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January 15, 2007 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release


PAUL WOOLPERT WINS 150TH GAME AS YAKAMA SUN KINGS HEAD COACH

Paul Woolpert reached several milestones as his Yakama Sun Kings won several games this week. In a January 10th 99-92 [6-1] victory over Utah, Woolpert earned his 150th regular season victory as Yakama's head coach. Woolpert first joined the Sun Kings as a replacement for George Whittaker in the 1997-98 season; he stayed with the Sun Kings until February 8, 2001. During that time period, Woolpert won 100 games, and guided his team to the 2000 CBA Championship, the franchise's second of four titles. After a stint with he 2002-2003 Sioux Falls Skyforce, Woolpert returned to the Sun Kings, and helped the team reach the 2006 CBA Championship, its fourth league title. On January 12, 2007, Yakama Sun Kings president Diana Juarez honored Woolpert with a special plaque in honor of his accomplishments with the team.

The next two games, a January 12, 2007 107-85 [7-0] victory over Utah, and a January 13th 110-86 [7-0] win over the Butte Daredevils, allowed Woolpert to pass Ron Ekker for 12th all-time on the CBA list of coaching wins, with 185 regular season CBA victories. Ekker began his CBA coaching career with the 1982-83 Albuquerque Silvers; he later spent six years guiding the Louisville / La Crosse Catbirds. He was also the first coach of the Sioux Falls Skyforce; and finished his coaching career with the 1992-93 Rochester Renegades, finishing his CBA career with 184 regular season wins.

With those three victories, Yakama has won its last nine consecutive quarters, only three shy of the all-time record of 12 consecutive quarters held by the 1987-88 Albany Patroons (whose streak included two 7-0 shutouts of the Sun Kings' earlier incarnation as the Topeka Sizzlers). The record for most consecutive quarters either won or tied is 14 quarters, last accomplished by the 2003-04 Dakota Wizards.

J.J. SULLINGER NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The Continental Basketball Association announced that J.J. Sullinger has been named the Player of the Week for the week of January 8 - January 15 This is the second consecutive week that a member of the Indiana Alley Cats franchise has been so honored, as Shaun Fountain won the award last week.

Sullinger, a rookie guard from Ohio State, started the week off with two important games in Albany, against the conference rival Patroons. Sullinger opened up the week with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in a 118-108 (6-1) victory and followed it up with 34 point, 8 rebound outburst in a 111-109 (6-1) victory two nights later against Albany. Sullinger, along with Shaun Fountain and Erick Barkley were instrumental in capturing 12 out of possible 14-quarter points against conference rival Albany. In his final game of the week, Sullinger had 12 points and grabbed a league season high 18 rebounds in a 129-119 (6-1) victory.

Sullinger finished the week averaging 20.3 points and 10 rebounds a game. He also averaged 2.3 assists, 1 block and 1 steal a game for the Alley Cats. The Alley Cats are currently on a seven game winning streak and have captured 39.5-quarter points out of a possible 49-quarter points (80.6%)in their seven game streak. The Alley Cats play three games this week, 1/17 at Pittsburgh, 1/19 & 1/21 vs. Yakama before All-Star teams are announced on January 23 and January 24.

Other players receiving consideration were:

Jamario Moon, Albany

Odartey Blankson, Butte

Malik Moore, Great Falls

Ray Cunningham, Minot

Kevin Pittsnogle, Pittsburgh

Rob Griffin, Utah

Galen Young, Yakama

CBA's 23rd ANNUAL ALL-STAR GAME TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM TIP-OFF IN BUTTE, MONTANA

The Continental Basketball Association's 23rd annual All-Star Game is about one month away from tip-off in Butte, Montana. This year's event will take place on Tuesday, February 6 at the Butte Civic Center. Game time for the contest is 7 PM MST. The game will be preceded by a Long Distance Shootout and a Slam Dunk Contest. For ticket information, call the Butte Civic Center at 406.497.6441. For credentials, contact Dennis Truax at 518-694-0100.

ALL-STAR CLASSIC BALLOTS HAVE BEEN SENT OUT

The ballots for the 2007 CBA All-Star Classic have been sent out to the eight league coaches and designated media members in each of the eight markets. The ballots will be returned to the league office by this Friday, Jan. 19, with the 2007 Eastern Conference Team announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23, and the 2007 Western Conference Team announced on Wednesday, Jan. 24. All-Star Head Coaches for the 23rd Annual All-Star game will be determined from the teams with the highest quarter-point average in each conference at the conclusion of game #85 on Sunday, Jan. 21. Those coaches will be announced on Monday, Jan. 22.

