CBA weekly review

by CBA Press Release
December 11, 2001 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)

CBA Press Release

CBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

The Continental Basketball Association announced on Dec. 10 that Dakota Wizards guard Miles Simon was named National Conference Player of the Week and Rockford Lightning guard Mike James earned American Conference Player of the Week honors for the period of Dec. 2-8.

Simon, Arizona's (‘98) 1997 Final Four MVP, averaged 26 points, 7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals and shot 53 percent (21 of 40) from the field in leading the Wizards to a 2-0 mark for the week. In his first CBA season, Simon is leading the league in scoring average (28.7) and the Wizards are off to a National Conference best 5.7 quarter point average (3-0). He scored 31 points, pulled down eight rebounds and dished out five assists in a 97-94 victory over the Flint Fuze on Dec. 7.

James, a 6-foot-2 product of Duquesne University (‘98) in Pittsburgh, averaged 33 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and shot 56 percent (25 for 45) from the field in acquiring his first Player of the Week award. His efforts helped Rockford to a 1-1 record including a 112-90 victory over the Saskatchewan Hawks in which James scored 32 points and made 12 assists. In each of the Lightning's last three games James has played the full 48 minutes.

Other players receiving consideration for National Conference honors were Flint's Desmond Ferguson (22.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Fargo-Moorhead's Jermaine Walker (29 ppg) and Saskatchewan's Lawrence Moten (25.5 ppg, 6 rpg). The three other players also considered in the American Conference were Gary's Leon Smith (20.5 ppg, 18.5 rpg), Sioux Falls' Muntrelle Dobbins (15.3 ppg, 12.3 rpg) and Grand Rapids' Willie Simms (22 ppg, 7.7 rpg).

CBA TRANSACTIONS

Dec. 2- Gary traded C Livan Pyfrom to Sioux Falls for C Leon Smith.

Dec. 3- Flint waived G Charlie Harris and F Andre Wiley. Gary waived F Charlie Macon and G Brian Taylor.

Dec. 4- Dakota waived G Ed Gray.

Dec. 5- Fargo-Moorhead waived G Johnny White. Gary signed G Randy Livingston.

Dec.6- Fargo-Moorhead signed G Billy Keys. Rockford placed C John Ford on the Injured Reserve List and waived F Gabe Frank. Sioux Falls waived G Victor Page.

Dec.7- Fargo-Moorhead signed G Dexter Boney and waived F Lennox McCoy. Rockford signed F Corey Brown and F/C Tony Martin.

OLD & YOUNG AROUND THE CBA (As of Dec.5)

Average league age: 26.28
Average team age:   1: Gary (27.25)              5: Fargo-Moorhead (26.50)
                    2: Flint (26.70)             6: Sioux Falls (26.40)
                    3: Grand Rapids (26.60)      7: Saskatchewan (26.11)
                       Rockford (26.60)          8: Dakota (24.11)
Oldest player:     Jeff Sanders (35, 01/14/66), Rockford
Youngest player:   Leon Smith (21, 11/02/80), Gary

TOP 10 COLLEGE CONFERENCES IN THE CBA (As of Dec.10)

Highest amount of college alums within each NCAA conference among CBA players:

1.      Big 10 (10)              5.   Missouri Valley (5)
2.      Big 12 (9)               5.   Southeastern (5) 
3.      Conference USA (6)       8.   Horizon League (4)
3.      Sunbelt (6)              9.   Big West (3)
5.      Big East (5)             9.   Mid-American (3)

AROUND THE CBA

DAKOTA: The Dakota Wizards are 3-0 after defeating the Flint Fuze in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday night the Wizards, led by Miles Simon with 21 points, got by the Fuze with a 95-94 victory, taking five quarter points. Guard Michael Johnson sunk a 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left in the game to seal the win. Guard Khalid El-Amin had 18 points and five assists. Forward Courtney James grabbed nine rebounds. Saturday, the Wizards received six quarter points on their way to a 97-94 victory over the Fuze. Once again Miles Simon led all scorers with 31 points. Courtney James added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Both games had over 3,000 fans in attendance. The Wizards are averaging 5.7 quarter points per game, and hope to maintain that average during their next seven games, which are all on the road.

FARGO-MOORHEAD: The FM BEEZ had a disappointing home opener against the Grand Rapids Hoops on Dec. 7th. Wining only the 2nd quarter the BEEZ were defeated 93-85. Leading the scoring was Jermaine Walker with 29 and Dexter Boney with 20 in this, the BEEZ home debut. At times the game was in their hands, but the 4th quarter got the best of the BEEZ.

FLINT: As the Flint Fuze end their first week of play they find themselves second in the National Conference. After two exciting wins and three close losses the Fuze are optimistic as they forge on in their inaugural season. The Fuze nominated Desmond Ferguson as Player of the Week. Ferguson is averaging 21.8 points while Jermaine Jackson is averaging 18.6. The Fuze is led in rebounding by Ira Newble with 7.6 board per game, followed by Jackson and James Head, each with 6.8. Coach Jeff Grayer remains optimistic about his young squad and knows the best is yet to come.

