jermaine Bell. Led by Jacksonville University alum, Delwan Graham’s 23 points, the Giants got off to a fast start and never looked back.

“We’ve had some good leadership and solid defense,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters. “We’ve had some roster moves the past couple weeks and we hope to have the team in playoff form for the [championship] rematch,” Waters added, of the home game on January 31st against the Shreveport Mavericks at the Veterans Memorial Arena.

Next week, the Giants are on the road to Fayetteville for a two game series and then returning home for the long awaited rematch against the Mavericks. The January 31st game will be military appreciation night and the Giants hope to break their previous ABA record attendance (8,354).

GIANTS return to form with 116-79 win over South Coast Fire

The Jacksonville Giants (13-1) saw a strong contribution from a number of their veteran stars, and had no doubts of an upset as they cruised to a 116-79 win tonight over the South Coast Fire. This marks their fourth win in as many meetings this season against the Fire, and this game resulted in their largest margin of victory in the four-game series at 37 points. In front of thousands of Giants fans, Jacksonville broke open early to start the second half to quickly put South Coast in a large deficit. Tonight’s game was held at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.

Tonight’s leading scorer for the Giants was R.J. Wright, who drew his first start for the Giants and did not disappoint. He carried the load with 23 points, and was active elsewhere on the floor with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Jerrod Tucker hustled after the ball all night, and posted his most impressive stat line of the season, finishing with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3

assists, 5 steals, and 4 blocks. Jermaine Bell pitched in 19 points and 9 rebounds, and Kevin ’KT’ Thomas dished out a game-high 7 assists to go along with 7 points and 3 steals.

“Best performance we’ve had in a while, and I’m happy we did it in front of our Giants fans,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters. “We had great performances out of a lot of players tonight, and the team effort was on full display. The way we played tonight is how we are able to be one of the best teams in the country.” The Giants next game at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena will be against the defending national champion Shreveport Mavericks, who beat the Giants 113-96 in their meeting on December 13 of this season. “Playing in the Veterans (Memorial) Arena brings out the best in our team, and I feel good about January 31. It’s still three weeks away but we’ll be prepared if we keep practicing with the effort that we played with tonight.”

The Giants will play their next two home games at the Bob Hayes Legends Center on Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18, against the Montgomery Blackhawks. This will be the first two meetings between their division rivals.

South Coast Fire surprises Giants with a strong showing but lose by 9 points

Story by Brandon Earle, Jacksonville Giants P. R. Coordinator

The #2 ranked Jacksonville Giants (11-1) found themselves fighting back from an early deficit to win against the SouthCoast Fire by a score of 95-86. Shoddy defense and poor free throw shooting helped the Fire jump out to an 18-5 lead in the first quarter, and keep a 50-44 lead at halftime. The Giants came out hot to start the second half, with a 15-3 run to jump ahead, and held off a late 4th quarter rally to seal the win, playing solid defense when it mattered most. Tonight’s game was held at the University of North Florida Arena on UNF’s campus in Jacksonville, Florida.

The leading scorers for the Giants were ABA All-Star and former MVP Jermaine ’Slim’ Bell and veteran Maurice Mickens with 14 points each. Slim polished off a double-double, adding 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. Anthony Lumpkin dished out a

game-high 6 assists to go along with 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. Delwan Graham was a strong spark off the Giants bench, with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals, with most of his work coming in a crucial 4th quarter for the Giants. Jerrod Tucker led the team with 4 steals tonight. Overall, the team combined for 50 rebounds, 21 assists, and 19 steals on the way to a 6th straight win.

“Our heads weren’t in the game tonight,” said Giants head coach Kevin Waters. “We were lucky to get the win. We beat this team by 35 a few weeks ago, and we followed it up with a weak effort. We can’t win championships playing the type of basketball we played tonight, but also a win is a win.” Waters also added praise for the efforts put forth from some of his veterans, including Bell and Mickens. “They got us back in the game and did enough to win. But we have work to do Monday, especially at the free throw line.” The Giants hit 17 of 27 shots from the charity stripe tonight, good for a season-low 63%.

