GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay men's and women's basketball teams welcomed thousands of fans to the Kress Events Center on Saturday afternoon for #PHXMadness, and the teams put on a show.
Head coach Kevin Borseth's women's team took the floor first and took part in a 10-minute scrimmage. Sparked by four three-pointers, the white team was dominant throughout the contest en route to a 22-7 win. Sophomore Sam Terry (Baraboo, Wis.) knocked down a pair of three-pointers for six points, and junior Kaili Lukan (Barrie, Ontario) also added six points. Freshman Jessica Lindstrom (Superior, Wis.) was also impressive for the white team, tallying five points and four rebounds in eight minutes.
The black team struggled from the perimeter, knocking down 1-of-7 three-pointers. Sophomore Mehryn Kraker (West Allis, Wis.) had three points while freshman point guard Jen Wellnitz (South Wayne, Wis.) grabbed four rebounds.
Watch highlights of the women's basketball scrimmage
The men's basketball team took the floor next, and head coach Brian Wardle's team put on a show. The opening play was senior Keifer Sykes (Chicago, Ill.) finding fellow senior Alfonzo McKinnie (Chicago, Ill.) for a thunderous lob. Sykes had an alley-oop dunk just minutes later to stake the white team to a 6-2 lead.
Neither team led by more than five points throughout the entire contest, with sophomore Turner Botz (Little Chute, Wis.) and junior Carrington Love (Milwaukee, Wis.) trading four baskets during one stretch midway through the scrimmage. Botz finished with eight points on 3-of-3 shooting for the white team while Love totaled seven points.
The Green team led 24-19 before a run by the white team in the final minutes. Sykes, the reigning Horizon League Player of the Year, started the run with a three-point play. Freshman Daeshon Francis (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Botz scored on a back-to-back inside baskets to give the white team a 26-25 lead.
Senior Greg Mays (Chicago, Ill.) reclaimed the lead for the Green team, but freshman Khalil Small (Chicago, Ill.) scored in the paint and the white team made 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch for the win.
Every player on the white team scored in the contest, with Sykes posting seven points and sophomore Henry Uwadiae (Benin City, Nigeria) adding five points and two blocks. For the Green team, sophomore Kenneth Lowe (Little Chute, Wis.) led all scorers with 10 points. Junior Jordan Fouse (Racine, Wis.) displayed his typical versatility, tallying six points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Watch highlights of the men's basketball scrimmage
The #PHXMadness Dunk Contest brought on a new format for 2014, with eight players participating in a tournament format. The defending champion, Sykes was the top seed and advanced to the finals on the strength of two incredible dunks. The freshman Francis, who had never lost a dunk contest in his life, also advanced to the finals with impressive wins over Lowe and Mays.
In the end, Sykes showed off his 45-inch vertical and defended his title by defeating Francis in the finals.
Watch the highlights of the #PHXMadness dunk contest
#
Don't miss your chance to see the Phoenix basketball teams this season. For more information on season tickets for both programs, visit the ticketing page on GreenBayPhoenix.com or by calling 920.465.2625.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Green Bay Athletics, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com.
Follow us on Twitter: @GBPhoenix, @GBPhoenixMBB and @GBPhoenixWBB.
Like Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball, Green Bay Phoenix women's basketball and Green Bay Phoenix Athletics on Facebook.
