June 7, 2025 – Raleigh, North Carolina –
The Raleigh Firebirds are one win away from advancing to the TBL Regional Finals—and if Game 1 was any indication, they’re peaking at exactly the right time. Behind 31 points from Shaq Dance, the Firebirds outlasted the Frederick Flying Cows 105–97 on Thursday night in the opening game of their Conference Finals series. A dominant fourth quarter pushed Raleigh over the top, breaking open a one-point game and giving them a 1–0 lead in the best-of-three. This stage is familiar to Raleigh. The Firebirds reached the Conference Finals last year as well, and even forced a three-game battle with the St. Louis Griffins. But the Griffins edged them out and moved on—only to fall in the championship to the Potawatomi Fire. The Firebirds haven’t forgotten. And now they’re a step closer to rewriting that narrative.
Frederick came out firing. Ed Dyson III led the Flying Cows with 28 points, hitting from all angles. Damien Daniels added 14, and the bench came through behind Ronald Scott and Martavian Payne, who scored 12 each and provided energy that kept Frederick within striking distance deep into the third. But Raleigh had answers everywhere. Julian Gamble anchored the post with 19 points. Daequon Antoine hit critical shots in key moments and finished with 17. And Dance did what stars do—controlling pace, hitting contested jumpers, and driving to the rim when the Firebirds needed buckets most. The turning point came in the fourth. With Raleigh clinging to an 81–80 lead, they reeled off a 17–4 run. Gamble got easy points in the paint. Antoine splashed threes. Dance tallied seven in that stretch, including a transition layup off a turnover that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. From there, Raleigh took care of business at the line and tightened the screws defensively to shut the door. Tavares Sledge was held to 10 points in 38 minutes, as Raleigh’s interior defense sagged and swarmed effectively.
With the win, the Firebirds now hold a 1–0 lead in the Conference Finals. A win on Sunday in Maryland would send them to the Regional Finals, one step away from the TBL Championship Finals. Their potential path still includes facing the Potawatomi Fire—TBL’s two-time defending champions—but only if both teams advance that far. So—can Raleigh finish the job this time? They look deeper. Sharper. More experienced. And in Shaq Dance, they have a star who isn’t just playing well—he’s carrying the weight of playoff expectations and delivering. This team has been building toward a breakthrough. Now, it’s one win away from turning that promise into progress.
