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Callaway Kings 62-29 (2-6)

Fresno Stars 67-21 (6-2)

Game 1 – Reggie Miller and Calvin Natt each scored six points in the first quarter to lead Callaway to a 25-19 advantage. Patrick Ewing’s 13 second quarter points brought the Stars within 3 at halftime. The Kings increased their lead to 6 thru three periods as Craig Ehlo tallied 9 in the frame. Fresno responded in the 4th, cutting the lead to one about half way thru. CWK recovered and led 111-107 with 2:14 on the clock. They finished off the defending champs with a 9-2 run to close out the game. The game was tight throughout despite Fresno’s SG/SF being in foul trouble all game.  The final score was the largest lead in the game. Ehlo led the visitors with 24 and Terry Cummings chipped in 23 and earned MVP honors. Patrick Ewing led all scorers with 27.

Game 2 – Game 2 was a true nail biter with the outcome decided only at the final whistle. Fresno erased the 9-point deficit it had going into the 4th quarter and eventually pulled ahead by 4 points. With the Kings ahead by 2 with 4 sec. on the clock Kersey is fouled but only hits 1 of 2 free throws. Kings take a TO after rebounding the miss. Reggie Theus is fouled after the ball is inbounded leaving 2.8 sec. on the clock. Theus hits the 1st free throw, but misses the 2nd giving the Kings a 2-point lead. Fresno calls for a TO after rebounding the miss. The ball goes to Blair Rasmussen outside, he drives, but Andrew Lang tips the shot and Terry Cummings gathers the rebound with .4 sec on the clock. After a Kings TO the ball is inbounded to Craig Ehlo who tries to burn the clock. However Magic steals the ball with .2 on the clock, but is unable to get a halfcourt shot off before the buzzer. Callaway escapes with the victory. Reggie Miller topped all scorers with 37 points to earn game MVP. Cummings chipped in 20 points and 10 boards. Magic led the Stars with 36 points and 15 assists. Patrick Ewing scored 25 and pulled down 10 boards.

Game 3 – This game started out as a low-scoring, defensive affair, with the first quarter ending in a 24-24 tie. Fresno started the second quarter on a 21-7 run, taking a 45-31 lead halfway through the second, shooting 64% from the field while holding Callaway to 18%. However, foul trouble put Michael Cage, Jerome Kersey and Terry Teagle on the bench with 3 fouls. Through the rest of the quarter, Fresno was able to mostly hold its lead, going into halftime ahead 60-47. The teams played a very even third quarter, leaving Fresno ahead 90-76 heading into the fourth. The Kings cut Fresno’s lead to 7 points with 7:02 to play. However, the Kings could get no closer, and Fresno finished with the win. The key to the game seemed to be Fresno’s defense, which offset a 30-13 deficit at the free throw line by holding the Kings to 41% shooting from the field. Magic Johnson had 31 points, 12 dimes and 6 boards for MVP honors. Patrick Ewing scored 23 and hauled down 14 rebounds. Terry Cummings topped the Kings with 26 points and 10 boards. Reggie Miller chipped in 21.

Game 4 – Fresno rushed out the gate in this one, taking a 19-6 halfway through the first period, led by Patrick Ewing’s 8 points. However, Callaway came back to cut Fresno’s lead to 33-27 behind Reggie Miller’s 11 points in the quarter. The Stars started the second quarter strong as well with a 22-11 run that gave them a 55-38 lead at the 5:48 mark. Again, the Kings countered in the second half of the quarter, cutting Fresno’s lead to 67-56 heading into halftime. In the third quarter, Fresno came out again strong but was able to hold off Callaway’s comeback attempts, taking the quarter 37-25, leaving the Stars ahead 104-81 heading into the fourth. The Kings went on a 16-8 run to start the fourth, reducing the deficit to 112-97 at the 5:44 mark. However, Fresno stopped the comeback bid there, playing Callaway pretty evenly the rest of the way. Magic was MVP again, this time missing a triple-double by one rebound. He dished out 13 assists to go with his 28 points. Ewing led the Stars with 29 points and 15 boards. Doc Rivers tallied 26. Miller matched Ewings scoring to lead the Kings.

Game 5 – The Callaway Kings were able to grab a 2-point lead after three with Fresno having several players in foul trouble. But, the Stars jumped out to a quick lead in the 4th quarter and held on for the victory. Patrick Ewing was named MVP. Michael Cage for FRS and Rick Mahorn for CWK had strong games.

Game 6 – Fresno started the game aggressively, causing 5 turnovers and scoring 10 fastbreak points in the first six minutes of the game to take a 25-13 lead.  However, the Kings bounced back strong in the rest of the quarter to cut the lead to 38-33 after one.  Fresno burst out of the gate in the second with a 17-2 run to open up a 55-35 lead at the midway mark of the quarter.  The teams played pretty evenly through the rest of the second, leaving the score 72-54 Fresno at the half.  Fresno came out of the lockers very strong, taking the third quarter 44-25, leaving the score 116-79 heading in the fourth.  The fourth quarter played out essentially to a draw, and Fresno got the win 141-103.  Magic Johnson and Patrick Ewing scored 28 and 26, respectively, supported by Drazen Petrovic with 25 points off the bench.  The Kings were led by Steve Alford off the bench with 21 points.  The key to the game seemed to be Fresno’s defense, which held the Kings to 39% shooting from the field and caused 25 turnovers against 20 assists.  This generated 59 fastbreak points on 28-37 shooting.  In a close vote with Magic Johnson, Patrick Ewing was named series MVP.  Magic had some more outstanding performances than Ewing, but Ewing was a steadier performer throughout the series.

Series MVP – Patrick Ewing
24.8 pts, 10.8 reb, 2.2 blk, 1.2 stls