Sports stats



Around the CBA

December 10, 2002 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Ohio Valley Greyhounds News Release


DAKOTA WIZARDS: Miles Simon's 20-footer with 20.2 seconds help put the Dakota Wizards up 108-104, as they held on for a 110-106 victory Tuesday evening. The win was the eighth straight for the Wizards. Rashad Tucker had his second consecutive double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Miles Simon led the Wizards with 26. The Rockford Lightning took advantage of the Wizards' 33 turnovers en route to a 144-141 victory Friday evening at the Bismarck Civic Center. The loss snapped the Wizards' eight-game winning streak. Joe Crispin drilled a deep three with 7.4 seconds to go, which turned out to be the game winning shot. Dakota had three cracks to tie the game in the final seconds, but were unable to do so. Miles Simon had 28 points to lead the Wizards. Malik Dixon added 25. The Wizards (8-2) are averaging 5.25 quarter point and are in first place in the CBA's National Division. The Wizards will next host the Sioux Falls Skyforce Wednesday evening at the Bismarck Civic Center. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

GARY STEELHEADS: This Saturday's home game against the Great Lakes Storm will be telecast live on Chicagoland's Television (CLTV), beginning at 7 p.m. with the pregame show. Bill Hazen and Kenny McReynolds will do the play-by-play and analysis respectively. It is the first of three games that CLTV will carry live ... Speaking of CLTV, the Steelheads will be featured by Emmy Award winning host LeeAnn Trotter on "metromix: the tv show." The program airs Thursday (Dec. 12) at 5:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. It also will air on Friday (Dec. 13) at 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. as well as Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. ... The Steelheads finished last week 1-2 with a 123-106 big win over Great Lakes on Sat., Dec. 7 ... The Steelheads play at Grand Rapids on Tuesday and then host the HOOPS on Thursday. They host Great Lakes on Saturday. That night is "Keep Kids Warm Night" as fans are asked to bring a coat to donate to the less fortunate children in Northwest Indiana ... Fans will have a chance to talk Gary Steelheads' basketball this Wednesday as Dane Fife, Oliver Miller and Jemeil Rich and Associate Head Coach Dale Osbourne will appear on "High School Sports Publications Live!" The program airs on the World Wide Web at: hssp.cc. Fans can log on at either Sportsjuice.com or at www.hssp.cc. The show originates from Buffalo Wild Wings in Merrillville and starts at 7 p.m. ... Oliver Miller leads the CBA in rebounds and blocked, averaging 15.4 and 2.6 per game respectively ... Miller has recorded a double-double (points-rebounds) in nine of the Steelheads' 10 games and is tied for eighth in scoring in the CBA (19.8 ppg.) and is fifth in offensive rebounds (3.6) ... Darrin Hancock is fifth in the CBA in field goal percentage (.616), making 53 of 86 attempts ... Bryant Notree has scored in double figures in all 10 games this season and has scored over 20 points in eight games ... He is fourth in the CBA in scoring with 22.4 points per game ... Jemeil Rich is third in assists per game with 7.4 and fifth in steals per game with 2.9.

GRAND RAPIDS HOOPS: The Grand Rapids HOOPS survived a three-game, six-day road trip, finishing up with a 2-1 record. Grand Rapids began the week with a 114-111 victory over the Gary Steelheads. Jerald Honeycutt led the HOOPS with a season-high 43 points (19-34 FG) and 13 rebounds. The HOOPS then traveled to Dakota, where they suffered their only defeat of the week, by a score of 110-106. Eric Murdock led the way for Grand Rapids, registering 27 points and eight assists on the night. The team then moved on to Sioux Falls where they were able to end the week on a good note, easily defeating the Skyforce 107-92. Murdock continued his stellar effort, contributing a team-high 26 points, 12 assists and four steals. Grand Rapids point guard Eric Murdock was awarded the American Conference Player of the Week for his performance. On the week, the NBA-veteran averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and nine assists...In other HOOPS news, the team kicked off its annual "Give the Gift of Basketball" holiday program. In recognition of the efforts of Grand Rapids and West Michigan area social organizations by providing them tickets to the four home contests prior to Christmas. Thus far, nearly 1,000 tickets have been distributed.

