March 6, 2015

CHAMPAIGN -- In each of the two times the Champaign Swarm and the St. Louis RiverSharks have met this season, it was clear which was the superior team: the winner.

Each team had convincing victories over the other on their home floor, and now the series returns to Parkland College at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. The winner will keep at least a share of first place in the MPBA.

At 10-3, the Swarm have proven they are in the top tier of the league. But they have struggled against the two other teams with winning records, going just 1-3 combined against Bloomington and St. Louis. The Swarm have won two straight and four of their last five.

Swarm guard Avery Smith leads the scoring, coming off his third straight game with 35 points or more in Thursday's 129-121 win over Windy City and a season average of 26.8 points. Four others join him in double figures -- LaPhonso Ellis (11.5), Rashard McGill (12.8), Mark St. Fort (10.3) and Aaron Weaver (19.2). St. Fort is the top rebounder with 8.2 per game.

St. Louis boasts the highest scoring offense in the league with 110.4 per game. They are also the hottest, riding a six-game winning streak in which only one game was decided by single digits.

Although the RiverSharks are now without their top guard Brandon Hogg, who earlier this week became the third MPBA player this season to earn an overseas job, they still have plenty of weapons. They reloaded with the signing of former NBA D-League draft pick Brandon Provost, who will debut on Saturday. Mid-season addition Jerrold Brooks has an eye-popping .579 three-point percentage and 25.2 points per game in five contests. Terry Leake adds 19.2 points per game, while big man Keith DeWitt averages nearly a double-double at 17.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

At Saturday's game, the Swarm will welcome members and staff of the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club of Champaign.  All club members and staff receive complimentary admission courtesy of Atlanta Bread Company of Champaign. All other fans can purchase general admission tickets for $8. Kids, students and seniors are $5.

The game will be broadcast on www.theMPBA.com. Scott Beatty has play-by-play, and Craig Fata provides analysis.