Idaho Captures 2008 NBA Development League Championship

Idaho Stampede wins Decisive Game Three in front of Record Crowd

The Idaho Stampede captured the 2008 NBA Development League championship tonight by defeating the Austin Toros 108-101 in Game Three of the NBA D-League Finals presented by Delta, at Qwest Arena in Boise, Idaho.

“It was an unbelievable game and a special night,” said Stampede head
coach Bryan Gates. “This is one of those days when you’re 60 years old
you’ll look back and say, ‘I remember that day.’”

Idaho held a 55-46 halftime edge led by center Cory Violette’s 15 points
and a 26–17 rebounding advantage. The Toros, energized by a pair of
Andre Barrett three’s chipped away at the lead to start the third
quarter, pulling within three points on a Justin Bowen fastbreak layup
with 4:08 remaining in the period. But Idaho's Josh McRoberts put an end
to the run with an alley-oop slam from teammate Luke Jackson, which sent
the fans into a frenzy.

The season-high crowd of 4,124 roared once again when Violette retrieved
an errant Jackson pass and threw in a desperation 29 foot banker as the
third quarter buzzer sounded. The big man from Gonzaga recorded just
three triples during the regular season, and this one extended the Idaho
lead to 81-69.

Idaho continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter as high flier Mike
Taylor caught fire from downtown. The 6’2” reserve guard hit four
consecutive three-pointers during a three minute span, the last
accounting for his 27th point of the game.

Brent Petway iced the game for the Stampede when Taylor and “Air
Georgia” hooked up for one of their patented alley-oops, making the
score 106-93.

The victory marked the end of the 12-year professional playing career of
Idaho’s Randy Livingston who spent over a decade in the NBA and the past
two years in the NBA D-League. Livingston, who tallied six points
tonight, earned the NBA D-League’s 2007 MVP award, and this season
established a record with 22 assists against Bakersfield on Dec. 26,
2007.

“This is the most amazing way to end,” said Livingston. “I remember
Jerome Bettis walked out a Super Bowl champion. Any championship is one
you relish, one you savor.”

The 2008 NBA D-League Finals capped a record-setting season in which the
league upped its overall attendance by 21%, including a record-setting
crowd of 8842 for the first-ever Iowa Energy game on Nov.26, 2007.

The League also established marks for player call-ups to the NBA (29) as
well as player assignments (53).