CBA Finals tip off tonight in Oklahoma
Published on March 22, 2008 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release
ALBANY, NY (March 22, 2008) - It all comes down to two teams, the Minot Skyrockets and the Oklahoma Cavalry, as the CBA Finals starts tonight in Lawton, Oklahoma. The Cavalry will host games 1 tonight, Saturday, March 22 and game 2 on Monday, March 24. Games 3 will take place in Minot on Wednesday, March 26. If necessary, Games 4 and 5 will also take place in Minot on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29. The best of five series will crown the CBA champion for the 2007-08 season.
The Skyrockets have been the beast of the east all season long. Minot has been at the top of the American Conference since day one of the 07-08 season and finished with a 38-10 regular season record. The Skyrockets followed up their stellar regular season with a two game sweep of conference rival Pittsburgh to advance to face the Cavalry.
The Skyrockets have a balanced scoring attack with six players averaging double figures in scoring. Led by Ronnie Fields (21.1), Ray Cunningham (18.5), Kevin Rice (13.7), Kellen Miliner (13.7), Kevin Johnson (12.3) and Sidney Holmes (10.5) all average more than 10 points a game. Sidney Holmes, a member of the All-Defensive team, leads the team in rebounding, 8.8 a game. Minot was fourth in the CBA in scoring, 107.3 and second in points allowed, 97.5. The only potential problem for the Skyrockets this season has been free throw percentage. Minot is only shooting 66.0% from the line, the leagues worst. However, they attempted the most free throws by a wide margin, 372 more than Oklahoma. Head Coach Chris Daleo won 30 games for the third season in a row in the CBA. The last coach to manage that feat was Paul Woolpert. Minot will have to continue to do what they do best, lock people down on the defensive end and then attack the basket and get the opposing team in foul trouble if they want to win the CBA Championship.
Oklahoma started the season slowly, but through some key mid-season pickups, the Cavalry have righted the ship and qualified for the CBA Playoffs. The Cavalry finished the regular season with a 30-18 regular season record. The Cavalry knocked off the two time defending champion Yakama Sun Kings in a two game sweep and open the championship series at home.
Oklahoma has been the hottest team after the all-star break. Including the playoffs, the Cavalry are 22-5 since January 21. Head coach Michael Ray Richardson has the team playing an up-tempo style of play with the emphasis on team defense and rebounding. CBA Player of the Year Daryan Selvy is the leader of the Cavalry. Selvy was second in the league in scoring, 22.7, and pulled down 6.5 rebounds a game. Selvy can look to Defensive Player of the Year Marvin Phillips for support. Phillips is one of only three players to average a double-double this season, 12.9 points and 10.0 rebounds a game. Recent acquisitions Brandon Dean, Shawn Daniels, and Nate Green, along with Curtis Haywood have provided all of the little things that make a team a success this year. For all of their defensive and rebounding skills, an overlooked facet of the Cavalry offense is the three pointer. The Cavalry made 252 threes this season, good for second overall in the CBA. The Cavalry will need to continue their winning ways in Lawton, 20-5 this season, if they want to capture the CBA Championship.
"This is probably one of the most evenly matched CBA Finals in recent memory," said CBA Deputy Commissioner Dennis Truax. "Both teams swept their divisional rivals to make it to the Finals, Minot over Pittsburgh and Oklahoma over Yakama. Each organization is a model of success and a blueprint for the way to do things right and professionally. Michael Ray and Chris are no strangers to each other having coached against one another for three years. Both teams core value is defense and using that to trigger their offensive game. It would not surprise me in the least to see this series decided in the final seconds of game 5. Good luck to both teams and may the best team win."
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from March 22, 2008
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- CBA Finals tip off tonight in Oklahoma - CBA 1
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