Hot-Shooting Steelheads Defeat Sun Kings 119-103 in First Game of CBA Finals

Published on March 24, 2006 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Gary Steelheads News Release


GARY, Indiana (March 23, 2006) - The Gary Steelheads shot and defended their way to a victory in the first game of the CBA Finals, defeating the Yakama Sun Kings 119-103 at the Yakima Valley Sun Dome. In a dominating performance, the Steelheads held the lead virtually from start to finish. The Sun Kings lead the game only for a brief moment at 29-28 early in the second quarter.

The Steelheads took the crowd out of the game with an incredible shooting performance, hitting 48-of-82 (.585) from the field and a red-hot 14-of-21 (.667) from three point range. Gary outscored Yakama 42-9 from beyond the arc, with three Steelheads players hitting every three point shot they attempted.

But offense wasn't the only component in the victory, as the Steelheads held the Sun Kings to just .442 shooting from the field (42-of-95). Yakama's Antwaine Barbour, who came into the game as the CBA's third-leading playoff scorer (25.3 ppg.) did not score a field goal until 4:45 remaining in the game. He didn't even get a shot attempt until the fourth quarter, finishing with just 8 points for the evening.

The Steelheads were paced by guard Eric Chatfield, who poured in a CBA career-high 26 points. He hit 11-of-13 field goal attempts, including 3-for-3 from three point range. He also handed out 8 assists and grabbed four rebounds. Guard Brian Chase added a double-double performance of 21 points and 11 assists. He also went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Forward Carl Mitchell added 21 points with 7 rebounds, while forward Randy Holcomb tossed in 19 points with 8 rebounds.

Forward Marlowe Currie chipped in 15 points, while Robert Griffin added 11. Currie hit all 3 of his three pointers, while Griffin went 3-for-4 from three point range. Center Chris Alexander paced all Steelheads' rebounders with 14. For the evening, the Steelheads placed six players in double figures.

The Sun Kings could not match the Steelheads' balanced scoring, but center Anthony "Pig" Miller turned in an exceptional effort in a losing cause. He grabbed 22 rebounds, while scoring 15 points. Forward Leonard White paced the Sun Kings attack with 19 points, and forward Rosell Ellis added 16.

The Steelheads' victory at Yakama is the first road victory for any team participating in this year's CBA Playoffs. Gary has now beaten Yakama three straight times, including twice in the playoffs.

The two teams will now travel east for game two in the best-of-three CBA Finals, to be played at the Genesis Center in Gary on Sunday afternoon. Game time will be 3:00PM CT. If Yakama forces a third game with a victory, the deciding Game 3 will be played Monday night at the Genesis Center.



Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from March 24, 2006


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