Bismarck, North Dakota - News

AMY TABORSKY/Tribune Damion Dantzler, left with the Dakota Wizards, plows his way past an Idaho defender early in the first half of play Friday night as the Wizards played host to the Idaho Stampede at home in Bismarck.

Despite being the CBA's best home team since joining the league four years ago, the Dakota Wizards had dropped two of their last three home openers.

Opening on the road for the first time in the 11-year history of the franchise apparently gave the Wizards a little more time to work out the kinks this year. The Wizards looked to be in midseason form in Friday night's Civic Center debut, routing the Idaho Stampede 111-88.

Even without the services of head coach Dave Bliss, who was in Texas for the wedding of his son, Rob, the Wizards looked smooth while taking 6.5 quarter points from Idaho.

"These guys are pros, so there's nothing really Ican tell them or show them," said assistant coach Bryant Notree, who was serving as head coach in Bliss' absence. "I have so much faith in these guys, I treat them like men. They helped me more than Ihelped them."

The Wizards (2-2) helped themselves by playing unselfish ball.

Dakota never trailed, and looked especially strong in the first half, shooting 61.4 percent (27 for 44) from the floor while committing just five turnovers.

"That was big right there - no turnovers,"said point guard Maurice Baker, who led the Wizards with 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. "Everybody got a lot of shots up - eight people in double figures. That's how we like it."

That was particularly satisfying the Wizards, whose bench had struggled on the opening road trip. In the first three games Dakota's subs produced a total of 53 points, 38 by James Maye.

On Friday, the reserves contributed 38, with Maye (11), Geoff Husted (12) and Damond Williams (12) all hitting double figures.

Notree said it was by design that the subs were utilized more on Friday.

"We're going to need those guys in the long run," Notree said. "We can't depend on our starting five to play 48 minutes a game. It's just impossible."

The Wizards took control immediately, hitting 10 of their first 12 shots, and were up 35-27 after one. By halftime the Wizards had pushed the margin to 62-48.

Late in the third quarter the spread reached 20 points on several occasions, when suddenly the Stampede showed signs of life.

Idaho got four free throws from Eddy Barlow in the final minute. All the Wizards needed to do to win the quarter point was run out the clock, but Maye was whistled for traveling. Eric Chenowith hit a jump shot with 0.8 seconds left, making it 92-78 and splitting the quarter for Idaho.

But the Stampede didn't have the stamina to sustain the momentum and scored just 10 points in the fourth quarter.

"I thought we had a good shot to get back in the game," Idaho coach Joe Wolf said. "We had played three games in four nights, and in the fourth quarter we just couldn't get anything going."

The Wizards had tremendous balance. Billy Thomas and Damion Dantzler had 15 points apiece and Chris Alexander had 13. Kasib Powell scored 12, all early, to go with nine assists and six rebounds.

Idaho got 20 points from Matt Freije, 16 from Jermaine Blackburn and 15 from Chenowith.

The teams meet again at the Civic Center tonight at 7:05.

3 NOTES:Although his bio lists him as being from Kansas, where he grew up, Freije is actually a Bismarck native. He has several relatives in North Dakota, including his grandparents, Art and Mabel Sievert of Bismarck. Freije was in a rush to meet his personal cheering section, which he numbered as "a lot of people" after the game. ... Idaho may have won only half a quarter point on Friday, but they did win halftime. Baker was mistakenly allowed to shoot two free throws on a clear path foul in the first half, and one point was deducted from Dakota's score at halftime. ... A video message from Bliss was played before the game, explaining his absence. The crowd cheered after it played. ... The Wizards also debuted new uniforms and a slick NBA-like pregame video.

Idaho 27 21 30 10 - 88

Wizards 35 27 30 19 - 111

IDAHO(88):Matt Freije 8-19 2-2 20, Eric Chenowith 5-10 5-6 15, Jermaine Boyette 3-9 3-4 9, Jermaine Blackburn 7-12 2-2 16, David Jackson 2-7 5-5 9, Eddy Barlow 3-12 4-4 12, Eric Washington 0-4 1-2 1, Ricardo Sanchez 1-7 0-0 2, Jefferson Sobral 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 31-82 22-25 88.

WIZARDS(111):Kasib Powell 6-11 0-0 12, DamionDantzler 7-13 0-0 15, Chris Alexander 4-5 5-7 13, Maurice Baker 6-12 5-5 18, Billy Thomas 5-12 2-2 15, James Maye 5-9 1-1 11, Damond Williams 6-8 0-0 12, Terry Black 0-2 0-0 0, Geoff Husted 6-10 0-0 12, Anthony Jackson 1-2 1-2 3.

3-pointers:Idaho 4-18 (Barlow 2-5, Freije 2-7, Washington 0-2, Sanchez 0-4), Wizards 5-11 (Thomas 3-7, Dantzler 1-1, Baker 1-2). Rebounds:Idaho 39 (Chenowith 8),Wizards (Baker 9). Fouls:Idaho 16, Wizards 24. Assists:Idaho 19 (Boyette 6), Wizards 33 (Powell 9). Turnovers:Idaho 12, Wizards 15. Blocked shots:Idaho 1 (Freije 1),Wizards 4 (Dantzler 1, Alexander 1, Baker 1, Thomas 1). Steals:Idaho 4 (Washington 2), Wizards 7 (Powell 2, Baker 2).

A: 3,186.

Records: Idaho 1-3; Wizards 2-2.

Comments

Important information regarding online commenting:
* All online comments are limited to 350 words total.
* Comments are reviewed for taste, tone and language before posting.
* Some comments may be used in the Tribune's print edition.

Name:

Email: (optional)

Comments:

Image Verification: (Case sensitive)