Jersey Express Fall to Cleveland Am Pro at the Buzzer, 121-119

PRLog (Press Release) - Mar. 3, 2013 - Hackettstown, N.J. (Sunday, March 3, 2013) – The Jersey Express fell to the Cleveland AmPro 121-119, Saturday night, in a highly contested, exciting contest, that came down to a last second follow-up lay-up.  Final home game of the season, Saturday @3pm –Vs- Staten Island.

The Express played one of their toughest opponents of the season, and the first non-division team to date.  The game was delayed 45 minutes, awaiting the arrival of the officials, so the Express staff entertained the crowd with a few games with the kids.  

Cleveland got off to a quick start in the 1st quarter, going up 14-4, before the Express roared back to end the quarter down 27-29, with Ja’Shon Mixon leading the way with 11.  The 2nd quarter was much like the 1st, with both teams shot it with extreme accuracy, with Ricky Jackson leading Cleveland with 12, and Mixon with 7, for an Express 55-54 lead at half.

The Express lead 90-86 at the end of the 3rd quarter, led by SuQuan Gary’s 7pts, and Ricky Jackson led Cleveland with 13 in the quarter.  The 4th quarter was the most exciting game of the year, with 12 lead changes, and 7 coming in the final 3 minutes of the game.  Express guard Devon Young had 11, and Nate Barnes, and Eric McPherson tallied 12 apiece for Cleveland.  With 15 seconds remaining, and the Express trailing 117-119, Jason Smith drove hard to the basket, for a layup, to tie the game at 119.  Cleveland inbounded, with 7 seconds remaining to Barnes, who put up a 3 pointer for an air ball, but Darrell Parker was there for the follow-up layup with 1 second to seal the win 121-119.

‘This game was the most entertaining game I’ve been involved in, and I know the fans, and the players enjoyed it.  We’re a very young team, and I know that as a team, the players have learned from this defeat.  My goal, in sitting in for Coach Ortiz, is to continue what he started, and get them, not only into the playoffs, but to advance.  With that, we have to continue to grow, and I feel that the experience gained, will help us to do just that; stated team owner Marsha Blount.

Our FINAL home game will be on Saturday, March 9th @ 3pm at Centenary College, 715 Grand Ave, Hackettstown, NJ.   Join us, as we prepare for the playoffs!  We want to thank our fans for their support, with a Final game 2 for 1 ONLINE ONLY Special.  Pre-purchase tickets here: http://expressvssivipers.eventbrite.com/?ref=ecount.

General admission only $10 for adults, only $5 for kids, students and seniors!

For more information on the Jersey Express, please log onto www.jerseyexpress.net. Join our Jersey Express Professional Basketball ‘Official’ Fan Page on Face Book, or follow us on Twitter @jerseyexpress.  For information on the ABA, click here: www.ABAlive.com.