The Giants will play their next home contest at the Bob Hayes Legends Center on Soutel Drive this Friday, January 9th, against the South Coast Fire. On January 10, the Giants host the South Coast Fire again at 7:30pm at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

Jacksonville Giants take easy win over Southwest Warriors in Atlanta

Story by Brandon Earle, Jacksonville Giants P. R. Coordinator

The ABA #2 ranked Jacksonville Giants (9-1) dominated both sides of the ball tonight, as they cruised to a win over the Southwest Warriors by a score of 117-82. The Giants started the road trip in convincing fashion, scoring 36 points in the third quarter to break the game open and slowly dismantle the Warriors’ defensive scheme. Scoring was spread all across the Giants roster, and Jacksonville continues to shine as one of the ABA’s great teams of 2014-2015. The game was contested at Adamsville Recreation Center on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia.

Tonight’s leading scorer for the Giants was ABA All-Star and former MVP Jermaine ’Slim’ Bell with 17 points, and he also added 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Veterans Anthony Lumpkin and Jerrod Tucker played excellent games as well. Lumpkin led the team with 6 assists along with his 6 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals, and Tucker picked up a game-high 4 steals to compliment his 4 assists and 5 points. Six Giants scored in double-digits tonight, including Elijah Smith (13 points, 6 rebounds) and newcomer R.J. Wright (17 points, 3 steals, 2 assists, 2 rebounds).

“We won by 35 but we should have won by 55 with the talent on this team,” said Giants head coach Kevin Waters. “We had some streaky play and turned the ball over too much, and that kept them (the Warriors) in the game for too long early on. We still have a lot of work to do, there’s always room for improvement. It’s on these road trips where we need to work the kinks out and play our best basketball. We should be ready to elevate the intensity and raise our game tomorrow afternoon when we play again.”

The Giants play the Southwest Warriors again tomorrow afternoon at 1 pm at the Adamsville Recreation Center in Atlanta, Georgia as they conclude their two-game road trip.

The team returns to Jacksonville following the game, and will play their next home contest at UNF Arena on January 3, 2015. The Giants will host the South Coast Fire at 7:30 pm and will host two games against the Montgomery Blackhawks the following weekend, with their January 10 contest taking place at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

Jacksonville Giants Dominate Jackson Showboats, now 7-1 for season

Story by Brandon Earle, Jacksonville Giants P. R. Coordinator

The #2 ranked Jacksonville Giants (7-1), controlled tonight’s game from start to finish, defeating the Jackson Showboats by a score of 145-95. The Giants saw a big contribution from many of their players tonight, as they combined for a whopping 36 assists and 20 steals against the visiting Showboats. Tonight’s win gives the Giants a 3-0 home record for the 2014-2015 season, and seem to be rolling on all cylinders. The game was contested at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in front of 3,000 fans, who were not disappointed with the strong effort put forth by the Giants tonight.

Tonight’s leading scorer for the Giants was small forward Ty Thomas, with 23 points. He also added 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal.   Delwan Graham, a former star at Jacksonville University, made a huge impact off the bench, scoring 21 points (9/13 FG), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Elijah Smith posted his second double-double of the season, with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 assists. Terry Fields also notched a double-double before leaving the game with an ankle injury, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

“I think we still have a lot of work to do, even despite the big win,” said Giants head coach Kevin Waters. “We can play at a higher level, but we did a great job of passing the ball around, giving everyone a chance to see some points. I’m happy the fans got to see a great show tonight, but there’s always room for improvement. We’ll work the kinks out for tomorrow’s game.”

The Giants play tomorrow night at the Bob Hayes Legends Center in Jacksonville at 5 p.m.   After the Christmas holiday, the Giants will hit the road for two games. On December 27, the Giants will play the Atlanta Aliens, followed by a game against the Southwest Warriors on December 28. The Giants next home game will be January 3, 2015 at UNF Arena.

Jacksonville Giants resume winning ways after Shrevepoint disappointment

Story by Brandon Earle, Jacksonville Giants P. R. Coordinator

Palatka, FL – The ABA #2 ranked Jacksonville Giants (6-1), bounced back in strong fashion tonight, taking a one-sided win over the South Coast Fire by a score of 120-87. The Giants hit 12 three-pointers tonight, which helped them break the game open early, jumping to a 60-36 halftime lead. Great defense by Jacksonville opened up a lot of 3-D opportunities and extra points. The game was played at Palatka High School in Palatka, FL.

