(By: Mike Drago - Reading Eagle)
Chicago, IL--The Reading Railers have had their way with the Maryland Nighthawks this season, beating them four straight times — three times by 24 points or better.
Wednesday, in their quest to reach the Premier Basketball League Eastern Division championship game, the Railers found the Nighthawks a little tougher to get past.
Lennox McCoy scored 21 points and Jared Mills had 20 as the Railers erased a fourth-quarter deficit and defeated Maryland 104-96 in a division semifinal at Chicago’s Attack Athletic Center.
The streaking Railers (12-9) — winners of four straight and 7-of-8 — head to Rochester tonight to play the first-place Riversharks at 7:05. The winner advances to the PBL championship game.
“We dodged a bullet today,” said Reading coach Sal Mentesana. “They really played us well. We’ve played them so many times this year, and you wonder how many times can you beat somebody.”
The Railers, down by three after three quarters and by as many as four early in the fourth, broke it open in the final six minutes, using their defense to ignite the transition game.
“We just cranked up the defense and got some stops,” Mentesana said. “We needed to make a run, and those start on the defensive end. It’s all about getting stops.”
The Railers led by six at the half but struggled offensively. After shooting the lights out in recent wins, they were 2-of-15 from 3-point range in the first half.
“I (had) told (assistant coach) Mike (Brock) that we’re due for a drought,” Mentesana said. “Nobody shoots 50 percent (from beyond the arc) like we were doing the last few days.”
The Railers shot better from the field in the second half, hitting 56 percent overall.
They pulled away in the final minutes on the strength of their free-throw shooting, hitting 22-of-32 overall. The Nighthawks (7-15) went to the line just 14 times.
The Railers also dominated the glass, Mills grabbing 12 rebounds and Aaron Williams 13.
Now the Railers must find a way to beat the best team in the league on Rochester’s home court, where it hasn’t lost in three seasons. The Riversharks own a league-best 18-2 record and haven’t played all week; Reading, meanwhile, will be playing its fifth game in six days in three cities.
“That’s rough,” Mentesana said. “It’s very difficult, but these guys have risen to every challenge so far this season.
“It’s a championship game. If you’re a player, you find a way to get ready.”
Despite the loss, Randy "White Chocolate" Gill led the Nighthawks with 37 points on 14-27 shooting, including eight three-pointers. Omar Weaver added 25.
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