Hudson "relays" goodbye message through his teammates

BY MIKE PEDEN

Troy Hudson did not attend Thursday night's Howard Pulley Pro City Summer League playoff match against the league's bye team.

No problem. His Enterprises sent the message with just six players dressing for the game, eliminating the HP-Bye team with a 112-95 win in the double-elimination playoff format.

Minnesota recruit Royce White shined in the absence of his NBA teammate, scoring 39 points despite struggling from the free throw line. Missouri's Marshell Brown added 24.

The best anyone could offer on the HP-Bye team was 21 from MSU-Mankato's Paris Kyles.

The outcome was in doubt for the first couple minutes as the HP-Bye team got a 6-2 lead early in the first. Hudson's team responded with a 14-2 run to assume control for the remainder of the game.

Hudson's team got a little help from their opponents as well. Throughout the game, the HP-Bye team missed many short-range shots. A lack of aggressive defense kept the Enterprises from increasing their lead beyond 10 for most of the game.

Things got a little interesting in the fourth, when the HP-Bye team tried once more to upset the league's 4th seed. The closest the bye team could reach was 97-91 midway through the fourth.

A Rasad Tucker tip in after a missed shot started the Enterprises' 15-4 run to end the game. White played his best basketball of the night in that run, even getting his own rebound after missing a free throw.

The HP-Bye team join the Pat Madison Magic as teams out of the playoffs. Two more will be removed from contention Monday to set up the league semifinals on Tuesday and Wednesday.