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Sports

Santa Cruz Warriors Continue the Streak Against the Idaho Stampede

Santa Cruz extended its streak to seven games with a Friday night win. The season has eight games left.

The Santa Cruz Warriors pushed their winning streak to an impressive seven games with a comeback win in overtime over the visiting Idaho Stampede, 102-95.

It was the Warriors (29-13) first time in bonus basketball, but they played like seasoned vets and outscored the stampede 13-6 (14-29) in the final period. 

"Just down the stretch we got some big stops," said head coach Nate Bjorkgren. "We got some big rebounds when we needed them." 

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None bigger than Maurice Baker's rebound off of a Justin Holiday missed 3-point shot with 37.6 seconds left in overtime. Following the rebound Baker was fouled, and he cashed in on both free throws to extend the lead to seven points. 

The 6-foot-1 inch guard finished with just seven points, four of them coming from the free-throw line. 

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Hilton Armstrong finished with another double-double, his third in as many games and sixth of the season, with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Taylor Griffin also finished with a double-double notching 16 points and 11 rebounds. Stefhon Hannah had 21 points and eight dimes. 

The Stampede were lead by Justin Holiday who had a heroic effort with 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Coby Carl dropped in 21 points and Justin Harper added 13 points. Jason Ellis lead both teams in rebounding with 16 boards. 

What is even more impressive about the seven game winning streak is the Warriors have won six of them without D-League All-Star Game MVP Travis Leslie. Leslie received a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz Sunday, March 10. The former Los Angeles Clipper sat out the game because of personal reasons.  

With the win the Warriors inched closer to the Bakersfield Jam for first place in the D-League, now trailing them by just half a game. With a win tomorrow night against the Texas Legends in Santa Cruz, and a Jam loss, they could overtake them for the top spot. 

"I tell them that they are all important," said Bjorkgren. "Because they really are. There are 10 or 11 teams that are really chasing playoff spots. They know that there is only eight regular season games left."

The Warriors will clinch a playoff spot with a win tomorrow night against the Legends. 

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