RGV Capsules: Sensley gets second chance with Vipers

HIDALGO — A second chance and a whole new outlook.

That best describes the reasons for Rio Grande Valley Vipers forward Julian Sensley’s play since returning from an achilles tendon injury that kept him out for a month. Sensley has scored in double-figures in his last five games, including a season-best 23 against Austin on Wednesday. Four of those happened after he was reacquired by the Vipers on March 5.

"I’m just playing hard," Sensley said. "Coach (Chris Finch) has put a little more confidence in me because I’ve been playing with a lot more energy than I did in the past. I just want to continue to play hard."

What’s spurred on Sensley? Well, he was waived because of the injury two days after recording his best effort at that point (22 points on 8 of 10 shooting from the field) in a 109-76 home victory against Reno on Feb. 6. The time he spent healing gave him plenty of time to reflect. He’s averaged 15.8 points in four games since rejoining the Vipers. His season average is 9.3 points in 28 games.

The Vipers hope he can continue his consistent play when they open a back-to-back series against Tulsa beginning tonight at State Farm Arena. The Vipers (28-12) own a three-game lead over Austin (24-14) and a 4 1/2-game lead over Tulsa (23-16) in the NBA D-League Western Conference standings.

"He’s had a pretty good season overall," said Vipers coach Chris Finch, who also coached Sensley in Belgium last season. "Since, he’s been back, he’s leaner, more active, more explosive and I think he’s more focused. He’s been away from the game and he may have valued his time a little more here."

Sensley’s emergence has been needed because NBA call-ups have ravaged the Vipers’ roster. Mike Harris and Will Conroy are back after recent call-ups. Antonio Anderson and Garrett Temple are currently on NBA rosters. Vipers will rely more on Sensley now that forward Kevin Rogers is out for the season with a knee injury.

"Once I got back, it was like a second wind for me," Sensley said. "I knew what was expected from me."

Finch said Sensley at his best when he lets his natural ability take over.

"He’s playing harder now and making a lot more effort," Finch said. "It’s not like he was lazy before. Now, he realizes that if he’s playing at another level of tenacity, he can take his game to another level. He’s a talented player. When he plays with an edge, his game gets better. … He just needs to keep the game simple and strong."

Harris said the simplicity and the trust factor with Finch have fueled Senley’s recent play.

"He’s taken more initiative, not thinking as much and playing well," Harris said. "That helps carry your confidence over to the next game and the next series."

David Hinojosa covers the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can also reach him at (956) 683-4442 or via e-mail at dhinojosa@themonitor.com.

College

South Dakota ends UTPA’s season

OREM, Utah — Aaron Urbanus thought the University of Texas-Pan American had finally concocted a way to knock off South Dakota Friday.

But in the end, it was South Dakota finding another way to beat the Broncs as the Coyotes ended UTPA’s season with a 76-71 decision in the Great West Conference semifinals at Utah Valley University.

The Coyotes (21-9) will face the NJIT-Houston Baptist winner in the championship at 7 p.m. today. The Broncs finish their first season under Ryan Marks at 6-27.

After losing one game in overtime and another by one point during the regular season, UTPA had South Dakota on the ropes Friday, holding a 57-46 lead with 11:50 to play.

"It looked like we figured out what we needed to do to beat them," Urbanus said. "But they do a good job of closing out games. We made runs, they made bigger runs."

USD got 19 points from Jake Thomas, but it was the play of Kendall Cutler (18 points) and Tyler Cain (16 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks) that spurred the Coyotes’ comeback.

Cutler scored six of the Coyotes’ final eight points, including a drive to the basket with 2:44 remaining, that gave USD a 70-69 lead. His two free throws with 14 seconds left clinched the win after the Broncs missed a potential go-ahead shot after a USD turnover.

"Once we got in the ballpark, it was in my mind that I refused to lose," Cutler said. "When I first found out we were going to play UTPA, I was kind of shaky because they gave us problems, but being the good team that we are, we were able to pull it out."

UTPA made its last stand when it temporarily stopped USD’s momentum and briefly held a pair of three-point leads, the last on Manny Hendrix’s jumper with 3:08 remaining that made it 69-68.

"Three games, three dogfights," Marks said. "USD has an innate ability to make plays and their making one or two more plays than us is reflective of that."

Jared Maree cut it to 72-71 on a jumper with 39 seconds left, and after a turnover, the Broncs had the last possession.

However, Hendrix’s 3-pointer from the left baseline bounced off the rim, and Cutler grabbed the rebound and sank two free throws. Thomas added two free throws after Nick Weiermiller missed a 3-pointer to tie it.

The Coyotes shot 60.9 percent from the field (14 of 23) in the second, but the Broncs had the overall advantage, 48 percent to 44.

There were seven ties and six lead changes in the opening 20 minutes before the Broncs established in the final seven minutes, leading by as many as seven and taking a 35-29 halftime lead.

"The tempo was good for us to be successful," Marks said. "Our competitive spirit on defense was excellent."

Urbanus led UTPA with 15, followed by Maree with 11.

"I couldn’t be prouder of our team," Marks said. "Our record doesn’t reflect the distance we’ve come as a team … if you evaluate the caliber play we’re at, we’ve come light years."

-- Dan Ryan, Special To The Monitor

Lady Broncs lose lead, game

OREM, Utah — Texas-Pan American coach Denny Dowling thought his team "finally ran out of gas" Friday afternoon at the Great West Conference Tournament.

The Lady Broncs enjoyed a double-figure lead for most of the game before host Utah Valley turned the game completely around and posted a 72-56 women’s semifinal victory.

Utah Valley (9-22) will play top-seed North Dakota in the championship game at 6 p.m. today. UTPA finishes its season 13-17 after starting 0-8.

The Lady Wolverines closed the game by outscoring the Broncs 43-15 in the final 15 minutes with a dominating 44-24 rebounding advantage and a balanced scoring effort that saw five players reach double figures.

"You look at the schedule and all the travel we’ve had since last Tuesday," first-year UTPA coach Denny Dowling said. "We haven’t been able to use a lot of bench and when it was time to dig down, there wasn’t anything left."

UTPA rode point guard Bianca Torre and a defensive effort led by Rose Esther Jean to take a 31-21 halftime lead and a 41-29 advantage on an Aleeya Grigsby basket with 14:49 left. Torre had 15 of her game-high 22 in the first 25 minutes, while Jean’s seven steals triggered the Broncs into forcing 17 Lady Wolverines turnovers.

When the shots stopped falling and the Lady Wolverines cut down their turnovers, momentum swung toward Utah Valley, who took the lead on a Julie Smith 3-pointer that made it 50-49 with 8:45.

Then it got interesting when Downing got ejected with 2:09 left for consecutive technical fouls. The first came when the official misinterpreted Downing telling the Broncs to foul as quickly as possible.

"I feel terrible about that … obviously I’m not trying to get a technical at that time," Downing said. "I’m not a jerk, even though it looks like that sometimes. I’m just trying to coach with passion."

Jean finished with 14 for the Lady Broncs and led the team with seven rebound. Grigsby had 11.

Smith scored 15 of her 20 while Kaycee Mansfield scored all 11 of her 11-14 double-double in the second half to lead the Lady Wolverines comeback. Erika Newbold and Asumi Nakayama each scored 11 and Jenna Johnson 10.

Downing praised his team for coming together as the year progressed.

"I can’t say enough about the players I inherited," Downing said. "They bought into what we were doing."

-- Dan Ryan, Special To The Monitor