CBA 1 Continental Basketball Association 1

CBA Weekly Notes

Published on February 28, 2006 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release


Two More Teams Clinch Berths in CBA Playoffs

Two more teams clinched berths in the 2006 Continental Basketball Association Playoffs this week, including the Sioux Falls Skyforce and the Yakama Sun Kings. The Sun Kings clinched a spot Saturday, Feb. 25, thanks to earning two quarter points in a loss to Sioux Falls (97-90). Two days later, the Skyforce returned the favor of earning a spot in the postseason when it tallied 5.5 quarter points in another victory at Yakama (100-92). Both teams assured themselves of not finishing lower than third in the Western Conference.

Sioux Falls currently sits in first place in the Western Conference with a 27-16 record and 4.50 QP average. Yakama is second with a 27-17 record and 3.93 QP average, while Idaho is third (22-20, 3.70 QP avg.) and Dakota is fourth (17-25, 3.07 QP avg.).

The Gary Steelheads and the Rockford Lightning became the first two teams to punch their tickets for the 2006 CBA postseason on Feb. 17 when Gary recorded 6.5 quarter points in a 123-95 victory over the Michigan Mayhem. With the defeat, both Gary and Rockford assured themselves of not finishing lower than third in the Eastern Conference. Those two teams sit one-two in the Eastern Conference standings, respectively, with Gary at 26-18 with a 4.06 QP average and Rockford at 27-16 with a 3.99 QP average. Albany is third (17-25, 3.02 QP avg.) while Michigan is fourth (7-33, 2.04 QP avg.).

The CBA regular season ends on Sunday, March 12. The playoff dates and times will be determined based on the order of finish and arena availability.

If the CBA Playoffs were to begin today (Feb. 28, 2006), here are the first-round matchups...
Eastern Conference Western Conference
1A-Gary (4.05 avg.) 1B-Sioux Falls (4.05 avg.)
2A-Rockford (3.99 avg.) 2B-Yakama (3.93 avg.)
3B-Albany (3.02 avg.) 3A-Idaho (3.70 avg.)

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

CBA Did You Know?

Did you know... that three-fourths (75.3 pct.) of the referees in the NBA have experience in the CBA? Out of the 73 NBA officials this season, 55 have refereed in the CBA. Included in that group is Dick Bavetta, who was recently named ABC's "Person of the Week" after refereeing in his 2,135th consecutive NBA game.

Albany Patroons (17-25, 3rd Eastern Conference, 127.0 points, 3.02 QP Avg.)

Last week, Albany captured two more wins to push its winning streak to season-best four games. The first victory came at home against Michigan, Feb. 23, when the Patroons tallied a CBA season-high 144 points to the Mayhem's 110 points. In the win, Albany collected all seven possible quarter points for the first time this season. Albany then traveled to Rockford to win its second game of the week and fourth in a row, Feb. 28, by the score of 122-118. Albany collected six quarter points in its win, which was just its second of the season over the Lightning. Albany's Player-of-the-Week, Jamario Moon, contributed a double-double in points (27) and rebounds (13) against Michigan, as well as averaging 25 ppg., 9.0 rpg., and shooting 91.0 pct. from the free-throw line. Three Patroons registered ouble-doubles in the victory over Rockford, including forward James Thomas ( 17 pts., 20 reb.), forward Edmund Saunders (11 pts., 10 reb.), and forward Chris Sockwell (27 pts., 8 reb.). The Patroons travel to Michigan on Wednesday, March 1, before returning home Thursday for back-to-back games against the Eastern Conference-leading Gary Steelheads.

Dakota Wizards (17-25, 4th Western Conference, 129.0 points, 3.07 QP Avg.)

Dakota gave the Western Conference-leading Yakama Sunkings all they could handle during last week's homestand... The Wizards dropped a couple of hard-fought games, 113-110 on Feb. 20 and 109-104 on Feb. 22. In Wednesday's loss, Dakota was led by Kasib Powell who finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Powell has tallied 20-plus points in five of his last eight games. Newly signed guard Rashad Phillips found his shooting touch at the Bismarck Civic Center, scoring 16 points and adding seven assists... The Wizards are prepared to battle it out with the team they are trying to chase down for a playoff berth, the Idaho Stampede, in their last two home games of the season, which will be played tonight (Feb. 28) and tomorrow (March 1), with each game slated to tip-off at 7:05 p.m.

Gary Steelheads (26-18, 1st Eastern Conference, 178.5 points, 4.06 QP Avg.)

The Gary Steelheads took to the road for their most challenging trip of the year last week. Their nine-game winning streak, the longest in the CBA this season, ended in Rockford in a 123-120 overtime loss Feb. 21. Guard Jimmie "Snap" Hunter tossed in 44 points in a losing cause. It was the Steelheads' first overtime loss of the season as well. One night later, the Steelheads went to overtime again in a 128-122 loss at Sioux Falls. Gary dropped to 4-2 in overtime games this season. "Snap" tossed in 43 in that game. On Feb. 24, Gary traveled farther West to Yakima for a matchup of conference leaders. The Steelheads prevailed, 102-92. In a balanced scoring effort, Gary had six players in double figures. The following night, after a six-hour bus ride to Boise, Idaho, Gary played their fourth game in five days against the Idaho Stampede. Idaho prevailed 103-98. Forward and All-Star Game MVP Randy Holcomb remained sidelined with a groin injury. He missed every game this past week. Despite losing three of four games, the Steelheads finished the week in first place in the Eastern Conference, narrowly in front of the Rockford Lightning.

Idaho Stampede (22-20, 3rd Western Conference, 155.5 points, 3.70 QP Avg.)

