The NBA Development league season opened with promise for the Idaho Stampede, as new coach Randy Livingston took over the team he once led to a championship. A seven game losing streak to open the year threatened to finish the team before they really got going. Now, with a second win over the Dakota Wizards in two nights, the Stampede are finally rolling.
Cedric Jackson led the Stampede with 20 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as the Stampede won for the sixth time in their last eight games, 103-95 in Bismarck Monday night. Only seven players were active for the game as Luke Jackson, Carlos Wheeler and Eric Boateng all sat out with injuries.
The remaining Stampede roster had enough to take care of the Wizards who were led by Mike Hall's 27 points and 11 rebounds. Jermareo Davidson continued his strong play with a third consecutive double-double, this time with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Four other Idaho players scored in double figures including former NBA star Antoine Walker's 16 to go with seven rebounds.
Since beginning the season on a 2-13 slide, the Stampede are hoping to begin moving up the standings. They have been in last place in the West Conference all season but now sit just four games out of the final playoff spot with 27 games remaining. Since the season began, the additions of Walker, Davidson and Cedric Jackson have helped stabilize the roster and when healthy, the Stampede now have a team that can compete every night.
On Sunday night, Idaho defeated Dakota 102-97 behind Walker's 29 points. Davidson scored 22 points to go with a game-high 20 rebounds and Cedric Jackson just missed a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Seven current Stampede players are averaging in double figures, led by Walker's 16.3 points per game. In 9 games since being acquired from Erie, Cedric Jackson is averaging nearly 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and has been the catalyst behind the current hot streak. Since Jackson's acquisition, Walker has begun to shoot the ball better and has recorded three games of 25 points or more. The physical presence of Wheeler and Davidson has allowed the Stampede to be more balanced and the results are showing in the win column.
With four of the next five games at home, the Stampede have an opportunity to vault up the standings and put their miserable opening month behind them. The team directly above the Stampede in the standings, the Austin Toros, visit Qwest Arena on Thursday night at 7:00pm and a win would put Idaho within a half game of the Toros before they travel to Utah to play the flash on Friday.
Idaho could use a fully healthy roster as they near the midway point of the season but those that are playing now are doing so at a high level. Between home games for the Idaho Steelheads on Wednesday and Friday nights, the Stampede hope to have a boisterous crowd on hand Thursday night. The Trey McIntyre project, a world-renowned dance company based in Boise, will perform at halftime.
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