Cole, Trice Rep Dayton With Pride as They Battle For Puerto Rico Championship

 Cole, Trice Rep Dayton With Pride as They Battle For Puerto Rican Championship  

By Deon Cash

Two of the greatest players to ever lace em up in the Miami Valley are continuing to do great things in their pro basketball careers. 

Norris Cole and Travis Trice II have led their respective teams to the Puerto Rican Championship series - and it has been nothing short of spectacular.

Cole, a NBA Champion with the Miami Heat, was a baller for Dunbar before becoming a star for the Cleveland State Vikings. His 40 point, 20 rebound, 9 assist game still goes down as one of the most dominant performances in Viking history.

He would be drafted by the Heat, where he would play with LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh during the "Big 3 Era" in Miami.

After playing in the NBA, Cole has taken his talents all over the globe to play internationally. 

Trice was a star at Wayne HS, playing under his dad, who is a Hall of Famer in Indiana basketball history and was recently inducted.

He would sign to play at Michigan State, alongside the likes of another Dayton native in Adreain Payne, who went to Jefferson HS before playing with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Payne died tragically a few years ago.

They would lead the Spartans to a Final Four berth before leaving college. Trice would bounce around with the G-League before deciding to go across the waters and continue his career.

Trice has been ultra successful wherever he has played, culminating in a incredible year where he won a championship last season (with his younger brother) and was the MVP of the Puerto Rican League this season.

It's baffling that he didn't latch on with the NBA, but he did get some USA Olympic experience, playing for that team a few years ago. 

Fast forward to now, where Cole and Trice have lead their teams to the championship round.

Trice has hit all types of amazing shots and is top 5 in points and assists, which is why he garnered the MVP award. But it's his hard work, great personality, and "calm but silent killer" type demeanor which has rubbed off on his team.

Cole is the consumate professional, in which he always does his job, is a great leader, can & will hit clutch shots & will direct the offense, defense or whatever is needed at the time. 

While they will play against each other for the title, there is a great feeling of pride watching two of the greatest guards in Dayton history battle it out for P.R. supremacy.

And it has been nothing but respect and love from each in talking about their counterpart during the series. 

Dayton can definitely be proud of two of the classiest but successful professional hoopers that has ever come out of the city. 

No matter who wins, they have both won in their careers and both understand this will go down as one of the greatest series in P.R. basketball history. 

Salute to two of the greats and their families on such a great ride. 

Follow Trice, Cole, and S.E.Live365 on their journey 

Norris Cole

Travis Trice II 

S.E.Live365 

Fever Come Off Road Trip 1-1, Face Connecticut Tonight

 Fever Come Off Road Trip 1-1, Face #2 Seed Connecticut At Home Tonight 

By Deon Cash

The Indiana Fever look to take on the Connecticut Sun at home tonight (7:30pm)(Gainbridge Fieldhouse) after coming off a road swing which included the likes of Minnesota and Atlanta. 

The Fever are looking to grab their 15th win of the season, and have been playing their best ball of the season. 

Here's how the road trip went recently:

Game 1 (@ Minnesota Saturday Night) 

Fever Fall to Lynx as Collier Dominates on Maya Moore Night

The Indiana Fever fell to the Minnesota Lynx by a score of 90-80 on Saturday as the Lynx honored Maya Moore by retiring her jersey. 

The Fever actually played a high level game, as the backcourt duo of Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark provided another offensive explosion. 

Clark scored 23 while Mitchell added 21 in the loss.

However it was too much Napheesa Collier as she dropped 31 points on 12-18 shooting, and was a absolute force throughout the contest. Clutch G Kayla McBride added 19, with 8 in the 4th quarter to help keep the Lynx in position to try to get a #1 overall seed for the WNBA tournament starting next month.

Collier also added 5 rebounds and further solidifies herself as a legitimate MVP Candidate along with the Aces C A'ja Wilson and the Liberty F Breanna Stewart. 

The Lynx have won 6 games in a row, with 5 being in double digits. They now sit at 22-8.

With the game in the balance (71-68) and the Fever making a run to try to steal another road game, the Lynx went on a 14-2 run to seal the deal. 

Game 2 (@ Atlanta Monday Night)

FEVER BOUNCE BACK, HOLD OFF ATLANTA BEHIND MITCHELL AND CLARK 

The Indiana Fever used a huge first half explosion to build a nice lead, then held off the Atlanta Dream late to secure their 14th victory of the season.

The Fever won their 14th game, which they haven't done in almost a decade (2015).

Kelsey Mitchell, who is playing like the best guard in the WNBA, dropped 29 points and also added 7 rebounds in the big win. 

Caitlin Clark added 19 with 7 assists and 7 rebounds and Aliyah Boston added another double-double (16-11) as the Fever held off an Atlanta team who nearly came back from a 52-39 halftime deficit. 

Tina Charles, one of the greatest post players in WNBA history, led Atlanta in scoring (28) while Rhine Howard added 16 in the loss. 

in the first half Indiana pushed the pace and shut down Howard, while the Dream shot poorly. In the 2nd half Howard woke up but the Fever kept their wits, rode the gutty play of Mitchell and held on for a crucial win. 

With the win it puts the Fever 3 wins up in the 7 spot and gives them a chance to chase the 6 seed, which is claimed by Phoenix at this time. 

Follow 

@Dayton247Now 

@SELive365 

For more content regarding the Indiana Fever and the WNBA this season.

Deon Cash is the Official Beat Writer for the WNBA & Indiana Fever this Season for Dayton 24-7 Now (Fox Sports Dayton). 

Cash has been a writer / journalist for 5 years with the Dayton Weekly Newspaper & is currently a 2-Time Award Winning TV Show Producer and Host.