Published: April 21, 2008 10:35 pm            

Guns outmuscle Hoses, 56-50

LITTLE CYPRESS — Size finally wore down speed in the annual Guns Vs. Hoses Charity Basketball Tournament at Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School Tuesday night.

Led by the rugged play of Sparky Robinson and Troy Tyson, the Orange Police Department “Guns” took down the Orange Fire Department “Hoses” 56-50 in a game full of excitement and deep breaths.

Robinson definitely gave the Guns a “spark” as the big fella rumbled inside the paint for a whopping double-double, scoring 20 points and tearing down 16 rebounds. Tyson did his bit well as well, roaming around for a double-double of his own, tallying 18 points and snagging 12 rebounds.

The Guns did a number on the Hoses, holding a 53-35 rebounding edge.

The Guns win offset a strong performance from the Hoses’ Shane Chapman. Chapman, a former Lumberton Raiders standout, cut loose for 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds, scoring 11 of his points in the fourth period alone.

The Hoses’ pressure defense wore on the Guns at times with the Hoses forcing 26 turnovers while committing just 16 on their end but the size factor finally caught up with them.

The Guns led 39-38 entering the fourth period but the Hoses grabbed a 50-49 lead with a little more than two minutes left. However, the Guns clamped down on the defensive end and Robinson and Tyson combined for a 7-0 spurt to close out the game in front of a nice crowd for the charity event at The Bear Cave.

The Hoses jumped out the gate with a flurry, grabbing an 11-4 lead thanks to two three-pointers by Chapman. Robinson wouldn’t be denied for the Guns though as the big man bruised his way in the paint plus a little “snowbirding” as well to lead the Guns on a 11-0 spurt to finish the period. Robinson motored his way to 10 points and five boards in the first quarter to enable his unit to a 15-11 cushion.

The Hoses scrapped back in the second period with Chapman scoring seven points while Nick Zumo, who finished with nine points, drilled a big three-point basket to get the Hoses to within 30-28 at intermission. Tyson kept the Guns in front with seven points in the quarter.

Heavy legs prevailed in the third period with the Hoses outscoring the Guns 10-9 in the quarter to help them trail by just a point entering the fourth period. The Guns couldn’t pull away by going just 3-of-10 from the free-throw line in the period. The Guns finished 15-of-30 from the charity stripe while the Hoses went 9-of-18.

Wade Robinson contributed seven points and seven rebounds for the Guns followed by teammates Jimbo Davis (4 points), Harold Dewault (2 points), Kris Olson (3 points) Jon Baggett (1 point) and Eric Ellison (1 point).

Brandon Godina had five points for the Hoses followed by teammates Travis Seals (4 points), Logan Conner (4 points) and Tristan Barnes (2 points).

Pesky defensive-minded guard Lane Martin had six rebounds for the Guns and Ellison added four while Seals and Godina added five rebounds apiece for the Hoses.

        

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