By Brian Johnson Sports Editor [email protected] Three double-doubles and two more near double-doubles propelled the Potawatomi Fire to the West Regional Championship of The Basketball League Saturday night at FireLake Arena. Ricky Artis, candidate for TBL Sixth Man of the Year, tallied 25 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.
Deshawn Munson fired in 24 points and grabbed 18 boards and All-TBL First Team selection Chuck Guy tossed in 16 points and added 14 assists as Potawatomi swept a two-game series from the Los Angeles Ignite. Nabbing near double-doubles were Paul Harrison with 25 points and seven rebounds and K.D.
Moore with 23 points and nine boards. The Fire upended the Ignite 140-108 in Los Angeles Wednesday night to take Game 1. Saturday’s victory advances Potawatomi to TBL finals where they will face the St.
Louis Griffins in a rematch of the 2023 finals in which the Fire won in three games. Two of the Potawatomi players – Guy and Moore – played Saturday’s game in unusual and emotional circumstances. For Guy, he was playing after just learning that his uncle Victor Butler passed away after the team arrived home to Shawnee from L.
A. As for Moore, it was his birthday and another year didn’t stem his energy in Saturday’s game. “I tried to block that (Butler’s passing) out.
But what a great way to come out and compete,” Guy said. “What a game to come out and do it (win) for him.” Moore had a team-best three steals and blocked a shot on his birthd.
