Anderson And Ocitti To Represent Manchester In PBL All Star Game
March 24, 2010 - Premier Basketball League (PBL)
Saint John Riptide News Release
The Premier Basketball League today has announced the members of the PBL All-Star Teams.\Eighteen men were chosen by the head coaches, fan voting and selected media representatives of the PBL.\These players will compete in the PBL's first All-Star Game, held May 2, 2010 at the MetroCentre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Representing the Manchester Millrats will be point guard Anthony Anderson and power forward Stanley Ocitti.
"We are very proud to have Anthony and Stanley represent the Millrats in the first ever PBL All Star Game," stated Millrats General Manager Ian McCarthy. "They are both extremely talented players and have put in alot of hard work to get here."
"These players are among the top stars in the Premier Basketball League," said Dr. Sev Hrywnak, Chairman of the Board of the PBL.\"This is a fantastic opportunity for them to show their skills on a national stage, and to show the world what the PBL has to offer - both in the quality level of our stars, and of the talent you can see at any PBL game any night."
"The city of Halifax, the Rainmen organization and our fans are extremely excited to have been chosen to host the first PBL All-Star Weekend," said Rainmen owner Andre Levingston. "Our organization along with Rogers, our fantastic partners and the people of Halifax will make this an all star game to remember."
Representatives from the Halifax Rainmen, Quebec Kebs, Vermont Frost Heaves and Manchester Millrats will make up the "East" squad, while players from the Rochester RazorSharks, Maryland GreenHawks, Buffalo Stampede and Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry will comprise the "West" squad.\Because the Puerto Rico Capitanes are currently playing in both the PBL and in Puerto Rico's professional basketball league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional, scheduling conflicts regrettably prevent the Capitanes from sending any representatives to the All-Star Game.
The PBL's All-Star Teams include:
"EAST TEAM"
Anthony Anderson (Manchester Millrats), a 5'11" point guard from Massachusetts, has been a shining light in the Millrats' lineup.\He averages 20.2 points per game, tops among his teammates, he also leads the Millrats in assists and completed 3-point baskets.\It was Anderson's circus shot in the final seconds of a tie game against the Vermont Frost Heaves, that gave Manchester the win and earned Anderson Player of the Week honors.
Samuel Audet-Sow (Quebec Kebs), a 6'6" forward from Laval, is currently the top scorer for the Quebec Kebs, averaging 18.8 points per game.\It was his heroics - and 23 points - that helped Quebec defeat Halifax 100-97 in a critical overtime tilt.
Tony Bennett (Halifax Rainmen), a 6'0" combo guard from Bradley, leads all Rainmen in scoring with 20.8 points per game. He also is Halifax's leader in completed field goals. Bennett was selected a PBL player of the week for the week of Jan. 24th 2010.
Eric Crookshank (Halifax Rainmen), a 6'8" forward from Dominguez Hills, currently averages a double-double in points (15.5) and rebounds (13.3) per game.\"Air Canada" is known for his thunderous dunks and dominating defense. Crookshank currently leads the Rainmen with 10 Double Doubles this season. He is also the Rainmen's franchise's leader in games played at 59.
Ross Demasi (Vermont Frost Heaves), a 6'8" power forward from Southwest Minnesota State, has led the Vermont Frost Heaves all season in minutes played, averaging 33 minutes per game.\Demasi currently leads all Frost Heaves in rebounds, and is among the top rebounders in the PBL, averaging nine boards per game.
Gary Ervin (Halifax Rainmen), a 6'1" point guard from Arkansas, averages 13.7 points per game for Halifax; he also leads the Rainmen in assists, averaging over 4 dishes per game. This season Ervin set a Rainmen Franchise first with recording a Triple Double vs Maryland on Feb.20, 2010. He scored 12 points added 12 rebounds and dished out 13 assists.
Desmond Ferguson (Halifax Rainmen), a 6'7" forward from Detroit-Mercy, is one of the PBL's most deadly three-point shooters.\The man nicknamed "Moneyball" averages 3.27 completed 3-pointers per game, with a better than .400 completion average from beyond the arc. He currently averages 15.5 points per game.
Stanley Ocitti (Manchester Millrats), a 6'9" center who played his collegiate basketball at both Connecticut and Binghamton, is one of the fiercest shot blockers in the PBL, averaging nearly two blocked shots per game.\He also leads his team in rebounds, averaging 8.6 per game.
Dwuan Rice (Vermont Frost Heaves), a 5'11" point guard from Cal-Bakersfield, joined the Vermont Frost Heaves midway through the season, and has become a valued asset to the squad, starting twelve of thirteen games.\He leads the Frost Heaves in steals and assists, dishing out an average of six assists and two steals per game.
Jamaal Wise (Quebec Kebs), a 6'6" forward from Rhode Island, joined the Quebec Kebs in mid-season and has shown toughness and resilience every night.\Wise currently averages 18.5 points per game for Quebec, and is one of only two players this season to hit the "four-score" four-point shot - a halfcourt toss that hit nothing but net, earning four points.
