GREENVILLE, TX – The Potawatomi Fire improved to 3-0 on the year after beating the Texas 7ers 125-116 on Friday night.
The Fire struggled out of the gate as the 7ers took an 8-0 lead to start the game. The 7ers eventually led by as many as 16 in the first quarter before the Fire cut the lead down to 10 at the end of the first. The Fire continued to fight back and trailed by just two going into halftime. In the third quarter, the Fire took the game over outscoring the 7ers by 16. Texas continued to fight in the fourth, but clutch shooting and key defensive stops allowed the Fire to hold on for the nine point win.
“I’m proud of how our guys fought,” said Fire head coach Mark Dannhoff. “The 7ers are a really good team. Coach Bryson always has his guys ready, and they play hard. I know when we see them again this year we are going to get another good test.”
Point guard Chuck Guy led the Fire on the night recording his first triple-double of the 2024 season. Guy, who played all 48 minutes for the second straight game, finished with 31 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists (all team highs). Guy was also 9-9 from the free throw line. He is now 20-20 from the stripe to start the year.
“What else is there to say about Chuck,” Dannhoff asked. “He just gives us whatever we need on every night. He is such a great player, leader, and person. In my opinion, he is the best point guard in TBL.”
A full box score of the game can be found here.
While Guy did have an impressive game, he had some help. K.D. Moore finished with 21 points and nine rebounds. Deshawn Munson had his best game of the young season with 20 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Off the bench, Ricardo Artis II finished with 18 points and four rebounds while Ruston Hayward finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
The undefeated Fire are off for the next week and will return to the floor on March 15th when they host the Wichita Skykings (0-3). That game will take place at FireLake Arena in Shawnee. It will tipoff at 7 PM. To purchase tickets, visit www.potawatomifire.com/tickets. You can watch a live stream of the game on TBL TV or listen to the game on KGFF Radio (100.9 FM/1450 AM/KGFF.com).
Be sure to follow the Fire on social media (Instagram, Facebook, X) to stay up to date with all the latest information on the Fire.
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The Potawatomi Fire are the first professional basketball team owned by a Native American tribe (Citizen Potawatomi Nation) in Oklahoma. The Fire compete in the Central Conference of The Basketball League (TBL), a men’s professional basketball league, now with 38 teams across the U.S. and Canada. Along with winning the TBL championship in 2023, the Fire organization was named the 2022 winner of the Jim Koch Award as TBL’s Best Ran Business. The dance team of the Fire, the Fire Girls, were named TBL’s 2022 Best Dance Team and Central Conference Best Dance Team in 2023.
The TBL season begins in February and runs through June, concluding with a championship playoff tournament. The players that make up the rosters of the TBL teams are former NCAA (Division I, II or III) or NAIA athletes. Many have played in the NBA’s developmental G-League and/or professionally overseas.
Story by Chris Cox / Photos by Garett Fisbeck