The race in the D-League's Central Division boils down to a game of follow the leader.

When the Dakota Wizards had Maurice Baker in the lineup, they racked up a 16-8 record and a huge 51/2-game lead atop the Central.

Since Baker left for France at the end of January the Wizards have fallen on hard times.

In contrast, Sioux Falls was sitting in last place in the Central when Kasib Powell brought his leadership to the Skyforce early this season.

Since then Sioux Falls has been stalking the Wizards, and on Monday the Skyforce finally caught them. With Powell scoring 27 points and dishing off nine assists against his former team, Sioux Falls beat the Wizards 117-108.

The victory moved Sioux Falls (20-16) a half-game in front of Dakota in the Central.

The Skyforce is 18-9 with Powell, a former CBA all-star with the Wizards, in the starting lineup. Sioux Falls coach Nate Tibbetts raved about what Powell's presence has meant to the Skyforce.

"He's a winner," Tibbetts said. "He's the best defender in our league. He's a great offensive player. He does it all. He's a coach's dream.

"… It baffles me that he's still (in the D-League)," Tibbetts said. "He's the best player in this league, I think."

While Sioux Falls has won 12 of its last 14 games, the Wizards are 3-7 since Baker left. Coach Duane Ticknor said that the absence of the veteran point guard has definitely left a void.

"Somebody that wants the ball down the stretch and can hit big shots or make good decisions at crunch time - veteran leadership with the ball in his hands," Ticknor said.

The first half was a shootout, with the teams trading the lead 17 times before Sioux Falls went into the break with a 64-60 edge. Dakota shot 63.2 percent (24-for-38)before intermission, while Sioux Falls was at 60.0 percent (27-for-45).

But Ticknor saw signs of trouble.

"We executed offensively, but we were soft defensively and turned the ball over too many times in the first half," Ticknor said.

Sioux Falls moved ahead to stay (73-71)on a 3-pointer by Michael Joiner midway through the third quarter, sparking a 7-0 run.

Though the Skyforce advantage grew as large as 13 on several occasions, the Wizards made inroads a couple of times, only to misfire.

Perhaps their best chance to rally came with just over four minutes to play. Tony Gipson - who contributed 11 points in 15 minutes - hit a 3-pointer, then made a steal and a layup. Gipson had a chance for another layup that would have made it a five-point game, but missed.

Carl Elliott and Chris Alexander followed with buckets for Sioux Falls, and the game was out of reach.

"Every time we'd get a crucial stop, they'd get an offensive rebound and put it back in, or we'd leave a shooter and he'd knock it in," Ticknor said.

Sioux Falls now holds a 5-2 edge in the season series and has beaten Dakota four times in a row.

3 NOTES:Ticknor relied heavily on his starting five again. Through the first 32 minutes, the only bench player who got playing time was Wil Frisby. "We'd been playing eight to 10 guys and it hasn't worked for us, so I said, 'Let's go back to what had worked for us early in the year,' " Ticknor said. … In attendance at Monday's game was Terry Stotts, the D-League's coaches consultant. Stotts was formerly the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. … Kasib Powell was named D-League performer of the week. … The Wizards and some members of the Skyforce will be at Buffalo Wild Wings tonight from 7 to 8.

Sioux Falls 28 64 96 117

Wizards 32 60 85 108

SIOUX FALLS(117):Kasib Powell 11-21 3-5 26, Michael Joiner 8-16 0-1 18, Chris Alexander 4-6 3-4 11, Elton Nesbitt 4-9 4-6 13, David Bailey 5-8 4-5 18, Carl Elliott 9-17 0-0 18, Jason Klotz 2-3 0-0 4, Jahsha Bluntt 2-4 0-0 5, J.C. Mathis 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 47-86 15-22 117.

WIZARDS(108):Carlos Powell 6-15 5-7 18, Rod Benson 5-11 6-10 16, Kevin Lyde 7-12 0-2 14, Blake Ahearn 8-17 6-6 23, Dontell Jefferson 5-8 8-12 18, Wil Frisby 1-4 4-4 6, Tony Gipson 5-7 0-0 11, Perrin Johnson 0-1 2-4 2. Totals 37-75 31-45 108.

3-pointers:SF 8-23 (Bailey 3-4, Joiner 2-7, Bluntt 1-2, Powell 1-4, Nesbitt 1-5, Elliott 0-1), W 3-12 (Powell 1-1, Gipson 1-1, Ahearn 1-6, Frisby 0-1, Jefferson 0-3). Rebounds:SF 41 (Alexander 10),W 38 (Benson 17). Assists:SF 22 (Powell 9), W 24 (Jefferson 9). Fouls:SF 32, W 21. Fouled out:SF - Joiner, Alexander. Steals:SF 8 (Elliott 5), W 11 (four with 2). Turnovers: SF 15, W 15. Blocked shots:SF (Alexander 2), W 1 (Lyde 1).

A:2,131.

Records:SF 20-16; W 19-16.