1:04PM...AD on the boards...With the season in the books, I thought I’d give out my season awards to this year’s team. Although the team did not perform as well as they had hoped to this season, there were many positives that came out this year and lots of reasons to look forward to 2008-09. Here we go!

Most improved player: David Bailey…this was an easy pick. The 6-foot-9 forward from Prince Georges CC took on a starter’s role, something that he has not done previously in his career and gave it his all on both ends of the floor. Bailey showed immense improvements in various parts of his game this year. In his third season with the Nighthawks, Bailey posted career highs in almost every statistical category averaging 10.6 ppg, a team-high 7.6 rpg, and just under 1 bpg. He started the season off with a double-double (10 points and 15 rebounds) and had 5 more double-doubles on the season. Bailey is one of the most aggressive rebounders in the game and if he can develop a consistent mid-range jumper, he will be an All-Star for years to come.

Sixth Man of the Year: Derick Payne…Although Payne cracked the starting lineup towards the end of the year, this true small forward built like an ox is deserving of sixth man of the year honors. Payne was one of the most consistent scorers on the Nighthawks and filled up the stat sheet across the board each and every night. Payne averaged 16.6 ppg and tallied double-figures in 13 of his 16 games with a season high 27 points against the Razorsharks. He topped the 20-point mark six times and showed vast improvements to his game as the season progressed. Payne vouched at the end of the season that he will be back for another exciting season. Should be very exciting to watch this fearless up-and-coming dynamic forward!

Defensive Player of the Year: Germel Stoute…plain out beast! This 6-foot-9 255lb forward/center came all the way from Trinidad to play for the Nighthawks. With a body built like Aristotle and game similar to former NBA star Charles Oakley, opponents feared to drive the paint. Stoute posted solid numbers across the board with 8.2ppg and 5.8 rpg while leading the team in fg% at 55%. Germel started the season off slow but earned his way into the starting lineup and finished the season scoring in double figures six out of the last seven games.

Offensive Player of the Year: Randy Gill…known to most of the world as “White Chocolate,” Randy at times seemed like he was from planet Mars heating up the scoreboard. This 6’2” shooting guard posted a 17.1 scoring average to along with a solid 4.2 rpg and 4 apg. Gill posted a career-high and PBL single-game record of 45 points against the Razorsharks on Feb 24 and finished with 37 points in the Nighthawks second round playoff game. Gill also set a Nighthawks record with 8 3-pointers made in a game. Gill is a competitor and does not like to lose, look for this flashy veteran to start next season just where he left off!

MVP: Warren Jefferson…this was a tough-choice just because there were a number of players who were well deserving of this honor, but from a team’s perspective, the Nighthawks floor general, Warren “D-Nice” Jefferson got the slight edge. Jefferson posted impressive numbers coming from the point guard position with 14.1 ppg 3.9 rpg, 3.8 apg. When D-Nice was rolling, the Nighthawks were rolling. Jefferson proved he could run and control a team on both ends of the floor. Jefferson scored 20 or more points six times this season including career-high 29 in a win against the Chicago Throwbacks. Jefferson’s tremendous efforts were seen just as much on the defensive side as this pesky-speedy guard averaged 2.1 steals and gave offenders a difficult time. His trademark was forcing a steal, using his speed to go coast-to-coast and converting on the other end of the floor. Jefferson has a feel for the floor and always manages to find the open-man to knock down the big shot. Warren Jefferson, M-V-P!

10:00AM…AD blogging post-season style ;)…The Nighthawks upset the 2nd seeded Wilmington Sea Dawgs yesterday 125-112 in the first round of the playoffs! The win advanced the Nighthawks into the East division semi-finals where they will play the Reading Railers today at 12pm EST. The Railers are the third seed and beat the fourth-seeded Jacksonville Slam 136-120 yesterday. The Railers have beaten the Nighthawks in all three meetings I the regular season including a 112-81 win five days ago. The Nighthawks have their hands full today, but should be another exciting post-season game!

7:50AM…AD on the blog…well it was a tough way to finish off the season, three losses, BUT it’s not over until it’s over! The Nighthawks begin the post season today and will try to make a run at the championship. It’s one-and-done playoffs, so if the Nighthawks shall lose today, the season is in the books…hopefully that will not be the case. Today’s first round match-up has your #5 seeded Nighthawks (6-14) going up against the #2 seeded Wilmington Sea Dawgs (11-9). I like this match-up and it should be a close game. The Nighthawks lost the head-to-head series in the regular season one games to two, but did win 123-116 in their last meeting in Maryland back on Feb 9. Since then, Wilmington has added Byron Mouton. That name probably sounds familiar to a lot of you…Mouton was a starter on that Maryland Terrapin team which included Juan Dixon, Steve Blake, Chris Wilcox, and Lonnie Baxter that won the NCAA National Championship back in 2002. Should be an exciting game later today! Should the Nighthawks win today, they would play tomorrow at 12:00pm EST against the winner of the #3 seeded Reading Railers vs. #4 seeded Jacksonville Slam.

