CBA Weekly

April 2, 2007 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release

YAKAMA SUN KINGS WIN FIFTH CBA CHAMPIONSHIP IN THREE-GAME SWEEP OF ALBANY

Eddy Barlow named Playoff MVP

The Continental Basketball Association crowned a new champion Friday night, in a totally dominating performance from the opening tipoff in Game 1 to the final seconds of the clinching Game 3, the Yakama Sun Kings defeated the Albany Patroons to secure the Jay Ramsdell Championship Trophy for a fifth season.

The Sun Kings, who joined the CBA in the 1985-86 season as the Kansas City Sizzlers and who later spent four seasons as the Topeka Sizzlers before relocating to Yakima, Washington prior to he 1990-91 season, now have won the most championships in the CBA's modern (post-1979) history; only the Allentown Jets and Wilkes-Barre Barons, who won eight championships apiece from the CBA's Eastern League era, have won more titles than the Sun Kings.

The Sun Kings took the first two games of the best-of-five series in Albany, winning the first contest in a 113-99 blowout, then holding on for a 92-87 victory in a Game 2 wracked with an Albany coaching change and a Patroons team fight. The third contest, held at the Yakima Valley SunDome, had the defending CBA champions leap out to an early 7-0 lead, and hold a scoring advantage of as much as 32 points (including a dominating 36-17 second quarter) before finally bringing the championship home to 4,015 fans in attendance.

Yakama's Eddy Barlow, who finished the series with 45 points, 22 assists and 7 steals, was named the finals playoff Most Valuable Player. Barlow's 14 points and 14 assists in Game 3 helped seal the Sun Kings' championship. In fact, the Sun Kings as a team dished out a CBA single-game playoff record 39 assists in Game 3. Barlow's 15.0 points per game average was one of five Sun Kings to finish the series in double-digit scoring average, joining Ralph Holmes (20.7 ppg), Galen Young (18.3 ppg), Elvin Mims (15.3 ppg) and Greg Stevenson (13.0).

Barlow and teammate Chris Alexander, having played for two different teams in the 2005-06 season (Barlow with the Idaho Stampede, Alexander with the Gary Steelheads) have now won their first CBA championships. Sun Kings teammates Ralph Holmes, Leonard White and Richard Dionne have each earned their second consecutive championships; head coach Paul Woolpert now has his third championship ring (2000, 2006), all with the Sun Kings franchise.

The Albany Patroons, who reached the finals by winning the American Conference championship title on the final day of the regular season, could not get their game in sync. After losing 113-99 at home in Game 1, Patroons head coach Micheal Ray Richardson was suspended by the CBA for anti-Semitic and homophobic comments made in a local newspaper interview; in Game 2, an on-the-court argument between teammates Felipe Lopez and Carl Mitchell turned into a fistfight, with Mitchell ejected from Game 2 and Lopez suspended for Game 3. Assistant head coach Derrick Rowland tried to coach a victory from the Patroons in Richardson's absence, but Albany was simply outmatched in the playoffs by the Sun Kings; in fact, Albany became the first franchise to fail to surpass 100 points in any of their finals games since the La Crosse Bobcats lost to the Sun Kings 109-93 in a single-elimination playoff final; no team had ever finished an entire series without scoring at least 100 points since the 1955-56 season, when the Eastern League's Williamsport (Pa.) Billies lost a best-of-five series without ever surpassing 90 points in a contest.

Among the Patroons highlights in the series were rookie Gordon Klaiber's 31 points in Game 3, the most for any player on either squad; Kareem Reed's 22 assists, tying him with Barlow for most by an individual in this series; and CBA Defensive Player of the Year Jamario Moon's five blocked shots, eight steals and 16.7 points per game in Moon's first ever CBA finals series.

GAME 1: YAKAMA 113, ALBANY 99

Washington Avenue Armory, Albany, N.Y.

With the American Conference and National Conference champions meeting in a best-of-five series, both teams knew that the first squad to gain an early advantage would be able to pull through for the first game. In that end, the Sun Kings proved dominance, as they completely dominated Albany from start to finish. The Sun Kings shot 60.8 percent from the field (45 of 74) in their Game 1 win, while keeping the high-scoring Patroons under 100 points for just the eighth time in 49 games this season. One of the top shooting teams this season, Albany shot 40.5 percent (17 of 42) in the second half as Yakama limited them to 44 points. Yakama was able to shut down Albany's top scoring guards, Kareem Reid and Kwan Johnson, by double-teaming them on pick-and rolls. Reid, who previously averaged 22 ppg against the Sun Kings, could only hit 11 points inbetween coughing up six turnovers; Johnson, normally good for 23 points against a team he once played for (1998 and 1999), could only get 19 points, most of them in the first half. Several of the Patroons, including Gordon Klaiber, Felipe Lopez and Reggie Jessie, were all hampered by a flu bug, which also limited their energy.

Eddy Barlow was part of a big backcourt effort by the Sun Kings, as Ralph Holmes added 20 points, despite playing 23 minutes because of foul trouble. Barlow and Holmes combined to hit 16 of 25 shots, as well as collecting 10 rebounds and six steals between them. Galen Young had 19 points and a team-best eight assists, and Greg Stevenson came off the bench to contribute 15, including 11 of 5 of 6 shooting in the first half after Elvin Mims got into early foul trouble.