GARY: Leon Smith has three double-doubles (points-rebounds) in his three games with the Steelheads.... Carson Cunningham and Steelie (the mascot) appeared Saturday, December 8th, at the Gary YWCA's Kids Day. They signed autographs and had pictures taken with young Steelheads fans.... Steelie made a Wednesday, December 5th appearance at Carson Pirie Scott & Co in River Oaks Mall in Calumet City, IL.... The Steelheads now have an "Adopt A Player" program where a local school or organization can adopt a player.... Thursday, December 13th is Keep Kids Warm Night. Fans are asked to bring clothing to help the less fortunate. Also, the Midtown Biddy Basketball League will have two teams play a 7-minute "game" at halftime.... Sunday, December 16th is the first-year anniversary of the Steelheads first-ever home game. Gary hosts Sioux Falls at 7:05 p.m..... All Steelheads games can be heard on the World Wide Web at www.sportsjuice.com.... The Steelheads will hold a youth clinic at the Omni 41 Health Club in Schererville on December 23rd.

GRAND RAPIDS: The HOOPS will tip off at 7:05 pm, Thursday, December 13th at the DeltaPlex versus the Rockford Lightning. Starting the season with an impressive 5 – 3 mark as of December 6, the Conference Champion HOOPS, are rock n' rolling through the CBA averaging a red–hot 102 points per game. Attending a HOOPS game is much more than just a Pro Basketball game, but a multi sensory experience that pleases the eyes, tickles the ears, and makes the mouth scream, "I want a Nutty Dip!" Whether it is Sean Colson lighting up the scoreboard with three- pointers or Cassonya Carter soulfully belting out the National Anthem, the HOOPS excitement is just beginning. The Meijer Family 4PAK is back! For only $24 you get 4 tickets, 4 hotdogs, 4 Pepsi products, and 4 popcorns. A $40 value! This special offer is only available at the DeltaPlex box office. Check the Grand Rapids Press for details.

ROCKFORD: The Rockford Lightning completed a 1-2 weekend on Sunday when they were defeated by the Gary Steelheads in Rockford, 89-88. Their two losses were by a combined three points. Though Rockford is 5-6, the Lightning lost all six games by no more than six points, and every win has been by a margin of at least nine. Guard Mike James was named American Conference Player of the Week for his per game averages of 33 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals without missing a minute of playing time from Nov. 28-Dec. 8. Rockford also began its annual tradition of awarding all Rockford-area students in participating schools with free tickets through the Pepsi Great Attenders' Program if they achieve 95% attendance in the first three quarters of the school year. Students are being rewarded for the first quarter in December; they will go to selected February games for the second quarter, and will attend playoff games with third quarter tickets.

SASKATCHEWAN: The Hawks welcomed 6,724 fans to their home opener on Wednesday, Dec. 5th. Although the Hawks fell to the American Conference leading Sioux Falls Skyforce, the crowd was treated to some impressive game play by Hawks guard Lawrence Moten who posted 25 points and guard Russell Archambault who put up 19. Center Antric Klaiber also contributed with 19 points and 10 rebounds. On Friday Hawks guard Tim Winn had 9 steals, a CBA season high, in a loss to the Gary Steelheads. The CBA single-game record for steals was set by Albany's Clinton Wheeler on December 26, 1985 with 14.

SIOUX FALLS: The Sioux Falls Skyforce went 3-0 for the second straight week, and lead the American Conference with an 8-1 record. The club now embarks on a 13-day, six-game road trip, which begins Thursday, Dec. 13th in Flint. The Skyforce will begin a nine-game homestand on Christmas night, when the Dakota Wizards visit Sioux Falls for the very first time. Darren McLinton and Silas Mills are pacing Sioux Falls at 16.6 points per game, while Muntrelle Dobbins is collecting 9.6 rebounds per game. The Skyforce are off to their best start since 1996-97, when the team shot out to a 13-0 record.

PRIMETIME PERFORMANCES

Desmond Ferguson put up 21 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists in leading the Flint Fuze to a 106-93 victory over the Gary Steelheads on December 5th. Ferguson also had 2 steals.

Leon Smith of the Gary Steelheads posted 23 points and 22 rebounds in a 121-106 victory over the Saskatchewan Hawks on December 7th. Smith also contributed 2 blocks and 1 steal.

Tim Winn of the Saskatchewan Hawks made a CBA season high 9 steals in a 121-106 loss to the Gary Steelheads on December 7th. Winn also scored 24 points and pulled down 7 rebounds in the defeat.

Mike James was two rebounds shy of a triple-double on December 8th when he lead the Rockford Lightning to a 112-90 win over the Saskatchewan Hawks. James scored 32 points, made 12 assists and brought down 8 rebounds.

Miles Simon poured in 31 points in a 97-94 Dakota Wizards victory over the Flint Fuze on December 8th. Simon also had 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

THIS WEEK IN CBA HISTORY

On December 13, 1994 the Sioux Falls Skyforce trounced the Omaha Racers by 70 points (158-88), the largest win margin in CBA history. Leading Sioux Falls to a 34-22 record that season were current Gary Steelhead Henry James, (20.8 ppg) and Darrick Martin (21 ppg, 7.8 apg), who began the season with the Dallas Mavericks.

Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from December 11, 2001

• CBA weekly review - OSC Original by CBA Press Release

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