With one week remaining before All-Star Classic coaches are selected, three coaches - the Albany Patroons' Micheal Ray Richardson, the Indiana Alley Cats' Carlos Knox, and the Minot Skyrockets' Chris Daleo, are all the prime candidates to represent the American Conference. Richardson can secure the American Conference coaching position with a combination of either 11 Patroons quarter point wins, or 11 Alley Cats quarter point losses. Any combination of 3 Patroons quarter point wins or 3 Skyrockets losses would eliminate Minot coach Chris Daleo from the All-Star Classic American Conference post.

In the National Conference, Yakama's Paul Woolpert and Great Falls' Steve Aggers are the two most likely choices for the National Conference All-Star classic coaching position. Woolpert can receive the National Conference coaching nod with any combination of 8 Sun Kings quarter point wins, or 8 Explorers quarter point losses.

RECENT CBA TRANSACTIONS

January 15, 2007

Pittsburgh Xplosion fired head coach Larry Anderson.

January 14, 2007

Great Falls Explorers waived F Armond Williams at 9:00 a.m. EST (7:00 a.m. MST)

January 13, 2007

Minot Skyrockets signed G Darnell Miller and G David Harrison. Waived G Willie Chandler at 9:00 a.m. EST (8:00 a.m. CST)

January 12, 2007

Minot Skyrockets waived G Dale Miller at 2:00 p.m. EST (1:00 p.m. CST).

January 11, 2007

Butte Daredevils signed C Kevin Steenberge.

Albany Patroons signed G Tony Harris, F Greg Morton and F Chris Sockwell. Placed G Kwan Johnson on Injured Reserve.

Yakama Sun Kings placed F Ben Ebong on Inactive Reserve.

January 9, 2007

Utah Eagles signed C Rahsaan Smith. Placed F Bryant Markson on Inactive Reserve.

Minot Skyrockets signed F Jason Smith.

Albany Patroons signed G Lucious Jordan. Placed F Sean Higgins on Injured Reserve. Waived F Sheldon Bailey at 6 EST.

TEAM NOTES

Albany Patroons (13-5, 79.5 QP, 4.42 AVG, 1st place, American Conference)

Although the Patroons retained their lead in the American Conference, they lost two tough home matches to the Indiana Alley Cats. The first game, on January 9, resulted in a 118-108 [6-1] Albany defeat. Albany only dressed eight players in the first matchup, as forward Sean Higgins was placed on injured reserve. The Patroons were led by Jamario Moon, who scored 21 points from the bench. Eric Williams tallied 19 points and yanked down nine rebounds. In the second game, a 111-109 [6-1] loss, T.J. Thompson scored 24 points to lead all Patroons, Reggie Jessie handed out 9 assists. Albany's new signee, former University at Albany guard Lucious Jordan, scored 11 points in the final minutes of the first Indiana loss, and lead the Pats with 9 rebounds in the second game. In their final game of the week, Albany traveled to Minot and took a major win from the Skyrockets 120-98 [6.5-0.5]. T.J. Thompson again was the top scorer for Albany, notching 31 points, while Chris Sockwell pulled down nine boards.

Butte Daredevils (6-9, 45.5 QP, 3.03 AVG, 3rd place, National Conference)

In a Battle of Montana, the Butte Daredevils turned away the visiting Great Falls Explorers on January 10, with a 107-97 [6-1] victory in the Butte Civic Center. Nick VanderLaan scored a double-double on the night, hitting 14 points and claiming 15 rebounds, while Odartey Blankson's 24 points, including two three-pointers in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, led all Daredevils in scoring. Butte was also augmented by the signing of 6'11" center Kevin Steenberge, who literally got off the plane that afternoon, warmed up at the shootaround, got fitted for his uniform and played 13 minutes that night, with three points and two rebounds. The win gave new Butte head coach Patrick O'Herron his first CBA victory. On January 13, Butte traveled to Yakama to face the Sun Kings, but were blanked 110-86 [7-0] in the road loss. Anthony Richardson led Butte with 22 points, more than one-quarter of the Daredevils' total output. Odartey Blankson put together a double-double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Great Falls Explorers (12-6, 74.5 QP, 4.14 AVG, 4th place, National Conference)

In Great Falls' only game of the week, Malik Moore's 20 points and 7 rebounds on January 10th were not enough to help Great Falls surpass their Big Sky in-state rivals, the Butte Daredevils. The Explorers, who traveled directly to Butte after two road victories in Pittsburgh, fell 107-97 [6-1] on the road. Later that week, the Explorers signed Mark Flavin, a 6-10 power forward from the University of Maine

Indiana Alley Cats (12-8, 78.0 QP, 3.90 AVG, 2nd place, American Conference)

