Long Beach Rolls Over Colorado in Opener, 96-72

Only one thing seemed certain Saturday after Long Beach’s 96-72 playoff-opening victory over Colorado:

Plenty of good seats available.

Before an announced 3,087 in the 18,000-seat Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, the StingRays outclassed the Xplosion almost from the outset.

Less certain is whether Long Beach held enough in reserve to do it again today in Denver, in Game 2 of this best-of-three series. The winner will meet Western Conference champion Portland in the semifinals.

If a third game is needed, it’ll be played Wednesday at the Pyramid.

“It’s tough getting good playoff crowds,” StingRay General Manager Bill McGillis said. “In the regular season, we can plan group sales weeks ahead of time. . . . you can’t do it in a playoff format.”

In beating Colorado for the fifth time in eight games, Long Beach, deployed Yolanda Griffith (12 rebounds) to dominate Colorado on the boards and run its transition game in unimpeded fashion. There seemed to be no sign of fatigue after the team’s recent four-games, six-night eastern swing.

“If they were tired, they shook it off in the locker room before the game,” Long Beach Coach Maura McHugh said.

“This is a low-key group of players, but the minute I walked in the locker room today, they seemed keyed up. . . . really ready to play.”

Said point guard Andrea Nagy: “I wasn’t tired, and I don’t think any of my teammates were.”

Nagy handed out nine assists and scored seven points in 35 minutes, and she held her nemesis, Xplosion point guard Debbie Black, to one point.

Colorado started with a 7-2 run, but Long Beach--spurred by Griffith and Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil-- outscored the Xplosion, 20-3. Colorado went six minutes in the quarter without a point.

The Xplosion, undersized in the low post against the 6-foot-4 Griffith and 6-4 Venus Lacy, made its last run in the last two minutes of the first half, reducing a 37-25 Long Beach lead to 39-34 at the half.

Lacy gave Long Beach a 49-39 lead in the third quarter with six consecutive free throws--the StingRays made 26 of 33 in the game--and then, raising her fist to celebrate a driving layup, her eighth consecutive point, got the small but enthusiastic crowd into the game.

Griffith said the StingRays have plenty in reserve for today’s game at McNichols Arena. Griffith and Lacy played 31 and 24 minutes.

“It’ll be tougher tomorrow at their place, but we’re really focused right now--we don’t want a Game 3,” she said.

“We hope to be able to squeeze in another one in Denver,” Lacy said.

“We’re recovered from that road trip---Bev [Beverly Williams, 16 points], Yo [Griffith, 17 points] and Clo [Davis-Wrightsil, 16 points] really took it to ‘em today. They’ll do it again tomorrow too.”

StingRay Notes

The team is apparently happy on all fronts now. Venus Lacy has apologized to Coach Maura McHugh for her outburst two weeks ago, when she burst from the locker room after a six-point loss to Portland. “Why is it always our fault? Why is it never her fault?” she had said. “Maura and I talked about it and I apologized,” Lacy said. “I was frustrated and shouldn’t have said that. She’s done a great job.”

ABL Playoffs

StingRays vs. Colorado

* Game 1: StingRays 96, Colorado 72

*Today: At Colorado, 4 p.m.

* Wednesday: x At the Pyramid, 7:30 p.m.

x if neccessary