Tonight’s leading scorer for the Giants was ABA All-Star Jermaine “Slim” Bell, with 25 points. He also added 9 rebounds. Jerrod Tucker scored 15 points for the Giants off the bench tonight, hitting 3 of 6 three point attempts, and Jerrell Houston tallied 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Terry Fields scored 11 points tonight and played strong defense, leading the game with 7 steals for the Giants. Overall, 6 Giants scored in double-figures, including Ty Thomas (12 points), and Cameron Mitchell (11 points).

“Great overall team victory tonight,” said Giants head coach Kevin Waters. “We played great defense, took advantage of our fast-breaks, and did a great job passing the ball around. It’s important for us to focus on the next game, and see what we need to improve on for Saturday’s game against the (Jackson) Showboats.”

The Giants play back-to-back games this weekend, on Saturday, December 20 against the Jackson Showboats at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The game will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. The two teams will square off again on Sunday at the Bob Hayes Legends Center in Jacksonville at 5 p.m.

Leading scorer Jermaine Bell (right) contributed 25 points.

Jacksonville handed first loss of the season from arch-rival #1 MAVERICKS

Story by Brandon Earle, Jacksonville Giants P. R. Coordinator

Shreveport, LA – The #2 ABA ranked Jacksonville Giants (5-1) played a hard-fought game on the road, but ultimately fell short of a victory against the defending National Champion and #1 ABA ranked Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks (7-0) by a score of 113-96. In their first matchup since last year&146;s National Championship Series, Shreveport hit over 50% of their three-point shots (15/28) to put the Giants behind early in the game. Shreveport has now won 61 straight games at home, and Jacksonville returns home with their first loss of the 2014-2015 season.

Trey Guidry led in scoring for the Giants with a career-high 31 points, hitting 5 of his 9 three-pointers in the game. He also contributed with 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Jerrell Houston added 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal for the Giants, shooting 8 for 11 from the field. Jermaine ‘Slim’ Bell posted a double-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. Elijah Smith had a nice contribution off the bench, with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 blocks all in the second half.

“A frustrating night for multiple reasons,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters. “They beat us on the offensive boards, they beat us on the perimeter, and they outplayed us for 4 quarters. We fell behind early tonight, and it’s tough to come back against a team of that caliber. We know what to expect from (Shreveport) when we play them again next month. We know where we need to improve, and we’ll be working on it when we return to practice on Monday.”

The Giants return home on Sunday and play their next game against the South Coast Fire on Wednesday, December 17 at Palatka High School. This weekend, the Giants will welcome the Jackson Showboats to town, as they take the court Saturday night, December 20, at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena and Sunday evening at the Bob Hayes Legends Center in Northside Jacksonville.

Jacksonville determined to avenge Final Four loss in season’s biggest re-match

Story by Brandon Earle, Jacksonville Giants P. R. Coordinator

Coming off a pair of wins against the South Florida Gold (6-2), the Jacksonville Giants (5-0) are now heading to Shreveport, Louisiana. The team will depart this evening for what will be their biggest test of the season this Saturday night at 7 pm. The Giants, ranked #2 in the ABA Power Rankings, will face the #1 ranked Shreveport Mavericks in a championship rematch at Shreveport’s Hirsch Coliseum. This was the site of last year’s National Championship, where the Giants lost in heartbreaking fashion to cede the 2014 ABA title to the Mavericks.

Saturday night’s game in Shreveport will be webcast nationally Dec. 13 at 8 pm EST on ESPN3 and will be the second nationally televised game for the Giants this season. This past weekend, Jacksonville played their home opener in front of 4,508 fans at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, defeating the South Florida Gold in a Final Four rematch.

Team owner Ron Sholes commented on the trip and what the Giants need to do to bring home a victory. “Last year we lost the championship on the boards. If we’ve fixed that problem, I’m confident in Coach Waters’ back court and our defense bringing home a victory.” Last season, despite being outrebounded by more than 20 by the Mavericks in both games, the Giants were still only outscored by a combined two points during regulation play.

Coaches and players alike have big expectations for Saturday night, and expect to come home with another win. “They (Shreveport) have the bragging rights for now but we’re ready to change that,” said Giants veteran Kevin “KT” Thomas. “We have won championships before, and we can do it again, but we have to win out there in Shreveport to make a statement.”

