One Hundred (And One!) in a Half the Rochester Razorsharks Scored 101 Points in the First Half of Their March 28, 2009 Game Versus Chicago at the Blue Cross Arena
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Sharks Year By Year History 2005-06 On November 5, 2005, the Rochester RazorSharks brought professional basketball back to the city. On March 21, 1983, the Rochester Zeniths, who spent 5 years in the Continental Basketball Association, played their last game. The 'Sharks joined the revised ABA, the American Basketball Association with Rod Baker as coach and won their first game, 89-88 over the Buffalo Rapids at the Blue Cross Arena. Rochester roared to first place during a 26-4 regular season, including 16 straight victories between late December and late February. After a November 25th loss to Niagara at the BCA, the team never lost again at home, a span that reached 17 games through the playoffs. The 'Sharks bullied their way to a 53 point victory against Baltimore at the Blue Cross Arena. They also limited Buffalo to just 65 points in a December game at Rochester, a 'Sharks defensive effort that hasn't been topped. During a 119-116 double overtime defeat at Harlem, Chris Carrawell scored 38 points, which remains the club high today. League rules awarded 'Shark-to-be John Halas four points for a half court shot at the BCA, while playing for Harlem. Demond Stewart scored the most regular season points (441) while James Reaves led the team in scoring average (18.2) and rebounds (7.2). Eric Walton shot 55% from the field. Lazarus Sims was the 'Sharks leader for assists (6.1) and steals (39). Rochester was chosen to host all games in the post season, in a series called The Great Eight Tournament, featuring eight teams in the league. The RazorSharks bested Newark, Atlanta and San Jose to reach the finals. The San Jose game saw Carrawell clear 18 rebounds, still a team record. Rochester took the championship with a 117-114 victory over Southern California. A season high crowd of 6,377 fans celebrated as Demond Stewart led the team with 27 points and Carrawell was named playoff MVP. Stewart led 'Sharks playoff scorers with 18.3 per game. Carrawell was named the ABA Most Valuable Player. Owner and General Manager Orest Hrywnak was named Executive of the Year and Rod Baker won Coach of the Year honors. Carrawell was named to the all-star squad. 2006-07 The 'Sharks returned to the ABA, starting off with a 30 point victory on the road over Baltimore in the season's opener. Eleven days later, Rochester won their first game at home, 107-93 over Buffalo. It was the start of an undefeated home run at the BCA, 18 straight through the year, extending the team's consecutive home winning streak to 35. Their 24th win in a row set the professional basketball mark in Rochester. On the road, the club was just 6-6, including a four game losing streak away, and unable to win at Detroit in all three contests. Rochester could only score 75 at Quebec City, still a club low. Eric Coley swiped 8 balls during a home win against Cape Cod, which remains the 'Sharks steals record. During the 42-point crushing of Hollywood, Lazarus Sims set the 'Shark mark for assists with 21. Sims also established the franchise's only triple double so far (12 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists) in a tip off versus Detroit. The 'Sharks (24-6) finished behind Vermont for first place, playing six games fewer than the Frost Heaves (30-6). Before the playoffs could begin the 'Sharks bolted from the ABA after a scheduling conflict plus other reasons. Keith Friel led the team in points at 16.6 per. James Reaves collected the most rebounds, 204 (7.0) and Lazarus Sims passed off for the most assists (8.4). 