CBA Weekly Notes

February 21, 2006 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release

Crunch Time in the CBA

The 60th anniversary season of the Continental Basketball Association is close to coming to an end with just 20 days left. The final day of the regular season will be Sunday, March 12, and all eight teams are still alive for a playoff spot. In fact, two have already clinched a spot in Gary and Rockford, currently the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.

All eight teams have 10 or less games remaining in their 48-game schedule. Dakota has played 41 games while Sioux Falls has registered 39 and Michigan has just 38 under its belt. Albany, Gary, Idaho, Rockford and Yakama all have 40 games played with eight remaining.

This year's playoffs, which will include the three teams with the top three quarter-point averages from each conference, will be scheduled based on order of finish and arena availability for each of the teams.

Flip Saunders Leads Eastern Conference to 122-120 Victory in NBA All-Star Game Former Continental Basketball Association head coach and current Detroit Pistons head coach, Flip Saunders, led the Eastern Conference to a 122-120 victory in the NBA All-Star game Sunday, Feb. 19, in Houston, Texas. The game was played at the Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets.

Saunders earned the right to coach in his second NBA All-Star game by leading Detroit to an NBA-best 42-9 (.824 pct.) record at the All-Star break. Saunders' coaching stint for the Eastern Conference squad made him just the sixth coach in NBA All-Star history to coach both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference All-Star teams, joining among others fellow CBA coaching alum Phil Jackson on that list. Saunders, while with the Minnesota Timberwolves, led the Western Conference to a 136-132 victory in the 2004 NBA All-Star game.

The Cleveland, Ohio native is in his 11th season as head coach in the NBA (first with Detroit) after coaching seven seasons in the CBA with Rapid City, La Crosse and Sioux Falls. Saunders led La Crosse to two CBA Championships in 1990 and 1992, earning CBA Coach of the Year honors both of those seasons. Saunders coached the American Conference to a 119-108 victory in the 1994 CBA All-Star game, then led the National Conference to a 119-115 win in the 1995 CBA All-Star Classic.

Saunders is one of 10 current NBA head coaches that have ties to the CBA. Included in that list are; Rick Carlisle (Indiana), Maurice Cheeks (Philadelphia), Bob Hill (Seattle), Phil Jackson (Los Angeles Lakers), Eddie Jordan (Washington), George Karl (Denver), Sam Mitchell (Toronto), Jerry Sloan (Utah), and Terry Stotts (Milwaukee).

Four CBA Organizations Ranked Among the Top Seven in Minor League Power Rankings

ProBasketballNews.com editor Sam Amico has four of the CBA's eight franchises ranked among the top seven minor basketball teams in this week's Minor League Power Rankings. Heading the list are the Gary Steelheads, who Amico has ranked No. 1 among the CBA, National Basketball Development League (NBDL), and the American Basketball Association (ABA) teams. Gary has won nine in a row and lead the CBA's Eastern Conference with a 25-15 record. Coming in at No. 2 are the CBA Western Conference-leading Yakama Sun Kings, who hold a 26-14 record. Rounding out the CBA teams recognized by Pro Basketball News are the Rockford Lightning (4th) and the Sioux Falls Skyforce (6th). Listed among this week's honorable mention are the Idaho Stampede.

Complete PBN.com Rankings (as of Feb. 21)
1. Gary Steelheads (CBA, 25-15)
2. Yakama Sun Kings (CBA, 25-14)
3. Fort Worth Flyers (NBDL, 20-12)
4. Rockford Lightning (CBA, 25-15)
5. Florida Flame (NBDL, 20-12)
6. Sioux Falls Skyforce (CBA, 23-16)
7. Indiana Alley Cats (ABA, 25-3)
Honorable Mention:
Austin Toros (NBDL); Rochester RazorSharks (ABA); Idaho Stampede (CBA); San Jose Skyrockets (ABA).

Mike Thibault to Serve on 2006 USA Women's World Championship Basketball Staff

Former Continental Basketball Association head coach and current WNBA head coach, Mike Thibault, was named Feb. 16 to the coaching staff of the 2006 USA Women's World Championship Team, which is headed by four-time Olympic team member and Seattle Storm head mentor Anne Donovan. Also named to the coaching staff were collegiate head coaches Gail Goestenkors of Duke University (N.C.) and Temple University's (Pa.) Dawn Staley.