Shooting guard Trey Guidry is excited to make his first trip to Shreveport as a Giant, as he is formerly from Louisiana. “It’ll be nice to head back out there, and I want to play hard and win one for Jacksonville,” he remarked. “Shreveport is our #1 rival and we can’t hold anything back, especially on their court.”

Head Coach Kevin Waters wants a win just as much as his players. “We have a mission for Shreveport, and we won’t be satisfied until we finish the mission. We were #3, now we are #2, and if we take care of business on Saturday night, we should move to #1, which is where we want to be come April. They know how to shoot, rebound, and score quickly. Our defensive presence will have to be picture-perfect for all 48 minutes, and it should be a tight battle.”

Jacksonville’s next home game will be on Wednesday, December 17 against the South Coast Fire at Palatka High School, followed by their next Veterans Memorial Arena game on Saturday, December 20 vs. the Jackson Showboats.

GIANTS win 2nd weekend battle against SOUTH FLORIDA GOLD

Story by Brandon Earle, Jacksonville Giants P. R. Coordinator

The Jacksonville Giants (5-0) finished off the weekend with another victory over the South Florida Gold by a score of 115-102. The #3 ABA ranked Giants were once again tested by the #3 ABA ranked Gold, but were able to build up a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

The Giants have now won their third straight game against South Florida, and have put together a convincing case to move up in the ABA Power Rankings next week.

Sunday night’s high scorer for the Giants was Trey Guidry with 22 points while adding three assists.   Jerrell Houston continued to attack the paint throughout the game, and finished with 20 points and 7 rebounds.   Point guard Maurice Mickens had a strong game off the bench for the Giants,scoring 16 points to go with 3 rebounds and 4 assists.   Overall, five Giants scored in double figures for the second straight night.

“These guys have a lot of fight in them,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters.   “Coming back on Sunday to play the (South Florida) Gold isn’t easy, but they know how to play hard and play well when it matters. Really proud of Jerrell (Houston) for his play today and Trey (Guidry) was hitting his shots no problem.   We can’t sit on this win for long. We have Shreveport next week and these guys are going to be ready.”

The Giants take a road trip next week with a highly-contested game this coming weekend. The Giants will take part in a re-match of the 2014 ABA National Championship against the undefeated Shreveport Mavericks on Saturday, December 13.   Jacksonville vs. Shreveport, ranked #3 and #1 in the nation, respectively, will be televised nationally on ESPN3.com and will take place at the Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport, LA.   You can see the replay of the game afterward by clicking on the REPLAY tab of the ESPN3.com page and finding the menu listing.

Jacksonville wins Home Opener over strong rival South Florida GOLD

Story by Brandon Earle, Jacksonville Giants P. R. Coordinator

The Jacksonville Giants (4-0) added a big statement win tonight to capture their 5th consecutive home opener, defeating the South Florida Gold by a score of 116-103. In their first matchup since last year’s Final Four in Shreveport, Louisiana, The Giants have now won two straight against South Florida, and avenged their only regular season loss from the 2013-2014 season

With only an 8-point lead going into halftime, the Giants turned up the heat in the third quarter and held off a late South Florida rally to seal the win.   Tonight’s high scorer for the Giants was Jermaine ’Slim’ Bell with 17 points, and he also added 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks.Former Jacksonville University player Delwan Graham posted his first double-double of the season off the bench, with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Ty Thomas, a former player of the South Florida Gold, put up a solid stat line, with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists. Overall, five Giants scored in double figures.

“It was a tough win tonight,” said Head Coach Kevin Waters. “Jermaine (Bell) came up big for us tonight on the boards. Delwan (Graham) and KT (Kevin Thomas) both did great driving the lane throughout the night. Lots of solid play from most of our guys tonight. A win is a win, and this win is a special one for our guys.”

The Giants play the South Florida Gold again at the Legends Center at 5 pm Sunday before leaving to play two games against the Montgomery Blackhawks. Next Saturday, Dec. 13, the Giants travel to Shreveport for a national championship rematch against the 2014 ABA Champion Shreveport Mavericks. The team is home again at Veterans Arena on Dec. 20 when they face the Jackson Showboats at 7:30 pm.

