Flash pick up showcase wins

The NBA Developmental League Showcase in Boise, Idaho at Qwest Arena gives NBA scouts an opportunity to analyze young players hoping to get their shot in the big league.

It also gave the Utah Flash (12-8) a chance to pick up two key wins. Kyrylo Fesenko, on assignment from the Utah Jazz, scored 17 points in both games against the Bakersfield Jam and the Iowa Energy.

"Fesenko is raw, but golly, to be 7-1 and 285 pounds, he runs like a deer and the thing I really like about him is he has good hands and he goes and gets the ball," Flash head coach Brad Jones said.

Fesenko and Brian Hamilton scored 17 points apiece to lead the Utah Flash to an 87-73 victory over the Energy in the second game the Flash played during the Showcase.

Utah equaled its longest win streak of the season at two for the fourth time despite turning the ball over 28 times. The Flash won the rebounding battle 53-33 and limited the Energy to just 35 percent (26-73) from the floor.

Normally a slow starting team, the Flash converted 11-of-16 field goal attempts and out-rebounded the Energy 13-4 to take a 28-16 lead after the first quarter. Utah stretched the lead to 14 at the half and led by as many as 22 in the fourth before Iowa made a late charge to cut the margin to 10.

Utah’s newest addition Britton Johnsen, former University of Utah player, contributed 13 points and Kevin Kruger scored 10 as nine players scored for the Flash.

"I was very pleased with our intensity on both ends of the court throughout the game," Utah head coach Brad Jones said. "We came out and took control on the defensive end and we executed on the offensive end."

Against Bakersfield (3-20), it was Fesenko’s fellow big man James Lang leading the way for Utah with 19 points and the Flash held the Jam to 39 percent.

"I love this team. I love to play basketball and when we play, if we win or we lose, every game and every practice is like a celebration for me," Fesenko said. "I just like to play basketball, that’s all."