The three selected coaches are all familiar with USA Basketball and the international game. Thibault, who in three years coaching women's basketball has guided the Connecticut Sun to a pair of WNBA Finals, spent 13 years coaching professional men's teams and served as head coach of two USA Basketball men's squads that captured silver at the 1995 Pan American Games and gold at the 1993 FIBA Americas (formerly known as COPABA) World Championship Qualifying Tournament.

Owning international coaching experience on the men's side, Thibault has guided a pair of USA Basketball squads to the medal stand. In 1993 he directed a USA team consisting of CBA stars to a 6-1 overall record and the gold medal over top squads from the Americas at the World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico. He returned two years later, again with a CBA-laden squad, and piloted the 1995 USA Pan American Games Team to the silver medal and a 4-3 record in Argentina. His three losses in that tournament came by a total of nine points and once again his team was pitted against some of the top talent from the Americas.

A 13-year men's professional coach, including four years (1998-99 through 2001-02) as an assistant with the NBA Milwaukee Bucks, Thibault got his start with the World Basketball League's Calgary 88's in 1987-88. He then spent eight years (1989-90 through 1996-97) building a 236-205 record (.535 winning percentage) with the Continental Basketball Association's (CBA) Omaha Racers, where his squads not only competed in the CBA playoffs each year, but he led his teams to the 1993 CBA championship and returned the following year to the CBA Finals.

In 1989, Thibault began a remarkable eight-year run as general manager and head coach of CBA's Omaha Racers. The Racers made the playoffs each season (1989-97) under his watch, bringing home a CBA title in 1993 and a return to the finals in 1994. Thibault was named 1993 Sportsman of the Year by the Omaha sportscasters and ranks sixth on the CBA all-time coaching victory list (236).

Hired as an assistant to George Karl and Milwaukee Bucks in 1998-99, over the span of four seasons the Thibault-assisted Bucks compiled a 163-133 (.551 winning percentage), clinched the 2001 Central Division title and advanced to the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals.

Colorado 14ers Announce Trey Medlock as General Manager

Wiens Frew Management Group, LLC (WFMG), today announced the appointment of Trey Medlock as Executive Vice President of WFMG and General Manager of the Rocky Mountain Rage Hockey Club and Colorado 14ers Basketball Club. Medlock previously served as the GM and Governor for the Central Hockey League's (CHL) Memphis RiverKings and arena football's Memphis Xplorers AF2 franchise.

Medlock will oversee the operations of the Broomfield Event Center and both professional sports teams, set to begin their inaugural seasons this Fall.

"We are pleased to welcome Trey as general manager for the Rage and 14ers," said WFMG co-owner, John Frew. "With Trey's arrival, we anticipate a solid building process toward the first games in each league later this year."

Medlock's extensive history within the CHL goes beyond his top spot at Memphis; he previously served as the senior director of corporate marketing for the Lubbock Cotton Kings Hockey Club and he worked as part owner and team general manager for the Rio Grand Valley Killer Bees Hockey Club.

"The opportunity to start a facility and development from scratch is exciting to me," said Medlock. "John and Tim (Wiens) have high expectations and many goals for this project. It's a great opportunity to work with them."

Medlock has also functioned as the asset manager for Hunt Valley Development in Mission, Texas. He managed and operated all aspects of the non-real estate businesses including Pepsi Sports Park, Plantation Landscape Company, Bungalow Grove Hotel and LaRemuda Saddle Club and Equestrian Center.

"Trey's relationships in minor league professional sports and his operating experience with medium size arenas will serve us well," added Tim Wiens, co-owner.

The Colorado 14ers, the newest member of the Continental Basketball Association, will begin play in the 2006-07 season in the newly constructed Broomfield Event Event Center in Broomfield, Colo.

CBA Names Yakama Guard Anthony Goldwire Player of the Week

The Continental Basketball Association announced Feb. 20 that Yakama Sun Kings guard Anthony Goldwire was named the CBA Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 13 through Feb. 19. Goldwire averaged a double-double in points and assists in four games last week while cracking the CBA's top-40 list for career assists. He currently has dished out 958 assists over his five CBA seasons.

Last week, Goldwire averaged 24.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 12.8 assists and 1.0 steal to help the Western Conference-leading Sun Kings to a 2-2 record. Yakama split two games at home and two games on the road with the Idaho Stampede. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard registered just the fourth triple-double in the league this season on Feb. 13 with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 17 assists in a 121-93 victory over the Stampede. His 10 rebounds were a season-high while his 17 helpers were his second-highest total this season. He has two games of 20 assists. Two nights later, Goldwire scored a season-high 30 points to go with 11 assists and four rebounds in a 112-89 setback to Idaho. Then in Boise, Goldwire stretched his double-double streak to four games with 18 points, 12 assists on Feb. 17 and 22 points, 11 assists on Feb. 18.