GAME DAY: ROCHESTER RAZORSHARKS

12:30PM AD here…the Nighthawks have a HUGE game against the Razorsharks tonight at 7:05pm….the team flew to Rochester yesterday and are preparing for tonight’s game…the Nighthawks have won 3 out of their last 4 games and this is a crucial stretch for the team as they look to keep the momentum they have built and carry it into the playoffs. Rochester has already clinched the East Division and have an automatic spot in the East Division Championship Game. The Nighthawks have never beaten the Razorsharks although they did play them close in their last meeting. Randy “White Chocolate” Gill dropped in a career high 45 points against the Razorsharks 17 days ago and said after the game he did not care about his individual performance, all he wanted was a W…the game will be audio streamed live online and a link will be on the front page of the Nighthawks website so you can tune in and listen! Let go Nighthawks!

11:45AM…AD on the blog…the PBL just announced this year’s playoff format and structure. ALL team will be eligible and compete in the postseason. The postseason games will be set up like the NCAA tournament being all games will be played at a mutual site, that being the Attack Athletics Center in Chicago (the same venue that the Triple “S” Showcase games were played). The top seeded team of each division will earn two byes and an automatic spot in the Division Championship games. The Rochester Razorsharks (16-2) have already clinched the East Division and Quad Cities Riverhawks (14-4) clinched the West Division. Division games will be played on March 18th which will consist of the #2 seeded team playing the #5 seeded team, and the #3 seeded team playing the #4 seeded team. The winners of these games will play the following day on March 19th for the right to compete in the Division Championship game the following day. The Division Championships will be held March 20th, with the East Division Championship in Rochester, and the West Division Championship in Quad Cities. Game times will be announced shortly. The Championship game is scheduled for Sunday March 30th at a site to be named shortly. The Nighthawks have won 3 of their last 4 games and will look to ride the momentum into the postseason and make some noise! Should be an exciting March!

1:25PM..AD bloggin...what-A-GAME! For those of you who watched on the PBL Virtual Stadium, you just witnessed the Nighthawks pick up a come-from-behind-WIN for the second consecutive day 102-101 against the Arkansas Impact, the second best team in the West. Nighthawks guard Warren Jefferson hit the game-winning running jumper with 1.9 seconds remaining. Check back soon for a full boxscore and recap.

9:53PM…AD on the blog…the Nighthawks WON this afternoon 101-98 against the West Division’s best Quad Cities Riverhawks (13-4) in the second of three games of the Triple “S” Scouting Tournament in Chicago. The Nighthawks were trailing 35-22 after one quarter but picked up the momentum in the second period on. Maryland was led by Omar Weaver’s 22 points and Derick Payne’s 21. Three other Nighthawk players scored in double figures. The Nighthawks shot 59.1% fg and 60% 3fg, a vast improvement from yesterday’s game vs Reading where they shot a disgraceful 31.8 fg% and 16% 3fg. The Nighthawks were playing without starting point guard Warren Jefferson who flew back to Washington earlier in the morning to take care of personal issues. Jefferson will not play tomorrow’s game vs Arkansas. Kevin Robinson suffered a knee injury in the third quarter and did not return. He is questionable for tomorrow’s game. The Nighthawks complete the Triple “S” Showcase tournament tomorrow when they take on the Arkansas Impact at 11:00am.

9:15AM…AD Bloggin…I’ll get right to the point even though it’s ugly…after picking up a promising road victory last Friday against the Chicago Throwbacks, the Nighthawks suffered a 115-86 loss against the Reading Railers in their first of three games in the Triple “S” Showcase Tournament held in Chicago. Scouts from all over the world were in attendance (including a scout from the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers) as well as many scouts watching the games via live video stream on the PBL Virtual Stadium network...I don’t have the complete boxscore from Chicago…it should be e-mailed to me today...once I receive will upload into the stat program and it can be viewed on the stats page on the website. All I have is the point totals as follows: Derrick Payne -21, David Bailey – 14, Germel Stoute – 14, Omar Weaver – 10, Warren Jefferson 9, White Chocolate – 7, Barry Mitchell 6, and J.O.- 2. Tyrone Hammond played but did not score. It was an ugly game from the start. Reading built a 10-point first quarter lead and led the entire game. They extended their lead to as many as 36. It was the Nighthawks largest margin in a loss this year. The Nighthawks look to rebound today at 2:45PM when they take on the West Divisions best 13-3 Quad Cities Riverhawks.

11:25AM...AD here...The Nighthawks WON last night in Chicago 129-118! The Nighthawks record improved to 4-10 with the victory....don't have a full boxscore or game recap from last night's game, I'm still waiting for Chicago to send it to me. I spoke with Coach Moten and he gave me the point totals...leading scorer for the Nighthawks was Warren Jefferson who dropped in a season-high 29 points, Omar Weaver added 23 points, Derrick Payne had 18, White Chocolate had 17 points, Tyrone Hammond dropped in a season-high 15, David Bailey had 13 points, Germel Stoute 10, and Barry Mitchell and J.O. scored 2 points apiece. Kevin Robinson traveled with the team but did not play because he had an alergic reaction. He should be ready for the Showcase tournament games. Be sure to check back later for a complete box score and game recap.