GREAT LAKES STORM: Storm shifts are changing the look of the Great Lakes Storm's court. Cory Hightower, who hasn't played the last couple of games due to a groin injury, was placed on the injured reserve list. Antonio Smith was placed on the inactive reserve. A few hours before the game last night, Lazarus Sims, a 6-4 guard from Syracuse and 7-0 center Eric DeYoung, from the University of Georgia, were signed and played for the quickly changing team. Lazarus brings to the Storm an attitude and playing style that puts his teammates first. Eric gives the Storm the size they were lacking and also brings in local ties to the team because he is a Frankenmuth native. This past week, the Storm's winning record has been a roller coaster. They lost to Rockford 139-133 (6,1) on 12/3, beat Gary 110-105 (6,1) on 12/6 in double overtime, loss to Gary 120-103 (6,1) on 12/7, and then loss to Yakima 102-90 (6,1) last night 12/9. The Storm's record is now 5-6. They have a chance to improve their standing on Wednesday when they play Yakima again at home. In other Storm news, the Great Lakes Storm hosted its first annual Sports Career Conference on December 4th at the Birch Run Expo Center. Over 150 students attended from Genesee county high schools. The purpose of the Sports Career Conference was to give students and idea as to what is required of the front office to successful run a minor league basketball team and the requirements of becoming a player for the CBA. Many of the students were impressed and both male and female interest in having a career in sports increased.

IDAHO STAMPEDE: The Idaho Stampede went 2-1 last week, winning at Sioux Falls 98-93 (6,1) on Dec. 3rd, losing at Yakima 95-107 (2,5) on Dec. 6th and then beating the Sun Kings 109-103 (6,1) the following night, Dec. 7th, at home in the Idaho Center. All in all, the Stampede picked up 17 quarter points during the week, though the team is still in third place in the National Conference, behind Yakima and league-leading Dakota. Idaho guard Brian Green was named the National Conference Player of the Week for his efforts in helping the Stampede post a 2-1 record. In three games, he averaged 21.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. In 12 games played so far this season, the Stampede has played only four of them at home, where the team is 3-1. On two different road trips, Idaho has gone 1-3 both times. The last road venture consisted of leaving at 4:30 AM on Thanksgiving morning, following a home game the night before, to Bismarck, ND. After two games in Bismarck, the team traveled to Sioux Falls for one game, before coming home for a day and then leaving for Yakima. Immediately after the Yakima game, the team boarded a bus for Idaho and played the next night in the Idaho Center. Now, Idaho gets somewhat of a break by playing the next four games at home and not hitting the road again until December 21st.

ROCKFORD LIGHTNING: The Rockford Lightning enjoyed a 2-and-1 week, which included a Friday road victory against the Dakota Wizards in the first rematch of last year's CBA championship game. CBA leading scorer David Harrison set a season high with 41 points and the Lightning scored a season high 144 points in a three point win over Dakota. It was the Wizards first loss since opening night and the team's first loss in Bismarck since March 19th of last season. Joe Crispin hit 5 of 6 three pointers including the final three points of the game giving the Lightning the 144-141 victory. The Lightning could very well have reached the 150 point plateau when you consider the team was just 23 of 39 from the free throw line in that game. The Lightning followed up their highest scoring output of the season on Friday with their lowest scoring output of the season on Saturday night in Sioux Falls. The Skyforce snapped the Lightning's 4 game win streak with the 117-111 victory. Lightning Forward/Center John Mueller tied his career high with 14 points and set a career high with 16 rebounds in the loss. It was just the Lightning's Second road loss since Valentine's Day 2002 and it was the Bolts first loss in their last 6 games in Sioux Falls dating back to December 7th of 2001. David Harrison averaged 31.7 points and 4.3 steals per game last week and he remains the CBA leader in both categories. The Lightning average exactly 130 points per game through 11 contests this season. That's 3.6 ppg off the all time CBA record set by the 1980-81 Rochester Zeniths.

