CBA Weekly

January 28, 2003 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release

Boise, Idaho (January 28, 2003) – Continental Basketball Association legend and head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Eric Musselman will be the 11 p.m. EST featured guest with Ron Barr tonight, on the Sports Byline USA radio network. Sports Byline has five delivery platforms, which include a traditional radio network of 175 U.S. affiliates (list of affiliates available online at www.sportsbyline.com/affil..htm), online at www.sportsbyline.com, Sirius Satellite Radio, the more than 500 worldwide affiliates of the American Forces Radio Network, and as selected airline in-flight audio programming.

In his first season as a NBA Head Coach Musselman already has the Warriors within one victory of matching last season's win total of 21. He began his professional basketball career as general manager for the CBA's Rapid City (S.D.) Thrillers in 1988, before adding the title of head coach the following season. At 24, he was the youngest head coach in CBA history. He would go on to coach the franchise, which would become the Florida Beachdogs in 1995, through the 1996-97 season when he led them to a 38-18 finish and into the CBA Finals.

In six CBA seasons (assisted under his father, the late Bill Musselman, with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1990-91) Musselman amassed a 270-122 (.689) mark, a winning percentage that is tied with his father for second best in CBA history behind Milwaukee Bucks head coach George Karl's mark of .727.

He was the first coach in professional basketball history to win 100 games by the age of 28, coached in an unprecedented five CBA All-Star Classics (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1997) and from 1990-97 had 23 CBA-to-NBA call-ups, the highest mark in the league during that time.

"There is no greater feeling than one, having a guy called up and two, watching him succeed at the next level," said Musselman. "A lot of these guys in the CBA have been told they're not good enough to make it, and it is the coach's job to say you are good enough, these are the things you need to do to get there, now lets get together and accomplish them."

In the fall of 1997 the University of San Diego alum joined the Orlando Magic as a scout. He served as an assistant with the Magic for two seasons before joining the Hawks in 2000, drawing on his experience in the CBA throughout.

"One good thing about the CBA is the quarter point system, it allowed the coach to have four mini games within one game. It put enormous pressure on the coaches," he said. "The constant turnover of personnel also makes the CBA coach's job difficult. I kind of feel like I'm still part of the CBA family and always will be."

AROUND THE CBA (Team notes contributed by the respective team's media relations department)

DAKOTA WIZARDS: It was the difference between winning five points and taking all seven. The Dakota Wizards were in control for most of Monday night's 121-107 win over the Idaho Stampede, but it was the little things that helped Dakota make it a clean sweep and keep them at the top of the league in standings. In the Wizard next game, Kevin Rice drilled a trio of 3-pointers in a 51-second span during the third quarter to finish off Gary in the Wizards 121-84 (5,2) victory at the Civic Center on Friday night. With the Wizards leading by 20 points at 73-53, Rice -- who left the game early in the second after landing oddly on his right ankle -- needed less than a minute to turn the Wizards' lead to 29 points at 82-53 with 7:15 to go in the frame. Andy Panko was in the middle of everything for the Wizards, scoring 35 points while dishing out nine assists. Dakota finished with a staggering 38 assists on the night...The Wizards and the Steelheads met again on Saturday night and the Gary Steelheads, beaten 121-94 the previous night, jumped out to a 31-17 first quarter lead and never looked back in their 112-102 victory Saturday at the Bismarck Civic Center. Oliver Miller led the Steelheads with 29 points on 12-of-16 shooting. Malik Dixon and Kevin Rice shared scoring honors with 26 points each. Andy Panko added 25. The Wizards, with a 20-9 record, lead the CBA with a 4.6 quarter-point average...This week the Wizards will visit all of the public elementary schools in Bismarck as a part of the "Reading Wizards" program. Last week the team had lunch with all of the elementary school students in Mandan. Dakota will next play the Great Lakes Storm Friday and Saturday at the Bismarck Civic Center.