2007-08 Rochester helped form the new Premier Basketball League, finishing with a league-best 18-2 tally, and racing to another undefeated season at the Blue Cross Arena. Their two losses on the road included a 15 point failure at Reading- still the 'Sharks worst defeat. Ron Rollerson established the franchise's blocked shots record, swatting away 7 attempts versus Jacksonville. And Vidal Massiah scored 12 field goals (club record, tied twice since by Keith Friel). Keith Friel was the regular season 'Sharks leader for points at 16.5 per game. James Reaves was the best rebounder with 8.2 a contest. The assists leader, with 3.8, was Steve Hailey. The 'Sharks reached the championship game in the playoffs, then disposed of Arkanasas, 142- 112 for the crown at Rochester. A club record 9,717 jammed the Blue Cross Arena. The game was delayed after Sammy Monroe's attempted follow up dunk shattered the backboard. In a ceremony at the Blue Cross Arena, the 'Sharks retired their first uniform, honoring Lazarus Sims and his number "three". Named to the PBL Playoff team were James Reaves and Keith Friel. Friel was named PBL Playoff MVP, averaging 22.1 points. Ron Rollerson shot 69% from the field (14-22). Sammy Monroe was 14-22 from outside (64%) Rod Baker was named Coach of the Year. Making the PBL All-League Team were Reaves (1st), Friel (2nd) and Monroe (3rd). 2008-09 The 'Sharks began defense of their PBL title by dropping two games on the road, and three of their first four contests. Rochester's home winning streak was stopped at 48, after Vermont eeked out a 3 point win at the BCA, January 19th. But the club responded with a 16-game winning streak, tying the team record and finishing in first place for the regular season at 17-3. In a March home game, the 'Sharks erupted for 101 points in the first half alone, against Chicago (James Reaves' jumper put them over the top). The final score of 176-96 is Rochester's largest victory ever (80 points) and the most team points ever scored by a city pro franchise. Also in that game, Keith Friel set club records for points in regulation (36) and three pointers (9) and tied the team mark with 12 field goals (Vidal Massiah). For the regular season, Keith Friel led the team with 20.8 points a game. James Reaves was tops in rebounds (8.9). Steve Hailey (3.8) and Jerice Crouch (3.1)led Rochester for assists. Marlin Johnson shot 76% from the field (45- 59). Friel had 83 three pointers (44%). In the post season, Rochester lost their first playoff game ever after Manchester shocked the 'Sharks at the BCA. But the team then knocked out the Millrats and romped to another title, this time 152-115 over Battle Creek, at home. Incredibly, the championship game was interrupted again by a broken backboard- and again involved Sammy Monroe, who stopped the clock after an uncontested glass-breaking dunk. Rochester grabbed a team record 72 rebounds in the finale. Xavier Morton connected on 63% of his shots from the field (15-24). Rod Baker was named co-Coach of the Year (Terry Sare, Battle Creek). Friel was named the league's Most Valuable Player. Friel and Monroe were named co-PBL Playoff Most Valuable Players. Added to the PBL All- League Team were: Friel (1st) and James Reaves (2nd). Making the PBL All Playoff Team: Friel, Reaves and Monroe. Derik Hollyfield was named to the PBL All- Defensive Team. 