Jamario Moon, who before the contest was honored as the CBA's Defensive Player of the Year, led the Patroons with 24 points on the night. Albany's Kwan Johnson (19 points), Gordon Klaiber (one point), Lopez and Reggie Jessie (did not play) were all bothered in varying degrees by the flu.

GAME 2: YAKAMA 92, ALBANY 87

Washington Avenue Armory, Albany, N.Y.

In the 24-hour span between Games 1 and 2, Albany's head coach Micheal Ray Richardson was suspended; Derrick Rowland, Albany's assistant coach and the owner of two Patroons championship rings (1984, 1988), coached the team for the remainder of the playoffs. Rowland initially had the Patroons energized, as the team played strong defense and forced several different Sun Kings into turnover trouble, while taking the lead several times and keeping the game close. Among the clutch players for the Patroons in Game 2 were Gordon Klaiber (15 points), Kwan Johnson (19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) and Jamario Moon (17 points, 5 steals).

But in the final twelve minutes of the contest, Sun Kings Jason Forte and Elvin Mims had their best games of the season - combining for 11 of Yakama's final 14 points, including Elvin Mims' short jumper with 29 seconds left to break an 87-all tie. Five of Jason Forte's nine points came in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer that pushed Yakama into the lead.

Meanwhile, the Patroons were hampered in the final seconds by an altercation between teammates Felipe Lopez and Carl Mitchell at the tail end of the second quarter. Mitchell was ejected from the contest, and both men will serve a one-game suspension; Lopez sitting out Game 3, and Mitchell sitting out game 4. Albany had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but Jamario Moon's game-tying 3-pointer only hit the outside of the nets, and the Sun Kings were able to return to Yakama holding a 2-0 championship series edge.

GAME 3: YAKAMA 120, ALBANY 92

Yakima Valley SunDome, Yakima, Wash.

From the opening tip-off until the final buzzer, the Yakama Sun Kings totally outplayed the Albany Patroons, clinching the Sun Kings' second consecutive CBA championship and fifth overall league title.

The Sun Kings shot 60 percent in the first quarter, with 11 assists, and 66% in the first half (31 of 47) with 23 assists to just six turnovers. Defensively, they limited Albany to 36% shooting (16 of 44). Eventually Yakama opened a 31-18 lead, then started off the second quarter with a 13-4 run, punctuated with back-to-back slam dunks by Greg Stevenson and Jason Forte. A 17-4 run late in the second pushed the advantage to 69-39, and Yakama would eventually lead by as much as 38 points early in the third quarter before coasting home. "Our guys said they felt they deserved the championship," said Sun Kings coach Paul Woolpert to the Yakima Herald-Republic. "I stressed to them that they have to earn it. And we earned it. The way we finished the season was amazing. The whole playoff series, they had their focus and intensity."

The Patroons tried their best to catch up, but despite Gordon Klaiber's playoff-high 31 points, and Kareem Reid's double-double of 10 assists and 17 points, the Patroons gave up more turnovers than an opening day bakery sale. Albany gave up 20 turnovers to Yakama's 14; and their top scorers, Jamario Moon (9 pts) and Kwan Johnson (10 pts) were quickly shut down by the powerful Sun Kings defense.

Meanwhile, the Patroons were hampered in the final seconds by an altercation between teammates Felipe Lopez and Carl Mitchell at the tail end of the second quarter. Mitchell was ejected from the contest, and both men will serve a one-game suspension; Lopez sitting out Game 3, and Mitchell sitting out game 4. Albany had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but Jamario Moon's game-tying 3-pointer only hit the outside of the nets, and the Sun Kings were able to return to Yakama holding a 2-0 championship series edge.

MICHEAL RAY RICHARDSON SUSPENDED FOR REMAINDER OF PLAYOFFS

After inflammatory Anti-Semitic and homophobic comments made in local newspaper

On March 28, 2007, after Game 1 of the CBA Finals, the Albany Patroons announced that they have suspended head coach Micheal Ray Richardson for the remainder of the CBA Finals.

Below is the Albany Patroons Press Release:

"Due to the serious allegations in this morning's Times Union article by Brian Ettkin, Micheal Ray Richardson has been suspended for the remainder of the 2007 CBA Championship series.

During this suspension period, the Albany Patroons and the Continental Basketball Association, pursuant to Section III F-6 of the CBA's operations manual, shall conduct a full and complete investigation as to the validity of these allegations. If these allegations are true, appropriate action will take place immediately.

While under suspension, Mr. Richardson shall not be permitted access to the Armory during practice and game situations, per CBA rules and regulations. Derrick Rowland shall assume the lead coaching position during this interim period.

The Albany Patroons organization sincerely apologizes to any individuals or ethnic groups that these alleged statements may have offended."

On March 30, 2007, Coach Micheal Ray Richardson issued the following statement:

"I want to apologize to anyone offended by my recent statements. In an attempt to compliment and express my deep respect for Jewish people, I inadvertently fell into anti-Semitic stereotyping. Recognizing that I need to be better educated in expressing my views, I have contacted and will be working with the Anti-Defamation League office in New York City. With the ADL, I hope to become more sensitive and to demonstrate my strong affection for people of all backgrounds.

Micheal Ray Richardson, March 30, 2007."

Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from April 2, 2007

• CBA Weekly - CBA 1
• Phil Jackson and Mendy Rudolph elected to Basketball Hall of Fame - CBA 1
• Patroons launch internal investigation - Albany Patroons

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.