Giants deliver decisive win over South Coast Fire

The #2 ranked Jacksonville Giants (6-1), bounced back in strong fashion tonight, taking a one-sided win over the South Coast Fire by a score of 120-87. The Giants hit 12 three-pointers tonight, which helped them break the game open early, jumping to a 60-36 halftime lead. Great defense by Jacksonville opened up a lot of 3-D opportunities, and they did a great job converting for the extra point. The Giants are now 3-0 in home contests for the 2014-2015 season, and have a lot to be proud of after securing a win tonight. The game was contested at Palatka High School in Palatka, FL.

Tonight’s leading scorer for the Giants was ABA All-Star Jermaine ’Slim’ Bell, with 25 points. He also added 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. Jerrod Tucker scored 15 points for the Giants off the bench tonight, hitting 3 of 6 three point attempts, and Jerrell Houston tallied 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Terry Fields scored 11 points tonight, and played strong defense tonight, leading the game with a whopping 7 steals for the Giants. Overall, six Giants scored in double-figures, including newcomers Ty Thomas (12 points), and Cameron Mitchell (11 points).

“Great overall team victory tonight,” said Giants head coach Kevin Waters. “We would’ve liked to keep the momentum going in the fourth quarter, but we’re happy with the win tonight. We played great defense, took advantage of our fast-breaks, and did a great job passing the ball around. It’s important for us to focus on the next game, and see what we need to improve on for Saturday’s game against the (Jackson) Showboats.”

The Giants play back-to-back games this weekend, on Saturday, December 20 against the Jackson Showboats at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The game will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. The two teams will square off again on Sunday at the Bob Hayes Legends Center in Jacksonville at 5 p.m.

GIANTS train over 150 youth basketball hopefuls, donate to UCOM food pantry

Story by Brandon Earle, Jacksonville Giants P. R. Coordinator

While most people were shopping for gifts, enjoying family, or sleeping off Thanksgiving delectables, the ABA Jacksonville Giants basketball team and Godspeed Elite Sports Performance (Godspeed) worked out to support the community.

Sarah Brakin, basketball coordinator for Riverside Presbyterian Church Basketball League, contacted the Giants and Godspeed Elite and asked if they would be willing to teach basketball skills in return for donated canned goods. She received an immediate “YES.”

Nearly 150 young basketball players turned out Friday, November 28, 2014, for the two sessions to train with the 2012 and 2013 National Champions Jacksonville Giants. Brakin could not believe the turnout and commented, “The kids love the Jacksonville Giants and respect the professional skills and experience of Godspeed Elite owner James Coleman.”

Coleman’s Godspeed training center is the “OFFICIAL TRAINING SPONSOR of the Jacksonville Giants.” Joe Miller, Vice President of the Giants, explained: “Our Giants players work out at Coleman’s facility every week. According to our Head Coach Kevin Waters, Coleman and his team of trainers give the Giants a competitive advantage over other teams.”

The Jacksonville Giants will donate and deliver all food and cash donations to one of the Giants’ charitable partners, United Community Outreach Ministry (UCOM). Miller said, “For over 35 years, UCOM has owned and operated a food pantry in the historical church on Old St. Augustine Road just north of Emerson Street. UCOM’s commitment to giving is so outstandingly strong that they quietly do God’s work without any concerns about recognition. In October, UCOM contacted the Giants and expressed concern that their food pantry was getting bare earlier than usual this time of the year. Their desperate need for help laid the foundation for the Giants’ partnering with Riverside Presbyterian. Today’s generous collection will be a timely contribution for UCOM’s mission. The Giants thank all these young athletes for their canned gifts.”

According to Brakin, the youths participating in today’s Black Friday event donated nearly 1,000 canned goods for this cause. “We’re so proud of our team, the Jacksonville Giants, and Godspeed Elite Sports Performance, for their dedication to the City of Jacksonville and those less fortunate. What a terrific message to send in these tough times throughout the United States and the world. And, I am happy that our students are learning fundamental lessons from these organizations, such as it is better to give than to receive.”

The Jacksonville Giants, Godspeed Elite Sports Performance, and Riverside Presbyterian Church Basketball League thank Sacred Heart Catholic Church & School for use of its gymnasium for this charitable event. The Giants provided the church and school with complimentary tickets (purchased by Giants Sponsors) to its Home Opener on Saturday, December 6, 2014.