Busy Weekend in the USBL
Published on May 16, 2003 under United States Basketball League (USBL) News Release
MILFORD, CT â The United States Basketball League, Inc. (USBL), is closing in on the halfway point of the 18th season of play. There have been outstanding individual performances and a bevy of outstanding games. There are nine games on tap for this weekend. Teams will be looking to create some breathing space in the standings this weekend. A daily breakdown is as follows:
FRIDAY MAY 16th
WESTCHESTER @ ADIRONDACK
The Wildfire travel north to face Adirondack for the first time this season. The Wildfire have won three in a row and have already gone on their mid west swing. Coach John Starks will have Kevin Freeman (18.1 PPG) and Vonteego Cummings (5 APG) in control of the Wildfire. The Wildcats have made some changes, bringing in vets Marshall Phillips and Frantz Pierre-Louis and rookie Jerome Coleman to an already solid nucleus of Ime Udoka and Greg Stempin. This game should go down to the wire.
PENNSYLVANIA @ KANSAS
The ValleyDawgs start their mid west swing, traveling to Salina to face the Cagerz. The Cagerz have righted the ship and knocked off a pesky Texas team last night. "Mr. Double Double" Johnny Jackson (9.9 RPG) and Bryan Lucas (8.5) have cleaned the glass for the Cagerz all season long. The ValleyDawgs are slowly starting to resemble their 2001 USBL Championship squad. Kareem Reid is the USBL assist leader (9.9) and they have 4 out of the top five steal leaders. Quincy Wadley is second in the USBL in scoring (26.6).
SATURDAY MAY 17th
TEXAS @ OKLAHOMA
The Storm was the first victim of the Rim Rockers this season. Losing 130-126. They will be looking to exact some revenge at home. The Storm have the USBL's leading scorer in Albert Mouring (29.1 PPG). Mouring has some help from Lamont Turner (18.3 PPG) and James Penny (16.8 PPG). Oklahoma puts up the points but they will be looking to make more of a defensive stand against the Rim Rockers. The Rim Rockers have made some very impressive changes and after a slow start are really showing that their record is not a true showing of how well they have played. Jermeil Rich, and Maurice Carter have provided much needed veteran leadership to the team. Sharpshooter Chad Wilkerson and rookie Bingo Merriex have been steady for the Rim Rockers.
PENNSYLVANIA @ DODGE CITY
The two divisional leaders meet for the first time all season. This is also a rematch of the 2001 USBL Post Season Festival Championship. The Legend have lost two out of their last three after starting 7-0. The Legend have a balanced scoring attack with no player averaging over 14 points a game, all the while averaging 107 PPG third best in the USBL. Antonio Smith is the USBL's leading rebounder (14.5) and David Graves is money from the free throw line, missing only three shots all year. The ValleyDawgs will have a solid crew looking to show the Legend that playing two games in two days is no problem. With the up and down nature of this game look for solid contributions from Ronnie Fields and Tim Winn.
BREVARD @ KANSAS
The third game in three days for the Cagerz. Veterans like Billy Thomas and Tai Crutchfield will be looked at for leadership and a steady hand as the Cagerz take on a dangerous Blue Duck team. Point guard play will be important for the Cagerz. Johnny White and Lamont Roland will need to come up big for the Cagerz. The Blue Ducks are in the middle of their mid west swing. The Blue Ducks are led by Terrance Shannon and Simeon Haley. Shannon has been consistent all season (16.6 PPG) and Simeon Haley has come on as of late. Will the tired legs of the Cagerz be able to overcome a traveling Blue Duck squad? Will be a great contest.
BROOKLYN @ ADIRONDACK
The second game in two days for the Wildcats will be tough as the Kings have some solid players making contributions. Gary Williams has been playing at a high level and Allen Griffin and Charles Jones have been playing well as of late. The Wildcats have the Laker Girls in for the night. Will they serve as a distraction to the Wildcats? Only time will tell.
SUNDAY MAY 18
WESTCHESTER @ BROOKLYN
With the Kings playing at home after a road trip to Adirondack. The Kings will need to shoot better than their 32% effort on Wednesday. Clyde Ellis and Fred Williams have been workmanlike on the boards and Uche Okafor had his best game of the year against the Wildfire. Westchester will be looking to Greg Stevenson and Anthony Taylor for some needed outside scoring.
TEXAS @ KANSAS
The Rim Rockers lost a heartbreaker to the Cagerz 114-113 on Thursday. Maurice Carter and rookie Bingo Merriex have given the Rim Rockers stability in this trying season. Carter had 32 points in the earlier game. The Cagerz got two free throws form Johnny Jackson with 4.1 seconds to put the Cagerz ahead for good. Four games in four days is difficult, to say the least.
BREVARD @ DODGE CITY
The final game for the Blue Ducks on their mid west swing. The Blue Ducks will be without the services of Terrance Shannon who has been invited to the Miami Heat mini camp. The Blue Ducks will need new acquisition Nate Burton and Earl Tyson to step up their games to make up for the departure of Shannon. Dodge City has raced out and proven that teams just don't come into the Dodge City Civic Center this year and win. The Legend are 8-0 and are looking to extend that streak. NBA veteran Darrin Hancock could be a force in this game without Shannon in the lineup.
United States Basketball League Stories from May 16, 2003
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