GARY STEELHEADS: The Steelheads finish up a five-game road trip Wednesday in Rockford. They play Rockford at home on Thursday. The team will have played seven games in 10 days by this Saturday ... The Steelheads played three games in three days last week, going 1-2. They won Saturday at Dakota, 112-102. Oliver Miller scored a game-high 29 points while Galen Young had 11 rebounds and tied a season-high with five assists. Jemeil Rich had 13 assists. It was just Dakota third home loss this season ... The Steelheads signed guard Ryan Lorthridge and center Jermaine Tate last Thursday. They placed forwards Darrin Hancock (back) and Chris Allen (abdominal strain) on the Injured Reserve List. They also placed forward Damian Owens on the Inactive Reserve List, retroactive to Jan. 13. Nate Blessen was reactivated Thursday ... Silas Mills has made 53 of his last 61 free throw attempts (.869) ... Rich has made 35 of his last 39 free throw attempts (.871) ... Rich leads the CBA with 2.6 steals per game and is second in assists per game with 7.2 ... Miller's nine blocked shots last Thursday (Jan. 23) at Sioux Falls tied Livan Pyfrom for most blocked shots in a game by Steelhead. Pyfrom blocked nine on Nov. 17, 2001 vs. Sioux Falls. It is also top in the CBA this season. Miller's previous high for blocked shots was eight on Dec. 12 vs. Grand Rapids ... Miller leads the CBA with 21 double-doubles (points-rebounds) ... Miller leads the CBA in rebounding and blocked shots per game with 13.3 and 3.0 per game respectively ... Thursday is Kiwanis Club Night as clubs from Northwest Indiana are invited to have a fun night out. The Steelheads host Rockford that evening ... Saturday, Feb. 8 is Fraternity/Sorority Night as fans can re-live those college days and rock the Genesis Convention Center lie an "Animal House" ... It is also Biddy Basketball Night where biddy teams/league will receive a special group discount on tickets ... Sunday afternoon, Feb. 16, is Police/Fire Day as the Steelheads those who serve and protect when the Steelheads face the Great Lakes Storm in a 3:05 matinee ... Sat., Feb. 15's game vs. Great Lakes will be televised on Chicagoland's Television ... Steelie, the mascot, made an appearance at Friday night's Bishop Noll at Highland boys basketball game ... Lake central girls coach Tom Megyesi and Wheeler boys coach Randy Stelter are the Gary Steelheads/Indiana High School Basketball Guide coaches of the week for the week of Jan. 19-25.

GRAND RAPIDS HOOPS: The Grand Rapids Hoops got back on the winning track, after dropping four of their past five games entering the week, and currently find themselves in second place in the highly competitive American Conference...Jerald Honeycutt continues to lead the way for the Hoops, averaging 30 points per game as the team went 2-1 for the week. On January 21, Grand Rapids hosted the Sioux Falls Skyforce, their sixth consecutive home game. They shot a season-high 60 percent from the field as they defeated the Skyforce, 126-114, behind 29 points a piece for Honeycutt and Alex Scales. Olden Polynice also had his best performance since joining the Hoops, connecting on all ten field goal attempts in registering 20 points and nine rebounds...Grand Rapids then traveled to face the revamped Great Lakes Storm on January 23. Honeycutt came up big once again, scoring a game-high 31 points, including 16 points in the fourth quarter, as the Hoops withheld a strong comeback to win 120-116. Scales also added 24 points, while Kevin Simmons tied a season-high with 22 points. The same two teams squared off the following night in Grand Rapids, and Great Lakes went on to steal a 108-106 victory. Honeycutt registered a game-high 30 points and Olden Polynice scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, but Jermaine Jackson and the Storm were too tough down the stretch. The loss was the team's eighth this season by five points or less. Overall, Grand Rapids is 5-8 in 13 games decided by five points or fewer.

