DRAGON DEN -- After 9 seasons in Division IV, 7 trips to the playoffs, 6 semifinals, and 3 finals appearances, the Omaha Racers have finally won the league championship, and gained promotion to Division III.
"We've enjoyed our rivalries in Division IV, and we wish everyone the best, but it's about time we moved up," said Jerry Midwest.
Abel Daniels
(16436728)' steal in the closing seconds preserved a 98-97 win in Game 2 of the best-of-three final.
The series was a contrast between the Racers' traditional team-oriented style with many players contributing, and the Dragons' approach centered on unanimous MVP Francois Chomat
(10780342). Chomat poured in 48 points in Game 2, despite a defense designed to stop him.
But Chomat barely met his scoring average with that figure, while the Racers kept the rest of the Dragons under control. Grzegorz Bajon
(9656250), who dominated Game 1
(42731264) in Chomat's absence, managed only 20 points. The rest of the team scored only 29. Pedro Spivey
(7814560) fouled out before halftime, and little-used backup Giuliano Pelullo
(12649342) was ineffective in his stead.
Ten different players scored for the Racers. They were led by perennially inconsistent small forward Marco Antonio Carrera
(11770141), who scored 25 points and made several big plays in a tight fourth quarter.
After Carrera's dunk 21 seconds into the final quarter, neither team led by more than 3.
A three-pointer by pass-first point guard Ramon Miner
(9208334) -- a 17% three-point shooter on the season -- gave Omaha a 94-91 lead with 2:30 to play. The Dragons' ensuing possession lasted over a minute, but a Chomat jumper from the elbow cut it to 94-93. Chomat then stole a pass, and was fouled by Carrera, but could only manage 1 of 2 from the line, tying the game.
After Bob Booth
(9797870) got free for an easy dunk, Chomat hit what looked like a game-winning three pointer with 46 seconds to play. But after a full time-out, a great pass from Miner to Carrera resulted in another easy dunk, giving Omaha the lead back, 98-97. Carrera then blocked a shot by Garry "No Relation" Iverson
(14599537).
Now forced to foul, the Dragons sent Francesco "Frankie the Cat" Munegato
(9372749) to the line. The 62% free throw shooter missed both shots.
With 17 seconds to play and a one-point deficit, the Dragons got the ball to Bajon for a tough inside shot. He missed, but pulled down his own rebound, and kicked the ball back out to Iverson, to set up one last scoring play. But Iverson's pass was deflected by Omaha's Daniels, who collected the loose ball as time expired.