SHAWNEE, OK – The Potawatomi Fire kept their quest for perfection alive as they beat the Santa Ana Thunder 120-88 on Thursday night.
In front of a solid crowd inside FireLake Arena, the Fire took down the Thunder with a complete, all-around game.
“Tonight’s result really started early this week with a terrific week of practice,” said Fire head coach Mark Dannhoff. “We had so much energy and guys were competing all week in practice and I thought it carried over into tonight’s game. I thought it was a good team win tonight. I thought we played well on the offensive end and shared the basketball. On the defensive end, we communicated, we rotated, and were active with our hands. I thought overall, on both ends of the floor, we had a really good night.”
As a team, the Fire grabbed 67 rebounds and blocked 10 shots, both were season highs.
Individually, all 11 players scored and five finished in double-figures. Chuck Guy led the Fire with 26 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks. K.D. Moore finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and steals. Ricky Artis II registered his fifth double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. He also had two assists and a block. Deshawn Munson finished with 14 points, five rebounds, six assists, and a pair of steals. Jachai Simmons also finished in double-figures with 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Off the bench, Chris Brand had arguably his best game of the season with six points, eight rebounds, two assists, and four blocks.
Making his Fire debut, Isaiah Wade showed what he can do finishing with seven points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals in roughly 12 minutes of action.
“Our guys did a terrific job helping Isaiah get caught up and prepared because he only had about two and half practices with us before tonight,” said Dannhoff. “I was really pleased that we were able to get him some good minutes early in this one and I thought he played really well. He’s just going to get better every time.”
A full box score is available here.
With the win, the Fire improved to 12-0. Up next, the Fire will travel south to take on the Texas 7ers (5-6). That game will take place at Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy in Greenville, Texas. Tip is scheduled for 5 PM. 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 Kent Bush and Garret Fisbeck