Goldwire had an 8.5-1.0 assist/turnover ratio in the four games while shooting 58.9 pct. from the field (33-of-56), 52.9 pct. from behind the 3-point arc (17-of-24) and 92.3 pct. from the free-throw line (24-of-26). For the season, the 1994 University of Houston product leads the CBA in assists with 8.1 per game, while he is sixth in free-throw percentage (87.1 pct.), sixth in 3-point percentage (45.0 pct.), and 11th in scoring (16.4 ppg.). Goldwire also leads the league in assist/turnover ratio for the year at an amazing 5.4-to-1.0.

Goldwire signed with Yakama on Dec. 6 and has played in 31 games this season. Last year, he played 33 games in the NBA for Detroit and Milwaukee with averages of 5.2 points and 1.8 assists. For his career, he has appeared in 263 NBA games with averages of 6.3 points and 1.4 assists. He was a second round (54th overall) NBA draft pick of the Phoenix Suns in 1994 and was the seventh overall selection in that year's CBA College Draft by Yakama. He's been named to the CBA All-Rookie Second Team (1995), CBA All-League First Team (2004), and to two CBA All-Star Classics (1996 and 2004).

Sioux Falls' Stephen Graham Gets Second 10-Day Contract with Cleveland Cavaliers

Sioux Falls rookie forward Stephen Graham signed a second 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 20. Graham has played in four games with the Cavaliers and is averaging 3.5 points on .467 (7-15) shooting and 2.3 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per game. He scored eight points and set career highs in rebounds (five) and minutes played (26) vs. San Antonio on Feb. 13. He was signed to a 10-day contract by the Cavaliers on Feb. 6.

Graham played in six games for the Houston Rockets and three games for the Chicago Bulls earlier in the season. In 13 total games played this season, Graham is averaging 2.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in 8.6 minutes per game.

After this current 10-day contract expires, Cleveland must either sign Graham for the rest of the regular season or release him.

Playoff Format for 2006 CBA Playoffs Announced, Quarter Points to Play Key Role

If the CBA Playoffs were to begin today (Feb. 21, 2006), here are the first-round matchups...
Eastern Conference Western Conference
1A-Gary (4.18 avg.) 1B-Yakama (406 avg.)
2A-Rockford (4.01 avg.) 2B-Sioux Falls (3.92 avg.)
3B-Albany (2.85 avg.) 3A-Idaho (3.73 avg.)

Gary (1A) would host Yakama and Sioux Falls, travel to Idaho
Yakama (1B) would host Rockford and Albany, travel to Gary
Rockford (2A) would host Sioux Falls and Idaho, travel to Yakama
Sioux Falls (2B) would host Albany, travel to Gary and Rockford
Idaho (3A) would host Gary, travel to Rockford and Albany
Albany (3B) would host Idaho, travel to Yakama and Sioux Falls

Albany Patroons (15-25, 3rd Eastern Conference, 114.0 points, 2.85 QP Avg.)

Albany went 2-0 last week with wins at Michigan (Feb. 14) and at home vs. Rockford (Feb. 17). Albany's win over the Mayhem in Muskegon was its fifth road victory of the season and picked up 5.5 quarter points in the 110-102 victory. The Patroons followed that performance with six more quarter points in their first victory this season over Rockford, a 129-124 decision. Albany is now 1-7 vs. the Lightning. The 11.5 quarter points gained cushioned their lead over Michigan to 34 quarter points for the third and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Guard T.J. Thompson, Patroon Player-of-the-Week contributed last week's success with his 34.5 ppg. and his 87.5 pct. at the free-throw line. Jamario Moon averaged 23 ppg., while the newest Patroon, Chet Mason, averaged 17.5 ppg. in the two wins. Edmund Saunders contributed to the win over Rockford with a double-double in points (15) and rebounds (11). The Patroons have eight more games left in the regular season, including just two this week against Michigan in the Washington Avenue Armory on Thursday, Feb. 23, and at Rockford on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Dakota Wizards (17-24, 4th Western Conference, 127.0 points, 3.09 QP Avg.)