The Alley Cats increased their winning streak to seven games this week, including taking two road victories from the American Conference-leading Albany Patroons. In the first game on January 9, won by the Alley Cats 118-108 [6-1], Erick Barkley paced the Alley Cats with 32 points and six rebounds, while DeAndre Walker added 20 points and a team-high eight rebounds. In the second Albany-Indiana matchup of the week, the Alley Cats won a close defensive battle 111-109 [6-1]. J.J. Sullinger tore the Pats apart with 34 points and 8 rebounds; he also hit four of six three-pointers in the game. Erick Barkley, who had 19 points on the night, helped seal the victory with a clutch steal from Albany's T.J. Thompson in the final seconds of the game. In their third win of the week, the Alley Cats beat Pittsburgh in the Anderson Wigwam, 129-119 [6-1], as Shawn Fountain put 30 points on the board. J.J. Sullinger had a double-double in the game, his 12 points augmented by 18 rebounds, tying this season's single-game record (Galen Young had 18 boards against the Alley Cats on Dec. 15).

Minot Skyrockets (9-11, 66.0 QP, 3.30 AVG, 3rd place, American Conference)

Minot started the week with a heartbreaking home loss to the Pittsburgh Xplosion, 129-105 [6-1]. In the game, Willie Mitchell picked up a double-double in the game, as he led all Minot players with 33 points and ten rebounds. Other Skyrocket scorers in that game included Jitim Young, who dropped 21 points, and Jason Smith, a 6'6" 225 pound forward from the University of Mississippi who was signed to replace the injured Lenny Cooke, added 14 in the Skyrockets loss. Two days later, Minot avenged the loss by shutting out the Xplosion, 100-81 [7-0]. Steve Castleberry led the Skyrockets with 25 points and 14 rebounds, shutting down Pittsburgh's top scorer Kevin Pittsnogle to just 18 points on the night. In Minot's third game of the week, the Skyrockets fell to the Albany Patroons, 120-98 [6.5-0.5], despite the team's two newest acquisitions. David Harrison's double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) led the team in points, while Darnell Miller had 10 points and led the team with 7 assists.

Pittsburgh Xplosion (2-17, 36.5 QP, 36.5 AVG, 4th place, American Conference)

Kevin Pittsnogle, the Xplosion's first round draft pick, has proved a fortuitous acquisition. On January 10, in a road game against the Minot Skyrockets, the West Virginia grad scored a professional and CBA high 44 points (14-19 from the floor, 11-13 from the free throw line, 5-8 from three-point range) and was one of five Pittsburghers in double figures, as he led the Xplosion to their second victory of the season, 129-105 [6-1] over Minot. Isaac Jefferson pulled down 12 boards in the game, while Marc Williams went 6-6 from the stripe and dished out six assists. On January 11, however, Pittsburgh was shut out by Minot 100-81 [7-0], with Pittsnogle held to just 18 points. The Xplosion tried to take a victory from the Indiana Alley Cats on Sunday night in the Wigwam, but despite Kevin Pittsnogle's 35 points, the Xplosion fell to Indiana 129-119 [6-1]. One bright spot in the game for the Xplosion was Isaac Jefferson, who notched Pittsburgh's first triple-double of the season (18 pts, 11 rebs, 11 assists).

Utah Eagles (5-12, 39.0 QP, 2.29 AVG, 4th place, National Conference)

The Eagles lost a chance to gain ground on the Yakama Sun Kings, losing 99-92 [6-1] at the Yakima SunDome on January 10. In the game, John Millsap led the Eagles with 20 points on the night; while Harold Arceneaux added 17. Ali Berdiel wiped 12 rebounds off the glass in the game, and led all Eagles in assists with five on the night. On Friday, January 12, the Eagles lost a second game to the Sun Kings 107-85 [7-0], despite 24 points from John Millsap. Again Ali Berdiel led the Eagles with 9 boards; he also dished out ten assists in the game.

Yakama Sun Kings (15-6, 99.0 QP, 4.71 AVG, 1st place, National Conference)

In the friendly confines of the SunDome, the Yakama Sun Kings took a win over the Utah Eagles on January 10, 99-92 [6-1]. Ralph Holmes scored 20 points on the night, while Galen Young's 10 points and 11 rebounds earned him another double-double on the season. On January 12, Woolpert earned his 184th CBA coaching victory in a 107-85 [7-0] drubbing of the Utah Eagles. Ralph Holmes (23 points) and Greg Stevens (20 points) led six Sun Kings in double-digit scoring. Ralph Holmes continued his scoring dominance for the Sun Kings, as Yakama defeated the Butte Daredevils 110-86 [7-0], as Holmes (19 points) led seven of eight Sun Kings in double figures. Galen Young earned his third triple-double of the season, with 14 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists in the contest.



Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from January 15, 2007


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