Jemeil Rich named CBA player of the week
Published on March 8, 2004 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Gary Steelheads News Release
GARY, Ind. (March 8, 2004) â As a point guard, Jemeil Rich is the take-charge person on the floor.
The quiet, 5-foot-10 Steelheads point guard spoke loudly last week as he averaged a double-double in four games as he averaged 23.5 points and 16.7 assists for the week. He also added 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Rich recorded a Continental Basketball Association season-high 23 assists in a big road win at Sioux Falls on March 2. The 23 assists are also a Steelheads single-game, franchise-record. He also scored 30 points that night as he helped lead the Steelheads to their first-ever playoff berth in the franchise's four-year history.
For his outstanding effort, Jemeil Rich is the Continental Basketball Association Player of the Week for the week of February 29-March 7.
"My job is to go out and distribute the ball and just do what it takes to win the game," Rich said. "I am just happy to still be playing into March. There are nine other guys in a Steelheads uniform that work just as hard and want to win as badly as I do."
It is the second straight week that a Steelhead earned such honor. It is also the second time Rich has earned the award. He won it for the week of February 23-March1, 2003. Guard David Graves won the award for the week of February 22-28. Rich is the third Gary player to win the award this season. Leon Smith won the award the week of December 14-20. Steelheads players have won the Player of the Week Award 15 times in the franchise's four-year history. Last season, five different Steelheads won the award for a total of seven times.
In a 128-112 victory over Sioux Falls on March 2, the Gary native and Roosevelt High School graduate notched 20 points and 23 assists, setting a league season-high in assists. Three nights later, in a 117-107 victory over the Idaho Stampede, he added 30 points and 20 assists as the Steelheads clinched a playoff spot. The following night, he posted 20 points and 11 assists as Gary defeated the Rockford Lightning, and clinched the third seed for the playoffs, in front of 6,202 fans at the Genesis Convention Center.
Rich led the league in assists during the season with a 10.6 average, and also finished second in steals with 2.7 per game.
The Steelheads play their first-ever playoff game on Tuesday at Idaho in the best-of-five first-round series. They also play at Idaho on Wednesday. Both games are at 8:10 p.m., Gary time and can be heard on the World Wide Web at www.steelheadshoops.com. Just click on the Sportsjuice icon. Their first-ever home playoff game is Friday at 7:05 p.m. at the Genesis Convention Center. Game 4, if necessary is Saturday night at home. If a fifth game is necessary, it will be on Thursday, March 18 at Idaho.
Playoff seats are as low at $5 with special group ticket rates available. Please call the Steelheads' office at (219) 882-4222. To order tickets on line, go to Ticketmaster.com.
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from March 8, 2004
- CBA Transactions - CBA 1
- Stampede's Coach K named CBA Coach of the Month - Idaho Stampede
- McElroy, Rich make CBA All-Defensive Team - Gary Steelheads
- Idaho's Hadley named CBA Defensive Player of the Year - CBA 1
- You can have your pie and eat it too - Gary Steelheads
- Jemeil Rich named CBA player of the week - Gary Steelheads
- Rich earns Player of the Week honors - CBA 1
- Krystkowiak earns Coach of the Month honors - CBA 1
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.