Dakota began its final regular season homestand on Feb. 20 by hosting the Western Conference-leading Yakama Sun Kings. The Wizards hung tough but couldn't pull out the victory as Yakama eked out a 113-110 win. With only eight players dressed in the loss, guard Damond Williams set career highs with 23 points and 8 rebounds. An ill Kasib Powell put up his usual numbers for Dakota with 28 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds despite not feeling well throughout the second half. Newly acquired forward Rocky Walls put up huge numbers in last week's match-ups with Sioux Falls, pulling down 11 rebounds on Feb. 16 and 21 boards on Feb. 17. Dakota still struggled on the road, however, losing to the Skyforce 101-83 and 97-91, respectively. The Wizard's four-game homestand continues this Feb. 22 and finishes up Wednesday, March 1, against the Idaho Stampede.

Gary Steelheads (25-15, 1st Eastern Conference, 167.0 points, 4.18 QP Avg.)

Gary continued pushed its current winning streak to nine games by winning three more contests last week. Gary has not lost a game during the month of February. It's nine-game winning steak ties a franchise record set during the 2003-04 season while it is the longest winning streak this season in the CBA. Dakota won 12 in a row last season (Nov. 26-Dec. 28). The Steelheads won its seventh game in 10 matchups against rival Rockford on Valentine's Day in Rockford, 120-111. Gary then returned home for back-to-back games with the Michigan, defeating the Mayhem Feb. 16, 123-95 (6.5,0.5) and Feb. 17, 107-100 (5.5,1.5). Guard Jimmie "Snap" Hunter, reigning CBA Player of the Week, twice scored 30 points in Steelheads victories. But his most impressive performance came in the first victory over Michigan, when he came within one digit of a triple-double with 13 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds. Also last week, Hunter broke the franchise's single-season scoring record set by Bryant Notree in 2002-03 (1,022). Hunter currently has 1,092 points and leads the CBA with a 27.3 ppg. average. Center Chris Alexander contributed two strong double-double performances versus Michigan, scoring 18 points with 20 rebounds on Feb. 16 and 10 points with 17 rebounds Feb. 17. He also blocked six shots in the two games. The three wins were achieved without the services of CBA All-Star MVP Randy Holcomb, sidelined with a groin injury.

Idaho Stampede (21-19, 3rd Western Conference, 149.0 points, 3.73 QP Avg.)

The Stampede welcome two of the CBA's hottest teams this Friday (Feb. 24) and Saturday (Feb. 25) when they host the Sioux Falls Skyforce and the Gary Steelheads. Between them they are on a 13-game winning streak, though one of those streaks will end on Wednesday when the teams play each other in Sioux Falls. On Saturday, Feb. 18, guard Randy Livingston jumped from 10th to 8th place in career assists in the CBA with 1,676 helpers. Head Coach Joe Wolf tied the Stampede record for career wins in the Feb. 18 victory over visiting Yakama (134-113). Wolf now has 44 coaching victories while with the Stampede, tying Rory White. The Stampede Foundation has raised over $34,000 for Operation Opening Doors, including over $4,000 raised on Feb. 25 during the team's camouflage game. As of Feb. 21, center Eric Chenowith is just 20 rebounds away from breaking the Stampede single-season record of 520 set by Sam Clancy last season.

Michigan Mayhem (7-31, 4th Eastern Conference, 80.0 points, 2.11 QP Avg.)

Michigan most recently traveled to Gary to play back-to-back games versus the Steelheads on Feb. 16 and 17. The Mayhem were defeated by the Steelheads in a tough loss on Thursday, 123-95. They tried to turn the tables on Friday but fell just short of a victory losing 100-107. Two Mayhem players recorded double-doubles from Friday's game, including Marcus Wallace with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Jason Boucher with 18 points and 10 assists while adding 6 steals. Veteran Willie Simms also led the team in scoring with 30 points on Feb. 17. Michigan will enjoy a short break while they rest up for a Feb. 23 game at Albany, followed by the Mayhem's last Friday night home game on Feb. 24. The Michigan Mayhem are looking forward to a large crowd on Friday as they promote their "College Night", where all college students will get in for $5 if they show their college ID.

Rockford Lightning (25-15, 2nd Eastern Conference, 160.5 points, 4.01 QP Avg.)

