Dorsey stars in Vipers win

HIDALGO — Joey Dorsey was the man in the spotlight Saturday.

With a television crew from NBA-TV trailing him on Saturday, Dorsey — the Houston Rockets’ assignee — didn’t develop a case of stage fright as he tallied 18 points and career-high 18 rebounds for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in their 127-110 victory against Albuquerque on Saturday night at Dodge Arena.

“I was real proud of Joey,” Vipers coach Chris Finch said. “If he can play like that every night, we’re going to be hard to beat and he won’t be around here long because that’s exactly what the Rockets are looking for. He needs to do that over a long period of time.”

With NBA D-League president Dan Reed in attendance, the Vipers improved to 6-1 by winning their sixth-straight game to tie a franchise record. It’s the first time they’ve ever won six in a row in one season. The Vipers also won two in three days from Albuquerque at Dodge Arena.

Dorsey was involved early and recorded his fourth double-double of the season before halftime.

The television crew was there to shoot footage of Dorsey and Vipers coach Chris Finch for a segment on a future episode of “D-League Central.” Several of Dorsey’s teammates put on a show too.

Six players recorded double figures in scoring, led by Mike Harris’ 23 points. Garrett Temple scored 21 points and knocked down four 3-pointers, two nights after he had a career-best seven. Antonio Anderson had 17 points and 13 assists for his second-straight double-double. Jonathan Wallace had 11 points and Stanley Asumnu had 13 points off the bench.

The Thunderbirds (2-5) were led by Carlos Powell’s 23 points. Keith McLeod and Yaroslav Korolev each had 18, Kevin Pittsnogle 17, Antoine Aguido 15 and Chad Toppert 11.

Temple, who sank seven 3-pointers in Thursday’s 135-112 Vipers victory on Thursday against the Thunderbirds, had the hot hand early sinking two in the first 3:33 of the game.

The Vipers, who led 31-24 after the first quarter, used great ball movement and a strong transition game to build a 64-51 halftime lead. Dorsey recorded his double-double by halftime with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

The Vipers began a 20-9 run midway through the second quarter to take a 58-42 lead at the 2:35 mark. The Thunderbirds cut that to 60-51 thanks largely to hitting 7 of 9 free throws, but the Vipers finished strong with baskets by Harris and Wallace.

After making just 1 of 6 3-point attempts in the first half, the Thunderbirds made their first three in the first six minutes of the second half as the Vipers led 79-69. The Thunderbirds cut that lead to 82-74 on a 3-pointer by McLeod at the 4:27 mark of the third quarter before the Vipers answered with a 10-5 run that put them in the lead, 95-79. The game turned into garbage time early in the fourth quarter.

David Hinojosa covers the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can also reach him at (956) 683-4442.

Saturday’s Game

VIPERS 127, THUNDERBIRDS 110

ALBUQUERQUE (110) — Powell 8-13 7-10 23, McLeod 5-13 7-10 18, Toppert 3-4 4-4 11, Korolev 8-12 2-3 18, Horton 0-3, 0-0 0, Aguido 4-7 6-7 15, Underwood 2-6 0-2 4, Pittsnogle 6-12 3-4 17, Dandrige 0-4 4-4 4. Totals 36-74 33-44 110.

RGV (127) — Anderson 4-8 8-8 17, Harris 10-19 3-3 23, Dorsey 7-9 4-8 18, Temple 7-16 3-3 21, Wallace 4-6 0-0 11, Asumnu 6-7 1-2 13, Sensley 1-6 0-0 2, Looby 3-3 3-3 9, Scott 3-6 0-0 9, Gladness 1-1 0-0 2, Dawkins 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 46-81 127. 

Albuquerque                24      27      34     25    — 110

RGV                             31      33      33     30    — 127

3-Pointers — Albuquerque 5-13 (McLeod 1-3, Toppert 1-2, Auidio 1-3, Pittsnogle 2-5); RGV 11-24 (Anderon 1-3, Temple 4-9, Wallace 3-3 Sensley 0-2, Scott 3-5). Fouled Out — None. Rebounds — Albuquerque 25 (Korolev, Pittsnogle 5), RGV 44 (Dorsey 18). Assists — Albuquerque 21 (Powell, McLeod, Horton 5), RGV 33 (Anderson 13). Total Fouls — Albuquerque 20. RGV 29. Technicals — Powell, Dorsey. Ejected — none. A — 5,342.