SIOUX FALLS SKYFORCE: The Sioux Falls Skyforce ended their 3 game week on a positive note with a 117-111 victory over the high-powered Rockford Lightning. Earlier in the week, the Force fell to the Idaho Stampede 93-98 and the Grand Rapids Hoops 92-107. The team finished the homestand 1-2. The Skyforce showed definite signs that the team was getting on track with several recent additions to their roster. In the past week, the team signed rookie Patrick Doctor, George Reese, former Yakima Sun King Corsley Edwards, former Saskatchewan Hawk Lawrence Nelson, and former Skyforce fan-favorite Eric Coley. Edwards, a 6'9", 275 pound draft pick of the Sacramento Kings averaged 28 ppg and 16 rpg in the two games he played with the team. The Skyforce fell to the Idaho Stampede 93-98 on Tuesday night. Newly acquired Lawrence Nelson scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his season debut. William Clay also added 24 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. On Friday night, the Force could not overcome a slow start after falling behind 40-19 in the first quarter to the Grand Rapids Hoops. Erick Murdock torched the Force for 16 points in the first quarter, in route to finishing with 26 points. Corsley Edwards scored 32 points and 18 rebounds in his season debut for the Skyforce. Clay chipped in with 22 points and 5 rebounds but it was not enough as the home team suffered a 92-107 setback. The Skyforce ended the week with an inspirational victory over the explosive Rockford Lightning. The Force captured 5 quarter points on their way to a 117-111 vicotry. The team played before a boisterous crowd of 3,144. Corsley Edwards once again led the team with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Sioux Falls is on the road for their next four home games before returning to the Sioux Falls Arena on Christmas night to host the Idaho Stampede.

YAKIMA SUN KINGS: The Yakima Sun Kings saw their first action against rival Idaho in almost two years this past weekend. The Sun Kings defeated the Stampede in Yakima on Friday night, 107-95(5,2). Idaho returned the favor on Saturday, knocking off the Sun Kings, 109-103(6,1), in Boise. The 2002-2003 season is less than a month old, but the Sun Kings have already established several franchise records: Yakima held Sioux Falls to 71 points on 11/30, the Sun Kings connected on 13 three-point field goals on 12/7 at Idaho (all in the first half), Yakima had 19 steals versus Sioux Falls on 11/29, Tyson Wheeler scored 46 points on 11/19 in Rockford and Rosell Ellis had eight steals on 12/6 against Idaho. Rosell Ellis continues to play at a high level. The 6-foot-7 forward is averaging 15.6 ppg and 10 rebounds per game and is second in the CBA in double-doubles with eight.

PRIMETIME PERFORMANCES

Jerald Honeycutt poured in 43 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead the Grand Rapids Hoops to a 114-111 victory over the Gary Steelheads on Dec. 3.

Oliver Miller posted 34 points and 21 rebounds in a 114-111 Gary Steelheads loss to the Grand Rapids Hoops.

Eric Murdock of the Grand Rapids Hoops scored 26 points, dished out 12 assists, and made 4 steals in a 107-92 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Dec. 6.

David Harrison scored 41 points on 17-27 (.630) shooting from the field and 5-6 (.830) shooting from the foul line in a 144-141 Rockford Lightning win over the Dakota Wizards on Dec. 6.

Rosell Ellis of the Yakima Sun Kings tallied a CBA season high 8 steals to go along with his 18 points and 15 rebounds in a 107-95 victory over the Idaho Stampede on Dec. 6.

THIS WEEK IN CBA HISTORY

On December 14, 1994, the Chicago Rockers defeated the Hartford Hellcats 104-66, holding the Hellcats to a CBA record low 24 first half points. Current Indiana University Head Coach Mike Davis played in all 56 Rockers games that season as a player/assistant coach. Current Indiana Associate Head Coach John Treloar was Chicago's head coach.

CBA TRANSACTIONS

12/10/02
-Gary signed Artie Griffin.

12/09/02
-Great Lakes signed Eric DeYoung and Lazarus Simms; placed Cory Hightower on the Injured Reserve List, placed Antonio Smith on the Inactive Reserve List; and waived Johnnie Selvie.

12/07/02
-Idaho signed Michael Johnson and waived Chris Burgess.
-Sioux Falls signed Eric Coley and waived Artie Griffin at 5:00.

12/06/02
-Yakima signed Ajani Williams.

12/05/02
-Yakima signed Alex Jensen and Nick Rivers; and waived David Shelton. -Sioux Falls signed Corsley Edwards.
-The CBA League Office fined and suspended (Game #40) Assistant Coach Doug Smith (Grand Rapids) for conduct following Game #38. -Idaho signed Danny Johnson.

12/04/02
-Gary waived Terquin Mott.
-The CBA League Office fined Head Coach Stacey King (Sioux Falls) for failing to leave the court immediately at halftime of Game #33.
-Sioux Falls placed Korleone Young on the Inactive Reserve List; and waived Bryan Christiansen.
-Idaho waived Brian Taylor.

12/03/02
-Great Lakes signed Justus Thigpen and placed Johnnie Selvie on the Injured Reserve List.
-Sioux Falls signed George Reese.

• Discuss this story on the United Indoor Football Association message board...

United Indoor Football Association Stories from December 10, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central