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Paye, Chambers Send the U.S. Paralympics Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team To Title Game
By Beth Bourgeois
// U.S. Paralympics
// July 13, 2006
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Michael Paye led all scorers with 26 points.
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Mike Paye (Warren, Mich.) scored 26 points and Big Joe Chambers (Fort Atkinson, Wis.) added 25 points and nine rebounds as the United States defeated the Netherlands, 66-61, in front of a standing room only crowd at Sporthallen Zuid in Amsterdam. Paye also dished out eight assists and grabbed seven rebounds.
The win sends the Americans to the Gold Cup Championship against the winner of the Australia-Canada semi-final.
The U.S. led by one at halftime, 34-33, but the Americans could only get production from Paye and Chambers, who had 30 of the 34 points.
Koen Jansen, who led the Dutch with 20 points and 14 rebounds, scored the first two points of the third quarter and from there it was a see-saw affair until the end.
The game was tied at 52 at the end of the third quarter and over the last six minutes neither team could extend their lead past two until Paye’s lay-up with 1:07 gave the U.S. a 63-59 lead.
Matt Scott (Whitewater, Wis.) and Paul Schulte (Fort Worth, Texas) played magnificent defense on Jansen. The defensive duo held Jansen in the backcourt on many occasions and made him work for each of his 20 points.
Paye hit three of four free throws in the closing minute to preserve the victory.
For complete competition results, go to http://www.goldcup2006.com/.
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