'Sharks Standings Versus ABA-PBL Teams VERSUS ALL TIME HOME AWAY NEUT NICKNAME Arkansas 2-0 1-0 1-0 Impact Atlanta 1-0 1-0 Vision Augusta 3-1 2-0 1-1 Groove Baltimore 3-0 1-0 2-0 Pearls Battle Creek 1-0 1-0 Knights Boston/Cape Cod 6-0 5-0 1-0 Frenzy Buffalo 14-1 8-0 6-1 Rapids/ Silverbacks/Stampede Chicago 4-0 2-0 2-0 Throwbacks Dallas 1-0 1-0 Defenders Detroit 2-3 2-0 0-3 Panthers Harlem 2-2 2-0 0-2 Strong Dogs Hollywood 1-0 1-0 Fame Indiana 1-0 1-0 Alley Cats Jacksonville 3-0 2-0 1-0 Jam/Slam Manchester 2-1 1-1 1-0 Millrats Maryland 11-0 7-0 4-0 Nighthawks Mid-Michigan 3-0 2-0 1-0 Destroyers Montreal 5-0 3-0 2-0 Matrix Team Montreal 1-0 *1-0 Team Montreal NE Pennsylvania 1-0 1-0 Breakers Newark 5-0 3-0 2-0 Express Niagara 0-1 0-1 Daredevils Quad Cities 1-0 1-0 River Hawks Quebec City 1-1 1-0 0-1 Kebekwa Reading 3-1 2-0 1-1 Railers Rockford 1-0 1-0 Fury San Jose 1-0 1-0 Skyrockets SouthernCalifornia 1-0 1-0 Legends Strong Island 5-1 3-1 2-0 Sound Vermont 3-2 2-1 1-1 Frost Heaves Wilmington 6-2 4-0 1-2 *1-0 Sea Dawgs *-forfeited 94-16 61-4 30-12 3-0 RazorSharks / Coach Rod Baker Summary REGULAR SEASIN PLAYOFFS / RESULT 2005-06 ABA 26-4 1ST place 4-0 WON CHAMPIONSHIP 2006-07 ABA 24-6 2ND place did not finish season 2007-08 PBL 18-2 1ST place 2-0 WON CHAMPIONSHIP 2008-09 PBL 17-3 1ST place 4-0 WON CHAMPIONSHIP TOTALS 85-15 9-1 3 CHAMPIONSHIPS ‘Sharks are undefeated vs. 18 of their 31 foes faced ‘Sharks four losses at home by 11,5,3 and 6 points ‘Sharks high winning margin on road- 32 points,twice ‘Sharks lowest score at home- 89 (first-ever game) ‘Sharks slimmest win at home- 1 point (twice) ‘Sharks under 100 points at home 4 times (won all) ‘Sharks under 100 points 18 times (11-7 record) ‘Sharks foes under 100 points 60 times (5-55 record) ‘Sharks are 0-2 in overtime games Re: the ‘Sharks 16 losses, 9 were by 6 or fewer pts ‘Sharks AllTime Losses (16) 4 home, 12 away 2005-06 ABA HOME 11/16/05 112-123 Strong Island Sound 2005-06 ABA HOME 11/24/05 111-116 Niagara Daredevils 2005-06 ABA AWAY 12/18/05 116-119 Harlem StrongDogs 2OT 2006-07 ABA AWAY 3/ 3/06 105-111 Harlem Strong Dogs 2006-07 ABA AWAY 11/24/06 93- 96 Buffalo Silverbacks 2006-07 ABA AWAY 12/ 1/06 104-113 Detroit Panthers 2006-07 ABA AWAY 12/14/06 93- 95 Vermont F.Heaves OT 2006-07 ABA AWAY 12/16/06 75- 85 Quebec City Kebekwa 2006-07 ABA AWAY 1/ 7/07 98-107 Detroit Panthers 2006-07 ABA AWAY 1/20/07 96- 98 Detroit Panthers 2007-08 PBL AWAY 1/ 6/08 81- 83 Wilmington Sea Dawgs 2007-08 PBL AWAY 2/23/08 99-114 Reading Railers 2008-09 PBL AWAY 1/ 3/09 118-127 Augusta Groove 2008-09 PBL AWAY 1/15/09 101-111 Wilmington Sea Dawgs 2008-09 PBL HOME 1/19/09 110-113 Vermont F.Heaves 2008-09 PBL HOME 4/ 5/09 110-116 Manchester MillratsPO ‘Sharks Win and Loss Streaks Records CURRENT RAZORSHARKS STREAK: 2 WINS (entering 2009-10) LONGEST OVERALL WIN STREAK: 16 games, 2005-06, 2008-09 LONGEST OVERALL LOSS STREAK: 2 games, 2006-07, 2008-09 LONGEST HOME WIN STREAK: 48 games, 2005-2009 LONGEST AWAY WIN STREAK: 8 games, 2008-09 (ongoing) LONGEST HOME LOSS STREAK: 1 game, 2005-06, 2008-09 LONGEST AWAY LOSS STREAK, 4 games, 2006-07 One Hundred (and one!) In a Half The Rochester RazorSharks scored 101 points in the first half of their March 28, 2009 game versus Chicago at the Blue Cross Arena.