Lightning and Skyforce ready to earn second CBA title
Published on March 28, 2005 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release
Boise, ID (March 28, 2005) â The 2005 best-of-five-game CBA Finals tips-off Monday, March 28, as the Sioux Falls Skyforce hosts the Rockford Lightning at the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is battle between two of the league's more tenured franchises, as both teams look to bring a CBA Title to their respective cities.
"It is great for our organization, and the people in Rockford are very excited," stated third-year Lightning Head Coach Chris Daleo. "After being in the league for over 20 years now, we have a chance to bring the Jay Ramsdell trophy back to the Lightning. We have had season ticket holders with us for 18 years, and they are excited about that, so this is big for us."
Added Sioux Falls Head Coach Dave Joerger, "I feel that the Skyforce staff and organization is finally being rewarded for their hard work. Over the last few years, there have been some difficult times on the court, but now the community knows that the Skyforce is back. I am very proud of this team, and win or lose, we have generated a lot of success for our organization."
The Lightning, the oldest team in the league in its 27th season, won its only CBA Title in 1982, when the team was known as the Lancaster Lightning. Led by then Head Coach Cazzie Russell and Assistant Coach Henry Bibby, the Lightning defeated the Rochester Zeniths (3-1) in the Eastern Division Finals before defeating the Billings Volcanos (4-1) in the CBA Finals. Since then, the Lightning has played in the CBA Finals three times (1987, 1989, 2002), and is on a current streak of 12 straight postseason appearances.
The Skyforce is the third oldest team in the CBA, having played its inaugural season during the 1989-90 campaign. The team earned its first trip to the CBA Playoffs in 1995 under Head Coach Flip Saunders, losing two-games-to-one to the Omaha Racers in the first round. The following season the Skyforce won its only CBA Title, as Head Coach Morris "Mo" McHone led the team to a four-games-to-one CBA Finals victory over the Fort Wayne Fury. Sioux Falls returned to the postseason for the next five consecutive years, including two trips to the Finals (1998, 1999), before missing out on playoff action the past two seasons.
Now, with the mindset of success that two-time CBA Coach of the Year Joerger has brought to Sioux Falls, the Skyforce look to recapture the glory days of the mid 1990's.
"I think and I hope that this is a group of guys that is remembered for turning it back around to what it used to be," recently stated Joerger, who won two CBA Titles (2002, 2004) as head coach of the Dakota Wizards, to a local Sioux Falls newspaper. "Hopefully, they are remembered for their team play and helping bring back the tradition of Skyforce basketball. This is a very successful group of guys and a successful campaign."
Sioux Falls finished the 2004-05 regular season in second place in the Western Conference with a 31-17 record and a 4.0 quarter-point average (194 total). The Skyforce then defeated the Wizards (3-2) in the Western Conference Finals, including the decisive fifth game on the Wizards' home court.
Rockford ended the regular season in second place in the Eastern Conference after finishing with a 26-22 record and a 3.7 quarter-point average (178.5 total). The Lightning also played a decisive fifth game in the Eastern Conference Finals, hanging on for a 105-104 win over the Great Lakes Storm on the Storm's home floor.
Both teams also posted impressive records at home during the season, as the Skyforce led the league with a 19-5 home record, while the Lightning tied the Wizards for the second-best home-court advantage with an 18-6 record.
"We were two of the better home teams in the league, and I think both teams winning the Conference Finals on somebody else's floor in game five should give both teams confidence to play on the road," added Joerger.
As for Daleo, he adds that it does not matter if his team is at home or on the road, you will always see an extra effort out of his players, because winning is what it is all about.
"We have played extremely hard all year, and my players have been loyal, hard working, and dedicated," praised Daleo, who was the 2002-03 CBA Coach of the Year. "We play hard night in and night out and I am very happy for my club. I also think playing in the CBA Finals will help their careers as well, because people like to be known as winners."
If Rockford is able to win three of the next five games, they will be known as the winners of the 2005 CBA Title, and will bring the Jay Ramsdell Trophy home for the first time in 23 years. If not, the Skyforce will have accomplished their goal of adding a second championship banner among the rafters of the Sioux Falls Arena.
Either way, adds Daleo, "It will be a great match up, and it is going to be a fun series."
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from March 28, 2005
- Lightning and Skyforce ready to earn second CBA title - CBA 1
- Time change for Game Four of CBA Finals - Rockford Lightning
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