TEMPE — A first-half offensive explosion sent the Rip City Remix back to Portland with a 135-109 loss Tuesday, as the Valley Suns tightened their grip on a Western Conference playoff spot. Cassius Stanley’s dropped 25 points, achieved on an 87.5% shooting clinic, fueled the Suns’ fire.
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Mamadi Diakite contributed 20 points, 15 rebounds and even accounted for six assists in the win. David Stockton led the team with nine assists on the night including an impressive pass in transition to Tyrese Samuel.
Craig Randall II poured in 33 points for the Remix, though it wasn’t enough as the team only scored 22 points in the fourth quarter and the Valley Suns would enjoy a comfortable lead for most of the game.
The Valley Suns used a 77 point first half to take a 20 point lead into halftime and never looked back.
The Valley Suns on the bench during a timeout against the Rip City Remix on Feb. 25, 2025. Mandatory Credit: J Russell/BurnCitySports
The win keeps the Valley Suns tied for fourth place in the Western Conference with the Sale Lake City Stars, only a half game behind the Santa Cruz Warriors for the three seed.
However, they are only one full game ahead of the Memphis Hustle and Rio Grande Valley Vipers, with the Vipers just outside of the six team playoff field.
The Valley Suns have a tough stretch of games in the first half of March. They play the second seed in the Western Conference, Stockton Kings, then playing the first seed in the Eastern Conference, Capital City Go-Go, at home in back to back games. They will also play the Memphis Hustle twice and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers once in the final month of the season.
The team will need to take advantage of playing lesser competition to give themselves the best opportunity to make the playoffs, and the push continues with another game against the Rip City Remix on Friday, Feb. 28.
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Reporter Adam Terro covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @theAdamTerro
