By Kevin Scott
Photos By Kevin Scott
GREAT FALLS, Mont., April 19, 2024 — The #4 Great Falls Electric (5-5) and the Vancouver (WA) Volcanoes (10-3), who are the top team in the six-team The Basketball League (TBL) Pacific Northwest Division standings in the West Conference, have now seen each other play twice this season.
Back on March 17th in Great Falls’s third contest in their inaugural season, the Electric trailed 61-60 after two periods of play and fell 127-120 inside the Clark College gym in Vancouver, Washington. Portland, Oregon natives Thomas Miles and Markus Golder combined for 52 points in the win. Lyle Hexom led the Electric with 24 points while Antwaan Cushingberry and Lamine Komara each added 23 points. Brandon Jamar was the top rebounder for Great Falls with 14 (game story).
After ten games in the TBL, the Great Falls team statistical leaders include Antwaan Cushingberry, the 5’10” guard from Indianapolis, Indiana leads the team in points scored by averaging 23.9 per game and seven assists per outing. Brandon Jamar, whose brother Kareem is also on the squad, tops the squad with eleven rebounds per contest.
The Volcanoes, coached by Curtis Hill, are the top team in the TBL’s West Conference’s Pacific Northwest Division with ten wins in thirteen contests, are led by Markus Golder (25.9 ppg), Rashaun Coleman (5.9 assists) and Xavier Dupree (11.0 rebounds). Since Great Falls’ last meeting with Vancouver, they had added GaMaun Boykin, who spent most of this season with the Emerald City (OR) Jaguars, who have struggled to find the win column (0-10).
The Electric was hoping for a better outcome in front of the home fans for Friday’s contest.
Four Vancouver Volcanoes scored in double figures led by Markus Golder’s 33 points as the visiting team from Washington state defeated the Great Falls Electric, 116-99 in front of a nice crowd at Swarthout Fieldhouse at Great Falls High School during Friday’s TBL action. Antwaan Cushingberry scored 40 points for Great Falls.
Great Falls exploded for eleven points allowing two from the Volcanoes during the first three minutes of the opening quarter. Antwaan Cushingberry connected on three of this eight baskets from long distance capped off by a dunk by Lamine Komara. Later in the quarter, the Volcanoes offense went on a 17-7 run that gave them their first lead since the first minute of the game. Both squads traded baskets before Cushingberry pulled up a two-point jumper with 13 seconds left and put the home team ahead, 25-23.
After Vancouver’s Tyshon Pickett evened the score (25-25), the second quarter remained close for a few minutes before the Volcanoes started to pull away and led 62-40.
Both squads combined for 67 third quarter points with the visiting team taking a 94-75 advantage into the final stanza.
Vancouver climbed as high as seventeen points on multiple occasions in the fourth before the Washington team ended up with a 116-99 win.
Markus Golder (33 points), Vincent Boumann (26 points), Tyshon Picket (20 points) and Thomas Miles finished with 16 points for Vancouver’s tenth win of the season.
Antwaan Cushingberry continues to be the leader on and off the court. He was unstoppable on offense making 14 of his 23 shots in the field including eight three-point baskets, acquired ten assists while playing 43 minutes. Brandon Jamar pulled down 12 rebounds for Montana’s only TBL team.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls finishes off their weekend home series against the top-ranked Vancouver (WA) Volcanoes at 7:00PM (MST) on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Swarthout Fieldhouse (Great Falls High School).
NOTES: 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.
STREAMING: TBLTV ,the official subscription-based streaming service of the TBL, will be streaming all home and away games. Local Great Falls TV personality, Tom Wylie is on the call for all home Electric games this season. To learn more about how to watch the TBL TV games this season, please click here for subscription options.
RADIO BROADCASTS: In addition to the TBLTV streaming broadcasts at home and on the road, fans can catch all of the home contests live on Staradio locally on 102.7FM locally in Great Falls and surrounding areas, online or download their app on Google Play or App Store. Veteran broadcaster Glenn Lambert is on the call for all home games this season.
Fans are encouraged to get your (season and individual) tickets online by clicking here or at the door on game day. Merchandise is also available at the home games, and we our team store online now too.
WATCH PARTY: The Stadium Bar and Casino, located at 1121 5th Street South in Great Falls, hosts the official “Electric Watch Party” this season when the Great Falls Electric are on the road. Fans are invited to get food and drinks and watch the game.
After the home games, fans are invited to also to meet the team and coaches at the Stadium Bar and Casino after every home game and enjoy some great food and drinks.
Click here for the 2024 Great Falls Electric schedule and results.
