Javon Franklin, Kyle Sturdivant, and Marcus Georges-Hunt spread 73 points evenly across their shoulders to lead ISO Yoga to a 109-105 win over ATL Finest in AEBL Pro-Am competition Saturday.
The first half belonged to ATL Finest. They led by as much as 13 points in the second quarter thanks to a 10-0 run. ATL Finest’s bench provided energy in bunches doubling the scoring output of the ISO Yoga bench.
ISO Yoga brought the heat in the third and took a 71-69 lead into the final quarter. Franklin made his presence felt in the paint snatching 15 rebounds. Most of his six offensive rebounds were rim-shaking dunks in the final quarter. What he couldn’t get in the paint, the former Yellow Jacket rained in from around the court to finish with 24 points on 10-18 shooting – a nice double-double.
Their comeback was fueled by a sizzling 73.5% shooting performance from the field and 87.5% (7-8) from the free throw line. That high shooting percentage was a result of the work put in down in the blocks. Nearly half of ISO Yoga’s points were earned in the paint.
ATL Finest found their 3-point stroke in the fourth. They made 7 of 12 in the period which was a big difference from the 1 of 8 shot in the third. Sam Daniels led the team in scoring with 21 points on an efficient 5-7 from beyond the arc and 8-13 from the floor.
Every member of ATL Finest scored at least one basket. Paul Parks, Tyree Crump, Derrick Allen, and Gerard Devaughn chipped in 19, 15, 14, and 15 points each to keep the scoring engine purring along.
ATL Finest saw two chances to tie the ball game go down the drain when the unthinkable happened. With 10 seconds remaining and trailing 104-100, Parks was fouled in the corner and sent to the line for three free throws. The Douglasville native knocked down the first, missed the second, and made the third.
ATL Finest had no choice fouling the sure-shooting Sturdivant. Two makes and the game would have been over. A miss and ATL Finest would have needed a quick three to send the game into overtime. The former GA Tech guard missed the second free throw to set up the second scenario. DeVaughn attempted to grab the rebound but tipped it just before it went out of bounds.
Again Sturdivant was fouled. This time he sealed the game making both free throws to finish nearly perfect from the charity stripe 11 of 12.
ISO Yoga remains unbeaten at 4-0 while ATL Finest drops to 1-3 at the midway part of the season.
Game Photos
All photos by Jason McDonald, JM Photography for CORE360 Sports