Season over as Sharks fall short at home
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, March 1, 2012
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| Marcus Landry (L) scored 35 points to lead Shanxi overcome Shanghai in a CBA playoff game. |
Despite a determined team effort the Shanghai Sharks fell short against the Shanxi Brave Dragons, 114-121, ending a surprising season.
Facing an 11 point deficit with 6 minutes left in a game that had suddenly become out of control, the Sharks rallied back. Led by captain Liu Wei the team's offense got rolling with spectacular shot after spectacular shot. Marcus Landry hit from three, Zhang Zhaoxu finished inside and Liu made brilliant layups.
But it wasn't enough and the rally came up short because each time Shanxi's Marcus Williams delivered a dagger. Williams had just 16 points entering the fourth, but elevated his game when it mattered, scoring 19 points in the fourth quarter including 3 three-pointers to crush Shanghai's hopes.
Williams finished with 35 points including 16 from the free throw line. He had a lot of help from his American teammate Charles Gaines who netted 29 points and 23 rebounds.
Liu played a remarkable game in the face of defeat hitting 12 of his 18 shots, finding a way to bank the ball of the backboard and through the net. He also added 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.
Shanghai streaked out to 15-4 run coming out of halftime to take an 11 point lead. Coach Daniel Panaggio credited a change in Shanxi's strategy with breaking up his team's momentum as the Brave Dragons came out of their timeout with a smaller, quicker lineup and using a zone defense.
The first half was a brutal back-and-forth contest that made for 14 ties and 38 fouls as both teams battled hard in the elimination game. Shanxi was more accurate from the line however, and this turned out to be significant in the difference of the game.
Landry had 27 including 4 three-pointers to keep the Sharks close. Mike Harris had a quiet 17 points and 14 rebounds. Zhang dominated inside for much of the game, powering in 18 points and 17 rebounds.
Following the game Panaggio said he couldn't be prouder of what his team accomplished this year. "I love them," he said. "They've done so much more than I could have imagined and they're a pleasure to be around."
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