The "East" team will be coached by Halifax Rainmen Head Coach Les Berry. Berry will be assisted on the bench with his current Rainmen assistants Jeff Paris and Shannon Hanson. Coach Berry's Rainmen currently have a winning percentage of .667, a pace Berry and the Rainmen have maintained since assuming the Rainmen's stewardship during the 2008-09 season. Prior to joining the Rainmen, Berry had been associated with coaching at the University level for the last 11 years.\As Assistant Coach at St Mary's University, they won the AUS and CIS National Championships in 1999. Berry was Acadia University's Head Coach from 2005 to 2008 and led them to an AUS Championship for the 2006-07 season.
"WEST TEAM"
Michael Anderson (Maryland GreenHawks), a 7'0" center from Lane College, makes his presence known in the paint, where he averages 3 blocked shots per contest.\He also averages 6.1 rebounds per game for the GreenHawks.
DeAnthony Bowden (Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry), a 6'1" guard from Creighton, is one of three Lawton-Fort Sill Cavs in the All-Star tilt.\Bowden currently leads the Cavs in scoring with 17.0 points per game; he also leads the Cavs in 3-pointers made and assists dished out.
Jerice Crouch (Rochester RazorSharks), a 6'0" guard from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, is a staple of the RazorSharks' offense.\Crouch averages 15 points per game and has a 78% free-throw accuracy.\He averages nearly six assists per game, and is among the league leaders in steals.
Brandon Dean (Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry), a 6'1" guard from Arkansas, averages 13.5 points per game for the Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry; he also leads the Cavs in steals and assists.
Keith Friel (Rochester RazorSharks), a 6'4" shooting guard from Virginia, is not only the Rochester RazorSharks' leading scorer, with 16.6 points per game; he is also the PBL's all-time leading scorer and two-time playoff MVP.
Corey Herring (Buffalo Stampede), a 6'5" forward from Canisius, leads the Buffalo Stampede in points scored (236) and free throw percentage (.811).
Elvin Mims (Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry), a 6'7" forward from Southern Mississippi, is the Cavs' leading shot blocker, with 21 blocks this season.\He also is fourth in scoring for Lawton-Fort Sill, averaging 13.1 points per game.
Kevin Ross (Buffalo Stampede), a 6'9" center from Cleveland State, is the top rebounder for the Buffalo Stampede, averaging 9.0 boards per game; he also hits 13.2 points per game for the Stampede.
Scooter Sherrill (Maryland GreenHawks), a 6'3" shooting guard from North Carolina State, is one of two PBL players currently averaging at least 20 points, four rebounds and four assists per game.\His 21.8 points per game is among the top scorers in the PBL.\Sherrill surpassed 20 points in a game eleven times, and has scored 30 points in a game twice this season.\He also leads the GreenHawks in 3-pointers completed, assists, and steals.
Lincoln Smith (Rochester RazorSharks), a 6'9" forward/center from Mississippi State University, is an intimidating force under the basket, whether scoring or blocking.\He averages 13.3 points per game for the RazorSharks, and also pulls down 5.1 rebounds per game.
The "West" team will be coached by Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry head coach Micheal Ray Richardson and Rochester RazorSharks head coach Rod Baker.\Richardson has played in NBA All-Star contests, and was the head coach of the East team in the 2007 Continental Basketball Association All-Star game.\Prior to joining the PBL, Richardson coached the Cavalry to two consecutive CBA championships.\As head coach of the Rochester RazorSharks, Rod Baker has led his team to three championships, including the 2008 and 2009 PBL playoff titles.
The Rogers PBL All-Star Weekend will take place May 1 and 2, 2010 at the Halifax MetroCentre, Nova Scotia.\Saturday's schedule of events includes appearances by All-Star Players around the city, a Legends game and skills competitions featuring the EastLink Three-Point Competition and Rogers Slam-Dunk Contest. Sunday features the Rogers PBL All-Star Game, closing ceremonies and player autograph session.
Tickets go on sale April 1, 2010 at www.ticketatlantic.com. Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults - $20CDN/day
Students/Seniors - $15CDN/day
Weekend Packages $25CDN
VIP Courtside & Group Packages are available through the Halifax Rainmen Office
For more information, please visit the Premier Basketball League's website, http://www.thepbl.com.
For more details on the schedule of events or ticket information for the Rogers PBL All-Star weekend, please contact:
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Premier Basketball League Stories from March 24, 2010
- Anderson And Ocitti To Represent Manchester In PBL All Star Game - Saint John Riptide
- Anderson And Sherrill Named To 2010 PBL All-Star Team - Maryland GreenHawks
- RazorSharks Host Kebs This Thursday - Rochester RazorSharks
- RazorSharks Send Crouch, Friel And Smith To Rogers PBL All-Star Game - Rochester RazorSharks
- Players Announced For 2010 Rogers PBL All-Star Game - Halifax Rainmen
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