By Kevin Scott
Photo Above By Kevin Scott
GREAT FALLS, Mont., March 23, 2024 — After three games on the road to start their inaugural The Basketball League (TBL) season, the Great Falls Electric (2-2) made their home debut in front of many excited fans waiting to see their team perform in Great Falls on Saturday night.
To start the season, they defeated the Emerald City (Oregon) Jaguars, 122-89 on March 15 in Eugene, Oregon but fell by thirteen points to the Salem (Oregon) Capitals, 113-100 on March 16th and then lost in a high scoring contest to the Vancouver (WA) Volcanoes, 127-120 on Sunday (March 17th).
The Electric are coached by Johnny Clark, who spent time as an assistant coach for the Continental Basketball Association’s Great Falls Explorers is a Columbus, Ohio native who worked in the NBA as a shooting and player development coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Toronto Raptors. Through the first few games of the season, Lyle Lexom (Omaha, Nebraska) and Antwaan Cushingberry (Indianapolis, Indiana) lead the team in scoring by averaging 22.7 points each game. Hexom is the team leader in rebounds with 15 per contest. The team is filled with many Montana connections with former Big Sky Conference MVP, Kareem Jamar, who suited up for the Montana Grizzlies is on the roster as well as Montana native Brandon The Boy (Box Elder, MT), CMR High School product Xavier Pace, a pair of former University of Providence players, Brendan Howard and Isaac Howard. Brendan is a former Great Falls High standout and Howard played for the Choteau (MT) Bulldogs in his prep career. Jordan Hipp, a former Browning High School prep standout, is also on the team. Dante Williams is a current KRTV Sports Reporter in Great Falls and also plays for the Electric.
The Seattle Super Hawks, the first home opponent for the Electric, has already played seven games and have won four of them (4-3), are led by head coach Mark Leslie, who has sent over 100 players to the professional ranks in his career. Leslie is a former Trinity Valley College (TX) coach who made the NJCAA National Tournament seven times while he was at the Texas school. Seattle forward Nazaiah Carter, a Rochester, New York native, leads the team in scoring (29 ppg) and rebounds (7.3 rpg). Their four victories came against the Wenatchee Bighorns (twice), and the Emerald City Jaguars and Salem Capitals while they had setbacks when they played the Capitals and the Vancouver Volcanoes. Click here for the schedule and results for the Super Hawks.
Great Falls was hoping to give the home crowd at Great Falls High School’s Swarthout Fieldhouse a win over the Washington TBL franchise on Saturday night.
Former Montana Grizzly Kareem Jamar, Antwaan Cushingberry and Lyle Lexom combined for 69 points as the Great Falls Electric won their inaugural home opener 111-104 on Saturday evening in front of 1,900 spectators watching the Electric for the first time pick up the victory over the Seattle Super Hawks.
Lyle Hexom had 10 of his 22 points in the first period while Lamine Komara (6 points) and four points apiece came from Kareem Jamar, Brandon Jamar, and Antwaan Cushingberry. Great Falls was down 32-28 before the first break.
After scoring just four points in the opening period, Antwaan Cushingberry added ten more points as the Electric took the lead (56-55) at halftime. The Electric defense and turnovers by Seattle held the Super Hawks to eight points during the first six minutes of the second quarter. Emeche Wells, Armond Davis and Nahziah Carter recorded points during that time for Seattle.
Great Falls led by as many as nine points in the third against the Super Hawks never trailing until the 3:22 mark when Seattle took their first lead (77-76) on a free throw made by Mamadou Doucoure. Both teams traded baskets until the final 33 seconds when the Electric’s Kareem Jamar jumper put the home team ahead, 84-82.
Rise Athletics, Great Falls’ only All-Star competitive cheer team, performed at halftime They will also perform at Sunday’s contest against Seattle at 4:00PM (MST).
The Electric led throughout the fourth quarter by playing great defense and taking advantage on the offensive end for the seven-point victory (111-104).
Fans were treated to “FREE BIG MAC” coupons courtesy of McDonald’s for the Electric’s “We Win, You Win” promotion at Saturday’s game. This promotion will be for every Saturday home game of the regular season.
Five Great Falls Electric players were in double figures led by Kareem Jamar’s 27 points. Lyle Hexom had 22, followed by Antwaan Cushingberry (20), Sahmi Willoughby (16) and Brandon Jamar with 14 for coach Johnny Clark’s team.
Nahziah Carter exploded for 40 points for Seattle on 16-for-24 shooting. Elijah Hardy and Emeche Wells each contributed 18 points apiece in the Super Hawks third loss in seven contests.
Fans should check out and like the Great Falls Electric’s Facebook, X (Twitter) page and Instagram pages for upcoming news, photos and promotions each week.
NEXT CONTEST: The Electric will be back at Great Falls High School’s Swarthout Fieldhouse for a 4:00PM (MST) tipoff against the Seattle Super Hawks on Sunday, March 24th. Great Falls will have Easter Weekend off (March 29-30) before they host the Eugene, Oregon based Emerald City Jaguars on Friday and Saturday, April 5-6 at 7:00PM (MST).
Fans are encouraged to get your (season and individual) tickets online by clicking here or at the door on game day. Catch all the action live on TBLTV both days.
To learn more about how to watch the TBL TV games this season, please click here for subscription options.
Click here for the 2024 Great Falls Electric schedule and results.
