The Sparks Advance After 101-94 Victory Over San Antonio

Story by L.T.Willis

The Los Angeles Sparks advance to The Westerns Conference Finals after
beating San Antonio 101-94. Photo by Billy Calzada, Express-News/ San
Antonio Express-News.

The Los Angeles Sparks new that Game 2 of The Western Conference Semi Finals against The San Antonio Silver Stars wouldn't be any different than Game 1, they would have to come out in the first quarter and play Sparks' basketball. The leader of the team Candace Parker didn't have to be reminded about playing hard, or lack of rebounding by sitting on the bench for lack of effort. She set the tone early  in the first quarter, and led the Sparks to 101-94 victory over San Antonio to advance to the Western Conference Finals against either Minnesota or Seattle. The Sparks' defense which has been great all season long clamped down on the Silver Stars' offense to help ignite a 12-0 run to give the Sparks a 26-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. Candace Parker was just warming up had 10 points in the first quarter.

San Antonio Silver Stars' #23 Danielle Adams and Los Angeles
Sparks' # 30 Nneka Ogwumike. Photo by Billy Calzada Express-
News/San Antonio Express-News.

San Antonio's Danielle Adams one of the hardest working players in the WNBA was trying to do what she could with scoring and rebounding, but with Becky Hammon shooting poorly in the game, it was a up hill battle for the Silver Stars, however the Sparks were having problems with Sophia Young as she was having a great night against the Sparks, was one of the main reason they only trail the Sparks by 11 points at the half 51-40. Candace Parker dropped a 3-pointer shot at the end of the half that had the fans buzzing at The Freeman Coliseum.

The Sparks' #3 Candace Parker hit a big 3 point shot
at the end of the first  half. Photo by Billy Calzada
Express-News/San Antonio Express- News.

The Sparks defense really kept Becky Hammon from having one of those games where she just goes on a scoring spree and no one is going to stop her at all, and you have to give credit to Alana Beard, Kristi Toliver and company for not allowing her to take over the game. The Sparks were more physical with her and it effected her shooting during the game. The Sparks being more aggressive going to the basket was a major factor for them keeping the Silver Stars from catching up so far during the game.

The Silver Stars' #25 Becky Hammon being defended
By Sparks' #0 Alana Beard. Photo by Billy Calzada,
Express-News/San Antonio Express News.

 Trailing by 22 points the San Antonio Silvers Stars head coach Dan Hughes decided  to go to a smaller and quicker lineup too help get them back into the game, and that move paid off for the Silver Stars. They went on a 13-0 run to close the gap late, and early into the fourth quarter." I decided to play small ball, Silver stars coach Dan Hughes said." I wanted the element of spreading the floor at that point. We had been trying to do that scheme earlier, but we had better quickness on the floor, I wish i would have gone to a smaller lineup earlier."

Sophia Young of the San Antonio Silver Stars out hustle
Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks. Photo by Billy
Calzada, Express-News/San Antonio Express-News.

During that run Jia Perkins and Shameka Christon both hit 3-pointers to pull San Antonio to 82-74 with about eight minutes left in the game. The Silver Stars defense  was really intense and with about three minutes left in the game, Jia Perkins hit another 3-pointer to tied the game 90-90 and the Silver Stars fans went crazy." At some point we knew that San Antonio was going to make a run,"Toliver said." They are a too good of a team not to. They knew that their season was on the line and they act like it. They responded to adversity and we did the same right back."We didn't fold. we didn't get down on ourselves.We just had to remind ourselves that we still have the lead".

 The Sparks' Nneka Ogwumike hit a jumper, and Candace Parker made two free throws to give them a 94-90 lead and the Sparks never look back and  went on to defeat San Antonio 101-94 to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Candace Parker had 32 points 9 rebounds, Kristi Toliver 23 points, Alana Beard 17 points and DeLisha Milton Jones 10 points. The Silver Stars had 28 points 6 rebounds, Jia Perkins 16 points, Becky Hammon was 5 for 11 from the floor with 15 points and Danielle Adams 12 points and 8 rebound.

 Even though both teams had to play their home game at another site of the first round, it is not fair for these players who have gave their all to make it to the playoffs, then can't play the most important game of their season at another site. The League must work something out with the teams home stadium to assure that this doesn't continue to happen,and most of all it's not fair to the fans,