Farmer, Vipers ready for final game

HIDALGO - Desmon Farmer is already the NBA Development League's all-time leading scorer. And with a big game in tonight's regular-season finale against Tulsa at Dodge Arena, he can possibly become the 2007-08 scoring champion.

While the numbers and records are nice, Farmer has other goals, mainly helping the Vipers end their inaugural season with a fourth straight victory and a return to the NBA.

"I'm just trying to play as hard as I can and get my team a win and end the year with a bang," Farmer said. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to get that done."

Farmer, who averages 24.6 points per game, has done whatever it takes for the Vipers (20-29) since joining the team and is the D-League's second leading scorer behind Utah's Morris Almond (25.2). Farmer, a Southern Cal product who played in eight games for the Seattle SuperSonics last season, is averaging 31.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game in his last 10 games. He's scored 40 points or more in three of those games and is shooting 49 percent from the field, including 50 percent from 3-point range.

"I think that I have an all-around game," Farmer said. "When I got here, I had to score, but I've shown I can pass and rebound as well.

"I think I'm playing my best basketball right now. My stats show that."

As far as the season scoring title is concerned, Vipers acting head coach Brian Walsh says the team won't go out of its way to help Farmer win it. He figures it doesn't need to.

"Desmon gets so many shots on his own and in the normal flow, the way we have our offense right now I don't think he has to do anymore," Walsh said. "Desmon is already the leading scorer in league history. I don't think it's going through his mind. I don't think we'll do anything different for Desmon. He can get as many points as he needs by himself."

IN THE BONUS: Tulsa (25-23) is still alive for a D-League playoff berth but has lost four straight games. The 66ers need to win tonight and Saturday at Austin then hope Colorado (27-21) loses its final two contests. Tulsa holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the 14ers. ... Tulsa leads the season against the Vipers 4-3. ... Walsh said injured point guard Quannas White (back) practiced Thursday morning. He is questionable after missing the last two games.

Todd Mavreles covers the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4451.