Rockford dropped to second place in the Eastern Conference standings after going 0-2 last week. The team is currently in the biggest drought of the season, having lost four straight and seven of their last eight games. Rockford will finish the season with five of their final eight games at home where they are 15-4 this season. The only road games remaining for the Lightning are at Michigan (Feb. 24) and at Albany (March 9-10). The Lightning are a combined 15-1 against those two Eastern Conference teams. Guard Ronnie Fields picked up the first triple-double of his six-year career in a Lightning uniform on Valentine's Day in a 120-111 loss to Gary. Fields finished the game with 31 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, and 4 steals. Forward Brant Bailey averaged 26 points and five rebounds in two games last week as a Lightning starter, including a 31-point performance on Friday night in Albany. Bailey is starting for injured guard Marlon Parmer who is out with an injured finger. Rookie Roger Powell is averaging 22.6 points and 6.2 rebounds over the Lightning's last five games. The forward needs to average 18.1 points a game over the final eight games of the season to break Kendrick Warren's scoring record of 1,012 points by a Lightning rookie. For the season, Powell is leading the Lightning in scoring, averaging 21.2 points a game, including a 26-point game in Albany last Friday.

Sioux Falls Skyforce (23-16, 2nd Western Conference, 153.0 points, 3.92 QP Avg.)

Sioux Falls won two home contests against the Dakota Wizards last week, improving its record to 6-5 for the season against its rival. The 'Force won on Feb. 16, 101-83 (6.5,0.5), and finished the weekend sweep with a 97-91 (5,2) win on Feb. 17 behind a game-high 27 points from Geno Carlisle. Skyforce forward Noel Felix was nominated for CBA Player of the Week after averaging 19.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, and 2.5 bpg in the two wins against the Wizards. The 'Force signed guard A.J. Diggs on Feb. 17 and he made his debut that same night after showing up at the Arena at halftime. Former 'Force forward Stephen Graham signed another 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and will have to be signed for the rest of the season or released when that expires on March 1. The 'Force plays a home contest with Eastern Conference-leading Gary on Feb. 22 before hitting the road for a game with the Idaho Stampede on Feb. 24 and two games against the Western Conference-leading Yakama Sun Kings (Feb. 25 & 27).

Yakama Sun Kings (26-14, 1st Western Conference, 162.5 points, 4.06 QP Avg.)

With a 12-9 road record this season, the best in the CBA, Yakama is guaranteed to finish the year with no worse than a .500 road mark. The Sun Kings have three road games remaining; at Dakota on Feb. 22, at Rockford on March 7 and at Michigan on March 8. Guard Antwain Barbour tied a franchise record by draining eight three-pointers in the Sun Kings 133-103 (6,1) win at Idaho on Feb. 17. The first-year player's performance tied the franchise record established by Darren McLinton in 1998-1999. Barbour came close to the record once before this season, hitting seven three-pointers in Yakama's 128-121 (6,1) victory at Sioux Falls on Nov. 25. Monday's 113-110 (5.5,1.5) win at Dakota broke a streak where the Sun Kings had earned at least six quarter points in each of their last six victories. Veteran guard Anthony Goldwire has dished out 10 or more assists 10 times this season, including six of his last eight games. Twice this season, Goldwire has had 20 assists in a game. The University of Houston-product is currently leading the CBA with 8.1 apg. Goldwire had his string of four straight doubles broken Feb. 20 at Dakota. He has eight double-doubles this season and has missed two others by only one assist. He was named the CBA Player of the Week on Feb. 20, the first Sun King to earn the award this season. Rookie Ralph Holmes has missed a double-double by two or fewer rebounds on eight occasions this year. Holmes, the leading three-point shooter in the league at 48.1 pct., has two double-doubles on the year. Guard Elvin Mims is one of only four players to record 55 or more blocks this season. The first pick overall in the 2002 CBA College Draft is the only guard among the four. Anthony "Pig" Miller has been on a rebounding tear lately, grabbing 79 boards in his last six games. The former Michigan State star is averaging 13.2 rpg. over that span. Miller, who is shooting 71.4 pct. from the free throw line this season, is shooting 88.3 pct. (15-of-17) from the charity stripe over the last three games. The Sun Kings continue to lead the CBA in assists, 25.4apg, and fewest turnovers committed per game, 14.1.

• Discuss this story on the Continental Basketball Association 1 message board...

Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from February 21, 2006

• Steelheads' nine-game win streak ends in Rockford, 123-120 in OT - Gary Steelheads
• CBA Transactions - CBA 1
• CBA Weekly Notes - CBA 1
• Patroons Dance Coach to Instruct Clinic - Albany Patroons
• Steelheads, Lightning Meet - Gary Steelheads

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.