Photograph by Gary McCullough.
The defending ABA Champion Jacksonville Giants ended their weekend series with a sweep over the Fayetteville Flight. The Giants defeated Fayetteville in both games improving their record to 9-2 on the season. Jacksonville defeated the Flight 184-82 on Saturday night while following up with a 164-107 win on Sunday afternoon.
“The guys are doing a great job,” said Giants head coach Jerry Williams, whose team has won seven games in a row.
Saturday night’s game was Duval County Schools Night and the Giants didn’t disappoint the home crowd. The triple-digit victory showcased an incredible offensive performance that was witnessed by over 8,500 fans at the Veterans Memorial Arena. Bernard Nugent and Ed Horton led the way for Jacksonville, combining for 89 total points in the series.
“We are playing great together as a team,” said Horton. “I look forward to the coming months.
In Sunday’s game, ten players from the Giants scored in double figures as Jacksonville cruised to another lopsided win. The Giants, known for their fast tempo offense, was unstoppable throughout the game. Offensive leaders consisted of Maurice Mickens (21 points), Aaron Bowen (19 points), Bernard Nugent (18 points), Jerrod Tucker (14 points) and Elijah Smith (14 points).
“We don’t worry about the opponent, we just worry about us,” said Williams. “We work very hard and focus on what we as a team can do to be better.”
Smith and Cedric McGowan led the team in rebounding with 10 and eight respectively. The Giants owned the boards in both games with a 76-47 advantage on Saturday and 66-51 tally on Sunday.
Nugent had 45 total points in the weekend series, with Horton scoring 44. Other notable weekend scoring leaders included newcomer Aaron Bowen (40 total points) and Mickens (34 total points).
“The guys talk about winning the championship all the time,” said Williams. “That’s what we want to do.”
The Giants resume play on Saturday, February 4. Jacksonville travels to South Florida to take on the rival South Florida Gold. Tipoff at 7:00 pm.