Ravens Knock Out Panthers In Rumble

BRONX, NEW YORK -- It was billed as the battle of New York. The Long Island Panthers, a team's roster filled with several high divison one players, and the New York Ravens squared off today in a quarterfinal game at the Rumble in the Bronx on the campus of Fordham University.

But this battle ended early. Terrific backcourt play by Donnie McGrath and Allan Ray led the Ravens to a 82-68 final. McGrath scored 15 points and Ray had 19 of his 24 points in the first half.

The game was decided in the first half. The Ravens jumped out to an early lead and kept pressuring the interior of the Panthers defense. Add in two technicals called on the Long Island bench and the Panthers trailed 52-36 after the first half.

Jason Fraser, the 6-9 forward from the Panthers, suffered early foul trouble. It appeared Fraser was getting off to a good start but was saddled with three first half fouls.

Fraser never had the oppportunity to get involved in the game. He picked up his fourth foul chasing Ray on the perimeter. The fifth foul was questionable. Fraser appeared to have great position on an incoming Raven player. But the foul was called on Fraser who had to leave the game with six minutes to go. "I thought I had position," Fraser told us after the game. "I thought it was a charge."

Fraser finished with 12 points while Lenny Cooke, also given a technical in the second half, led his team with 21 points. Cooke complained about an attempted steal he was trying to make late in the game. He was given a foul on the play. Cooke jumped high into the air and protested. He then had some words with the referee who then slapped him with a technical. The Long Island bench was then given another technical and the game was called.

Curtis Sumpter, feeling the efforts of an injured leg, saw limited action. He did score 15 points.