Saturday, Feb. 25 was a historical night for two Stampede members. Center Eric Chenowith broke the Stampede single season rebounding record and the win also gave head coach Joe Wolf his 45th career coaching victory, the most in Stampede franchise history... Desmond Ferguson joined the Stampede last Friday, Feb. 24, and played in the weekend homestand. The Michigan native scored 26 points in 60 minutes of play... The Stampede are down to their final six games with a three-game road and home split. Four games are against the Dakota Wizards, which have playoff implications, and the other two are against Sioux Falls, who have just taken the lead in the Western Conference.

Michigan Mayhem (7-33, 4th Eastern Conference, 81.5 points, 2.04 QP Avg.)

Michigan took on only two opponents last week, falling at Albany on Feb. 23, 144-110, and then losing at home against Rockford on Feb. 24, 105-101. In the loss at Albany, Michigan was lead by rookie Marcus Wallace with 21 points and four steals. Michigan turned around the next night looking to snap their eight-game losing streak against the Rockford Lighting. The Mayhem were unsuccessful in their quest, though. John D. White led the Mayhem in points with 21 while shooting 80.0 percent from the field. Leading the league for the week in 3-point feild-goals was forward Keith Salsheider, connecting on 5-of-6 attempts, followed by three other Mayhem players in the top six: White (70 percent), Wallace (63 percent), Karlton Mims (57 percent). This week Michigan plays at Rockford (Feb 28), followed by a home game March 1 against Albany, and another away game at Sioux Falls on March 4.

Rockford Lightning (27-16, 2nd Eastern Conference, 171.5 points, 3.99 QP Avg.)

Rockford remains in second place in the Eastern Conference standings after going 2-1 last week. The team has lost three of its last four home games after starting the season 15-2 at the MetroCentre. Guard Ronnie Fields was named the CBA Player of the Week as he averaged 33.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 2.3 steals for the Lightning for the week of February 20th through 26th. He scored a season high 42 points in a 122-118 Lightning loss to the Albany Patroons on Feb. 26. The 6-foot-4 guard led Rockford to a 123-120 overtime victory over rival Gary earlier in the week on Feb. 21 at the MetroCentre as he scored 30 points including, a three-point play to win it for the Lightning. Fields had just one 30-plus point performance in the first 33 games of the season, but has reached that plateau five times in his last nine games. Forward Roger Powell averaged 21.3 points a game while picking up his team high 10th double-double of the season in Michigan with 24 points and 10 rebounds. The rookie forward needs 88 points (17.6 pg) over the final five games of the season to break Kendrick Warren's scoring record of 1,012 points by a Lightning rookie. Guard Cordell Henry had another solid week while averaging 21.3 points a game and starting all three games for Rockford. Guard Marlon Parmer rejoined the Lightning after spending the last two weeks on the injured reserve list with an injured finger. Rico Hill was waived on Feb. 24.

Sioux Falls Skyforce (27-16, 1st Western Conference, 174.0 points, 4.05 QP Avg.)

Sioux Falls moved into first place in the Western Conference standings after winning a home game and three straight road games over their last four contests... the 'Force won on Feb. 22 at home against the Gary Steelheads, 128-122 (5,2), in overtime to improve to a league-best 18-3 at home... the 'Force then finished a three-game road trip 3-0 as they beat the Idaho Stampede 97-91 (5.5,1.5) and Yakama Sun Kings 97-90 (5,2) on Feb. 25 and 100-92 (5.5 ,1.5) on Feb. 27... with the win on Monday night the 'Force clinched a playoff berth for the second straight season under head coach Dave Joerger... Skyforce forward Noel Felix was nominated for CBA Player of the Week after averaging 25.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg in three games, including a career-high 39 points against Gary... guard Billy Thomas was called-up to the Washington Wizards on Feb. 24, the fourth call-up for the Skyforce this season... former 'Force guard/forward Stephen Graham was signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers for the remainder of the season that same day.. the 'Force plays their final regular season home games this weekend as they host the Idaho Stampede on Friday, March 3, and the Michigan Mayhem on Saturday, March 4, and Monday, March 6... Saturday, March 4, will be the third annual "Throwback Jersey Night" as the 'Force will be wearing uniforms from the 1996-97 season in honor of the squad that went 47-9 (.839 pct.), the best regular season record in Skyforce history.

Yakama Sun Kings (27-17, 2nd Western Conference, 173.0 points, 3.93 QP Avg.)

Yakama honored Head Coach Paul Woolpert on Saturday, Feb. 25. In a pre-game ceremony, Woolpert received a blanket from the Yakama Nation, owners of the team, a recognition plaque, a banner in the Sun King Ring of Honor and had the Yakima Valley SunDome court renamed "Paul Woolpert Court." Woolpert, who has been with the Sun Kings organization for seven seasons including six as head coach, holds the record for most coaching victories, with 133... Yakama has won 27 games this season, exactly the combined total of the team's victories in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 campaigns... the Sun Kings qualified for the 2006 CBA Playoffs by winning the third quarter of Saturday's loss to Sioux Falls. The Sun Kings had missed the playoffs for the past two seasons. Yakama's last postseason appearance was in 2003 when the franchise won its third CBA Championship. Yakama is the only CBA franchise to have won three titles in the same city... The Sun Kings are 7-4 against the top three teams in the Eastern Conference. Yakama owns 2-2 records against Gary and Albany and are 3-0 vs. Rockford... The Sun Kings have four games remaining in the regular season; March 5 vs. Dakota, March 7 at Rockford, March 8 at Michigan, and the regular season finale on March 12 vs. Sioux Falls.

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Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from February 28, 2006


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