Heaves to face Slam, ABA playoff picture still murky
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The Frost Heaves' Tyrone Barley executes an up-and-under as a Strong Island player defends during Sunday's playoff game at the Barre Auditorium. Vermont won 103-75. Stefan Hard/Times Argus |
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By Pete Hartt Times Argus Staff - Published: March 20, 2007
BARRE — The American Basketball Association moves ahead in fits and starts and the Vermont Frost Heaves are playing up to their No. 1 ranking — beyond that, things are a little confusing.
The Frost Heaves will play their quarterfinal game Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Burlington against the Bellingham Slam, a two-time Heaves foe in the regular season.
The rest of the ABA playoffs are a bit unsettled. First off, five teams ranked in the top 24 did not play in the playoffs, four by the team's choice and Arkansas, the top-ranked team in the league much of the season, by the ABA's choice.
The absences forced the league into the odd position of teams playing opening round games and then getting a bye into the quarterfinals. Vermont received its bye in the opening round, and then beat Strong Island on Sunday. In addition, at least two first-round games have not yet been played so quarterfinal teams Buffalo and Mississippi don't yet know who they are supposed to play next.
Even Bellingham was somewhat in doubt as of Sunday with Heaves management concerned that the long flight to Vermont might push the Slam to request a change in the brackets. Instead Bellingham flew Monday night to reach Vermont in time for practice this afternoon.
Also slightly confusing is the Frost Heaves ticket policy which is complicated by both the team's double-home gym plan and the resulting season ticket options, and by a relatively short ticket sales window.
"It's really because of the short time we have to sell tickets," Frost Heaves President Alex Wolff said. "The good news is that as of 10 a.m. (today) Tuesday there will be a lot of tickets available for anyone and everyone."
The Frost Heaves opened their ticket sales for Wednesday's game on Monday at noon for I-89, Exit 14 and I-89 Roadside season-ticket holders by phone at the Frost Heaves offices in South Burlington. To insure getting the same tickets they had during the season, eligible season ticket holders had to reserve their tickets by 5 p.m.
Exit 7 and Exit 14 Roadside, and Heaves Heaven Season ticket holders were allowed limited access to tickets on Monday, after noon, by calling the Flynn Regional Box Office.
This morning at 10 a.m. remaining tickets are on sale through the Flynn Regional Box office (1-802-863-5966); at Flynntix.org; or by stopping at 153 Main Street in Burlington or 159 Pearl Street in Essex Junction.
Any remaining tickets will be available through the Flynn beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday and the doors of Burlington's Memorial Auditorium will open two hours before game time Wednesday for remaining tickets to go on sale and for fans to pick up previously reserved tickets.
Ticket prices for the quarterfinal game are $17.50 for reserved seats; $12.75 for adult general admission; $10.75 for student general admission; and $8.50 for child general admission.
Finally, while the ABA playoffs carry on in the background and the tickets are all purchased, the Frost Heaves will host the Bellingham Slam for the third time this season with much more on the line.
In February the Slam visited Vermont for two games, one at each Frost Heaves venue. Vermont won the opener 115-104 on Feb 8 in Barre and followed that game up with a 112-107 victory in Burlington on Feb. 10.
Brandon Hartley and Mike Parker were the big guns for Bellingham in those games with Hartley hitting for 47 (25 in Barre) and Parker tallying 53 (36 in Burlington), but the Slam had multiple players in double figures in both games. Hartley and Parker combined for 67 points against Hollywood in the team's playoff victory Saturday.
Vermont, as has been the case all season, had a balanced attack with five players in double figures in Barre and six players in double figures in Burlington. The Frost Heaves season statistics back up the teams balance with five players (led by Aaron Cook at 16.5 points per game) averaging more than 12.4 points per game and 11 players averaging 4.9 ppg or more.
"There is not a lot of mystery with the Slam," Wolff said. "It's a blessing for both teams with the short time we have to prepare. We'll just get ready and play."
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