Harris delivers for Vipers
HIDALGO — All the “new guys” were summoned from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers’ locker room for an autograph session for fans after the Vipers 100-85 victory against Austin on Tuesday at State Farm Arena.
Vipers forward Mike Harris joined them.
Sure, he was playing in his 29th game for the Vipers, but it was his first since coming back from his NBA call-up with the Washington Wizards. He put on a typical performance (team-leading 22 points and 12 rebounds).
“We had some jitters,” Harris said. “We have some guys just coming back and some new guys. Everything is not figured out all the way yet, but we are starting to work the kinks out, and that’s the most important thing.”
The Vipers’ roster has been overhauled several times over the last couple of weeks thanks to NBA call ups and several injuries.
“I don’t even know who our team is sometimes, we have so many moving parts,” Finch joked.
And although they are still working things out, the Vipers built an early lead and withstood a mild threat to improve to 28-11 and increase their lead over the second-place Toros in the NBA D-League Western Conference standings by four games.
Some of the other “new guys” did well too. Kenny Hasbrouck had 18 points and Julian Sensley, who returned to the Vipers last weekend after recovering from an achilles tendon injury, had 14 points. Ernest Scott, a season-long Viper, had 14 points and hit 4 of 6 from the 3-point arc.
“Our older guys have done a good job of stepping up,” Finch said. “Our style accommodates that. We play on guys’ strengths and let them find their own rhythm within our system.”
The Vipers took a 24-9 lead and never trailed. Austin made a couple of charges, including an 11-3 run to close the first quarter that cut the Vipers’ lead to 27-20. The Toros got as close as 29-26 after a 3-pointer by Eddie Basden. The Vipers responded by scoring 20 of the next 29 points and were never threatened from there.
Curtis Jerrells led the Toros with 21 points. Basden had 15. Dwayne Jones had 20 rebounds.
“They have guys, like Jerrells, who can get hot and carry them all by themselves,” Finch said of Austin. “We did a good job of making him work hard and containing him every moment. He never really got two plays in a row.”
There were some moments for concern for the Vipers. Hasbrouck, who came into the game with a 20.6-point average in six games, limped off after twisting his right ankle midway through the fourth quarter. Kevin Rogers clutched his knee after landing awkwardly. He was not in the Vipers’ locker room after the game.
Hasbrouck didn’t think the injury was serious and expected to play tonight in the second end of a back-to-back against Austin.
“I think they came out sluggish and we came out full blast,” Hasbrouck said. “(Tonight) will be a different story. They’ll be ready for us and they’ll come out faster.”
NOTES: Guard Craig Winder didn’t suit up because of left knee tendonitis. He has averaged 26.0 points in his last five games. … Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will be in attendance at State Farm Arena for the Vipers-Toros game.
Tuesday’s Game
VIPERS 100, TOROS 85
AUSTIN (85) —Joiner 3-10 0-0 7, Basden 6-13 1-2 15, Jones 2-7 2-4 6, Coleman 2-6 2-3 6, Jerrells 9-14 2-3 21, Bonner 0-2 1-2 1, Clinch 5-7 0-0 13, Johnson 5-11 0-1 11, McClure 2-3 1-2 5.Totals 34-73 9-18 85.
RGV (100) — Asumnu 2-5 3-9 7, Harris 8-17 6-6 22, Sensley 5-11 1-4 14, Hasbrouck 7-15 2-3 18, Wallace 5-12 2-2 14, Scott 5-8 0-0 14, Humphey 2-7 1-2 7, Rogers 2-5 0-0 4, Gladness 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-80 15-26 100.
Austin 20 23 22 20 — 85
RGV 27 34 18 21 — 100
3-Pointers — Austin 8-21 (Joiner 1-5, Basden 2-3, Coleman 0-2, Jerrells 1-1, Bonner 0-2, Clinch 3-5 Johnson 1-3); RGV 13-24 (Harris 0-1, Sensley 3-5, Hasbrouck 2-3, Wallace 2-5, Scott 4-6, Humphrey 2-4). Fouled Out — None. Rebounds — Austin 39 (Jones 20), RGV 41 (Harris 12). Assists — Austin 20 (Jerrell 8), RGV 23 (Hasbrouck, Wallace 6). Total Fouls — Austin 20. RGV 15. Technicals — none. Ejected — none. A — 3,838.