GREAT LAKES STORM: The Storm had another huge crowd to watch them take on the Grand Rapids Hoops on January 23rd. Over 2,000 people were in attendance. The Storm fought hard, but fell short of a victory. They loss to the Hoops 120-116 (5,2). Jermaine Jackson led the Storm shooting 61% FG (30 points) and 11 assists...The next evening, the Storm turned the tables on the Hoops with a 108-106 (5,2) win. Again, the Storm was led by Jermaine Jackson with 22 points and 10 assists. DeSean Hadley locked in 22 points...Monday, the Storm had another home loss to the Gary Steelheads 94-89 (5,2). It was a tight game up until the end. With just a little over four minutes remaining, the intensity on the court shot through the roof after Steelhead's Silas Mills fouled DeSean Hadley as he took it to the hole. Words were exchanged by both players, which resulted in double technical fouls called. Jermaine Jackson and DeSean Hadley led the Storm with a combination of 32 points...Jermaine Jackson was named the CBA American Conference Player of the Week. He is averaging 25.0 ppg, 10.7 apg, 4.7, and 2.3 spg. He is the second Great Lakes Storm player to stake claim the Player of the Week. Earlier this season, he was called up to the Toronto Raptors, and he rejoined the Storm last week... The Storm's Read to Succeed program will officially kick off Feb. 3rd. Later on that evening, a couple of players and assistant coach Jere Shockey will be guest coaches for Flushing's St. Roberts Catholic School boys basketball team practice....The Storm will begin another road game stretch with their first stop in Grand Rapid on January 29th. Their next home game is February 3rd at 7:05 P.M. versus the Rockford Lightning.

IDAHO STAMPEDE: The Idaho Stampede's three-game home stand last week provided three entertaining games and also re-wrote the record books for the franchise...On Wednesday, Jan. 22nd, the Stampede hosted the Rockford Lightning in the first of two games against the team from Illinois. When the game finally ended, Rockford had escaped with a 152-150 overtime win in the Idaho Center. During that game, Idaho broke or tied six different team and individual records, including; Most Team Points Scored (150), Most Team Points Allowed (152), Field Goals Made (T-54) and Assists (44). The individual records that were broken or tied were: Points In a Game (46 – Brian Green) and Field Goals Made (T-18, Brian Green). Rookie Byron Mouton broke some of his own records that night, in his quest to become the CBA's Rookie of the Year, by scoring a career-high 34 points and pulling down 12 rebounds to notch a double-double...Two nights later, the same two teams faced off again, and though the points diminished and no records were broken, the result was the same as the Lightning won 125-116. Danny Johnson led the team with 23 points, while Michael Johnson notched a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists...The following night, Saturday the 25th, the Sioux Falls Skyforce came to town for a showdown for third place in the National Conference in a game that was televised on the NBC affiliate in Western Idaho and Eastern Oregon area. Being on television must have sparked the Stampede players, as Idaho rolled to a 99-88 victory over Sioux Falls and swept all seven quarter points, marking the first time the Stampede has earned seven quarter points in a game this season. The win moved Idaho ahead of Sioux Falls and out of the conference cellar...The Stampede now has an important three-game series with second-place Yakima, beginning on Friday in Yakima. The two teams will then travel to Idaho and face off in the Idaho Center on Saturday night, before returning to Washington for a match-up next Wednesday, Feb. 5.

ROCKFORD LIGHTNING: The Rockford Lightning's week consisted of 5 games: 3 losses to Yakima and 2 wins over Idaho. In the last two losses to Yakima, both on the road, the Sun Kings shot 63.4% from three-point land (26-41). The Sun Kings won all 4 regular season meetings with Rockford and become the first team to sweep the Lightning in a season series since the Sioux Falls Skyforce took all 4 meetings with the Lightning in 1996-97. The Lightning are 16-2 against all other CBA teams but they are 3-9 against Yakima and Gary...The high point of Rockford's week was back-to-back wins against the Idaho Stampede. In Wednesday's win the Lightning received a franchise record 24 assists from Joe Crispin in a 152-150 overtime victory. It was the third time this year that the Lightning broke the 150 point plateau. That hasn't happened in the CBA since 1989-90 when the San Jose Jammers eclipsed 150 points 4 times and the Santa Barabara Islanders accomplished the feat three times. Idaho set a franchise record for points in a game on Wednesday becoming the 5th team (including the Lightning) to set a franchise record for points in a game involving Rockford. The Grand Rapids Hoops are the only team who has not set a season high point total against the Lightning this year. In Friday's 125-116 victory against Idaho, Ronnie Fields hit all 6 of his three point shots and scored a career high 42 points. The Lightning are now 3-0 against Idaho and they are unbeaten against three different teams so far this season (1-0 vs Dakota and 5-0 vs. Grand Rapids as well). The Lightning are the only CBA team that still have an unbeaten record against more than one team...The Lightning have signed an NBA veteran guard named Jordan who has Chicago ties and last played in the NBA for the Washington Wizards, and now Bolt fans are hoping Reggie Jordan can be like Mike for the Lightning. Jordan nearly recorded a triple double in his first game with the Lightning on Friday (10 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists.)

