#RedClaws Carriage Turns Into a Pumpkin

The Maine Red Claws Cinderella inaugural season came to a crashing halt with a season-high six-game slide to end the season. A 105-97 loss to the Erie BayHawks as the regular season finale all but ended their season with the team needing the Reno Bighorns to lose their final two games to gain entrance into the post-season. Reno plays tonight at home vs. Albuquerque and will conclude their regular season tomorrow at home vs. Tulsa.

After trailing by as much as 19 points with just under a minute remaining in the third quarter, Maine entered the fourth on the short end of an 82-69 score. In the final minutes of the game, Maine did their best to battle back, cutting the deficit to four with just 25 second remaining in the game. They could not pull any closer as Erie was able to hold off the home team.

The Red Claws did little to help their cause as they struggled from the foul line all night making just 24 of 38 attempts. Maine also shot a dismal 28% from beyond the arc (7-28). The loss of Maurice Ager to leg cramps and Billy Thomas to a mouth injury late in the contest further added insult to injury on the disappointing night.

Morris Almond scored a game-high 33 points while grabbing eight boards for the Red Claws while teammate Russell Robinson also had a strong game with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Maurice Ager added 22 points for Maine as Kurt Looby recorded an impressive double-double with eleven rebounds and 10 blocked shots.

Blake Ahearn led the BayHawks with 32 points, eight rebounds and nine assists while making seven of ten shots from three-point land. Teammate Jackie Manuel added 19 points five rebounds and six assists in the win.

LOOBY TAKES BLOCKED SHOT LEAD: Red Claws center Kurt Looby and Skyforce center Greg Stiemsa continue to battle for the all-time single season blocked shot mark in the NBA D-League, and Looby did all he could tonight to insure the crown was his. With 10 blocks tonight, Looby now has 166 to retake the lead. Sioux Falls has a late contest tonight at Bakersfield with Stiemsma entering that game with 151. Both Looby and Stiemsma have already exceeded the previous mark of 133 set by Keith Closs of Tulsa set in 2007-08. Looby entered the season ranked #2 all-time with his 127 as a rookie last season.

--RED CLAWS COMMUNICATIONS--