Vipers close season with fourth straight win

HIDALGO - Down two points with 16 seconds remaining, Tulsa coach Joey Meyer told Jeremy Kelly not to let Desmon Farmer catch the ball. Unfortunately for Meyer, Farmer caught it, drove past Kelly and scored the layup that allowed the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to defeat the 66ers 101-95 for their fourth straight victory to close the season.

The Vipers (21-29) also ensured that acting coach Brian Walsh heads into the offseason with a perfect 4-0 record, but Tulsa (25-24) almost spoiled that achievement.

After 66ers point guard Jason Fontenet netted a pair of free throws to cut the Vipers' lead to 97-95 with 35.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, the Vipers needed someone to make a play. As usual, Walsh put the ball in Farmer's reliable hands, which Meyer expected.

"I should have left Mike Hall on him. He was doing a pretty good job," Meyer said. "But I put Jeremy Kelly on him instead and I said, ‘Don't let him touch it.' And he let him get it. He made a nice play."

Kelly allowed Farmer to catch the ball just above the 3-point arc on the pivotal possession, and Farmer drove around the Tulsa guard before completing one of his patented lefty corkscrew layups from the right-hand side of the lane. The hoop put the Vipers up 99-95 with 16 seconds to play. Farmer scored a game-high 27 points.

"All we're going to do in that situation is go to Desmon and we're either going to win it or (not)," Walsh said. "You know Desmon, nine times out of 10 he's going to get it done."

On Tulsa's next possession, Hall was called for an offensive foul with 9.4 seconds remaining for pushing off of Farmer in an attempt to clear space to take a 3-pointer. Quin Humphrey (15 points) then sank a pair of free throws to clinch the Vipers' victory in front of an announced crowd of 5,009.

Farmer wasn't the only star for the Vipers. Humphrey gave an heroic effort as he was forced into point guard duty after starter Kris Collins tweaked a hamstring in the first quarter and was forced to sit out the remainder of the game. He did not commit a turnover despite constant trapping by the 66ers.

Trent Strickland scored 16 points off the bench and Stanley Asumnu had another outstanding game with 18 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and four steals. He recorded his third straight double-double.

The Vipers' defense also came up big, limiting Tulsa to 42.5 percent shooting and forcing 25 turnovers.

All in all, it was the perfect ending to what at times was a difficult season.

"I just feel good because now we can walk away here and hold our heads up high no matter what happens," Walsh said. "I'm proud of it. The guys played hard."

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

D-League box score

Friday's Game

VIPERS 101, 66ERS 95

TULSA (95) - Carter 5-13 1-1 14, Hall 4-14 3-3 12, Merritt 7-11 2-2 16, Kelly 1-4 1-1 3x, Dial 6-14 2-2 15, Closs 2-6 0-0 4, Jones 1-2 1-2 3, Fontenet 4-8 2-2 11, Ellis 4-9 9-12 17. Totals 34-81 23-28 95.

RGV (101) - Humphrey 4-8 4-4 15, Asumnu 9-16 0-0 18, Smith 2-5 0-0 4, Collins 0-3 0-0 0, Farmer 11-19 2-2 27, Strickland 5-10 6-7 16, Johnson 5-14 3-6 15, Winder 3-9 0-0 6, Sanchez 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 39-87 15-19 101.

Tulsa                    20    22   23    30   -   95

RGV                      28    20   26    27   - 101

3-Pointers - Tulsa 4-17 (Dial 1-6, Hall 1-6, Carter 1-3, Fontenet 1-2), RGV 8-28 (Farmer 3-10, Humphrey 3-4, Johnson 2-6, Strickland 0-3, Winder 0-3, Sanchez 0-2). Fouled Out - Strickland. Rebounds - Tulsa 48 (Ellis 9), RGV 42 (Asumnu 12). Assists - Tulsa 15 (Hall 4), RGV 21 (Farmer 9). Total Fouls - Tulsa 23, RGV 21. Technicals - RGV defensive three second, Tulsa delay of game. A - 5,009 (5,622).