SIOUX FALLS SKYFORCE: The Sioux Falls Skyforce finished their week 1-2 after opening with a 107-100 victory over the Gary Steelheads. The Skyforce saw their star point guard, Randy Livingston, fulfill his dream of returning to the NBA. He was picked up by the New Orleans Hornets after the team placed guard Baron Davis on the Injured List. Livingston arrives in his homewtown of New Orleans after averaging 14.0 points, 8.2 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 12 games with the Skyforce...Sioux Falls opened their week with a 107-100 home victory over Gary on Thursday night. The Force were led by Victor Thomas' 30 points. He connected on 11 of 18 shots from the field. All-Star MVP Versile contributed with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Force picked up 6 quarter points in the contest...On Saturday night the team traveled to Idaho where they were defeated 99-88. Despite 25 points from Kelley McClure, the Stampede captured all 7 quarter points. Eric Coley chipped in with 14 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the field. The Skyforce dropped to 10-22 after Monday night's loss to the Yakima Sun Kings. The Force suffered a 120-92 setback despite 20 points from All-Star Corsley Edwards. He was 7 of 10 from the field. Sioux Falls continues their road trip when they collide with Yakima once again before traveling to Dakota on Monday night. The Force will then take part in a 7 game home stand.

YAKIMA SUN KINGS: With last night's 120-92(7,0) win over the visiting Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Yakima Sun Kings have won a season-high five consecutive games. The Sun Kings are 5-0 since the All-Star break with three of those victories coming over the American Conference-leading Rockford Lightning. Yakima swept the season series with the Lightning, taking all four games from Rockford...Damien Cantrell continues to close in on Oliver Miller for the league lead in double-doubles. Cantrell had recorded 13 straight double-doubles to push his total to 19 on the season. Miller leads the CBA with 21. Cantrell has been voted National Conference Player of the Week the last two weeks and three-of-the-past-four weeks...The Sun Kings set a franchise record on January 21 against Rockford, hitting 15 three-pointers in Yakima's 140-114(6,1) victory over the Lightning...When Anthony Goldwire hit the Yakima Valley SunDome floor on January 21st it was the veteran's first game in Yakima since the 1995-96 season. Goldwire was drafted by the Sun Kings in the first round of the 1994 CBA College Draft and played parts of two seasons with Yakima before receiving an NBA call-up to the then-Charlotte Hornets. He has been out of the CBA until signing with the Sun Kings this season. Goldwire played two games this season, both on the road, before being called-up to the San Antonio Spurs. He was released earlier this month and rejoined the Sun Kings after the All-Star break.

PRIMETIME PERFORMANCES

Andy Panko of the Dakota Wizards tallied team highs in points (31) and rebounds (10) to go along with his 8 assists, in a 121-107 (7-0) win over the Idaho Stampede on January 20. Damien Cantrell posted 22 points, a game-high 20 rebounds, and 6 assists in a January 21 Yakima Sun Kings victory over the Rockford Lightning (140-114, 6-1).

Joe Crispin of the Rockford Lightning dished a CBA season high 24 assists to go along with his 27 points and 6 rebounds in a 152-150 (5-2) overtime victory over the Idaho Stampede on January 22. Brian Green poured in an Idaho Stampede franchise record 46 points in a 152-150 (5-2) overtime loss to the Rockford Lightning on January 22. He also pulled down 10 rebounds and made 2 steals. Ronnie Fields scored 42 points on 13-21 (.619) shooting from the field for the Rockford Lightning, in a 125-116 win over the Idaho Stampede on January 24.

THIS WEEK IN CBA HISTORY

On January 28, 1994 Grand Rapids Hoops guard Jeff Martin played a CBA record 68 minutes of a quadruple overtime victory (146-140, 5-2) versus the La Crosse Catbirds. Martin broke Lee Campbell of the Yakima Sun Kings' previous mark of 66, set in another quadruple overtime win on February 25, 1992, over the Albany Patroons (166-160, 4-3).

Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from January 28, 2003

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