Story, Gates help Reach USA win in China

Dennis Gates 150-2 Reach USA wasted little time getting comfortable in the city of Fuling. Behind the point guard play of Peyton Siva and the defensive energy of Xavier Silas (13 points and 6 rebounds), Reach USA started the game on a 20-5 run after 3:30 minutes into the game and cruised to a 97-62 win in the 7th game to win the overall series four games to three.

Siva, the Louisville point guard, came out with his best early in the game, getting 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 4 assists in the first 3:30. Carlton Fay hit for 10 points in the first quarter and Reach took a 37-9 lead at the end of the first. Things did not get any better for the Chinese team as the half-time score was 61-24 and was stretched to a 79-41 lead by the end of the third, as Reach USA cruised to the 37-point win.

“We certainly came out and set the tone early,” coach Dennis Gates said. “Our guys really wanted to win this game and more importantly clinch the series. Their actions represented their words. We made minor X’s and O’s adjustments, but I simply challenged them to focus playing the game with a high level of energy on defense, winning the rebounding war and playing unselfish.

“This Reach USA team is a very special group of young men. They are all leaders and have represented themselves, their universities, its basketball programs and the United States in a first class manner.”

The anchors this series were Josh Harrellson (Kentucky), Malik Story (Nevada) and Steffphon Pettigrew (Western Kentucky). The roster also included the aforementioned Siva (Louisville), Fay (Southern Illinois), Silas (Northern Illinois), plus Brandon Barnes (Lipscomb), Jon Hood (Kentucky), Sean Kowal (Northern Illinois), Skylar McBee (Tennessee) and Jeremy Williams (UTEP). All players averaged double-digits in minutes during the series.

Series Stats (7 games)

NAME	FG-FGA	FG%	3P-3PA	3P%	FT-FTA	FT%	O + D=TRB	AVG
BARNES	10-29	34.5	1-7	14.3	5-7	71.4	10 +13=23	3.3
FAY	16-32	50.0	6-12	50.0	7-12	58.3	6 + 28=34	4.9
HARRELLSON	44-75	58.7	2-5	40.0	4-13	30.8	37 + 31=68	9.7
HOOD	18-57	31.6	2-18	11.1	3-3	100	9 + 22=31	4.4
PETTIGREW	30-46	65.2	1-2	50.0	10-14	71.4	12 + 4=16	2.9
MCBEE	21-47	44.7	15-29	51.7	4-6	66.7	2 + 13=15	2.1
SIVA	16-53	30.2	3-26	11.5	6-13	46.2	2 + 12=14	2.0
SILAS	19-49	38.8	1-13	0.7.7	6-11	54.5	7 +13=20	2.9
STORY	27-66	40.9	11-24	45.8	9-11	81.8	6 +22=28	4.0
KOWAL	12-23	52.2	1-3	33.3	4-7	57.1	10 +15=25	3.6
WILLIAMS	25-50	50.0	3-9	33.3	4-6	66.7	13 +23=36	5.1

Stats cont. (7 games)

NAME	A	AVG	TO	AVG	S	AVG	BS	AVG	PF	TP	AVG
BARNES	7	1.0	7	1.0	4	0,6	1	0.1	8	26	3.7
FAY	5	0.7	4	0.6	6	0.9	0	0.0	21	45	6.4
HARRELLSON	3	0.4	3	0.4	9	1.3	9	1.3	22	94	13.4
HOOD	21	3.0	10	1.4	11	1.6	0	0.0	14	41	5.9
PETTIGREW	6	0.9	8	1.1	2	0.3	2	0.3	16	71	10.1
MCBEE	21	3.0	12	1.7	6	0.9	0	0.0	20	61	8.7
SIVA	34	4.9	16	2.3	13	1.9	4	O.6	10	41	6.7
SILAS	12	1.7	8	1.1	7	1.0	2	0.3	15	45	6.4
STORY	19	2.7	16	2.9	7	1.0	0	0.0	14	74	10.6
KOWAL	6	0.9	4	0.6	3	0.4	2	0.3	14	29	4.2
WILLIAMS	9	1.3	10	1.4	8	1.1	5	0.7	13	57	8.1

Series Recap

Game #1 REACH USA 87- BAYI ROCKETS 75
Game #2 BAYI ROCKETS 77- REACH USA 76
Game #3 BAYI ROCKETS 84- REACH USA 80
Game #4 REACH USA 76- BAYI ROCKETS 67
Game #5 REACH USA 78 – BAYI ROCKETS 77
Game #6 BAYI ROCKETS 88 – REACH USA 81
Game #7 REACH USA 97 – BAYI ROCKETS 62

Reach USA, is a part of Sports Reach whose purpose is reaching the world through sports. Reach USA has 2 games remaining vs. Russia Allstars, who are also touring in China playing a series of exhibition games.

See a handful of series photos below featuring Coach Gates and Malik Story;

Malik Story 480-1