
PBL weekly report
February 6, 2008 - Premier Basketball League (PBL) News Release
PBL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brian Greene, Jacksonville Jam
Brian Greene has been the JAM's leading scorer this season averaging nearly a double-double thus far this season with 18.6 points and 9 rebounds to go along with 3.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game. The Jacksonville native was a former standout player at Florida A&M where he averaged 11.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in his senior season. He last played in the first round of the 2007 NCAA tournament scoring 10 pts and 9 boards in an opening round loss to Niagara. The former Jacksonville Ribault High School star lettered in basketball, baseball and football where he averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots his senior season to reap second team all-state honors. In addition, he was named to the all-area, all-conference team. Greene also averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds per game in his junior season where he also earned all-conference and all area honors.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK TO JOIN PBL FOR 2009 SEASON
Don Sellers to join staff
On February 1, 2008, The PBL announced that a Buffalo franchise will be added to the current ten team league.
The yet to be named franchise is owned by NexxNow, Inc. a Media and Marketing Company based out of Buffalo, New York. According to NexxNow Chairman Todd Wier, "The Buffalo market will continue to enjoy some of the best professional basketball talent in America."
The PBL, a league in its first year of operation has teams in ten cities spread across the country including Dallas, Chicago and Rochester, an instant rival for the Buffalo team. The league says they plan to expand slowly and is enthusiastic about the Buffalo addition. The NexxNow management team fielded the Buffalo Silverbacks since 2005. The product was always professionally delivered and the City of Buffalo well represented. "We are proud to have them as a member of the PBL," stated Tom Doyle, PBL President.
NexxNow is and Sports Marketing and Media Company headed up by Paul Riley, an attorney and former producer/broadcaster with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Modie Cox, former University of Buffalo star, 2007 ABA "Man of the Year" and "Do Your Best Never Quit" community outreach President will join the executive team with Riley and Wier.
The team is currently negotiating its venue and will begin play in January, 09.
ROCHESTER RAZORSHARKS ANNOUNCE NEW ASSISTANT COACH
Don Sellers to join staff
On February 2, 2008, the Rochester Razorsharks announced the addition of assistant coach, Don Sellers. Sellers, a native of Columbus, Ohio, has spent the past 15 years working in professional basketball. Previously, Sellers was an assistant coach for the PBL's Dallas Defenders.
RazorSharks head coach, Rod Baker, coached with Sellers during their time with the Harlem Globetrotters in 2004. Sellers was the Globetrotters Vice President of Basketball Operations and assistant coach. "Anytime you have a tremendous basketball mind like Don, it can only make your team better," said Baker.
Sellers has spent time in the National Basketball Association (NBA) where he was an advanced scout for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Memphis Grizzles.
Sellers also previously worked in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), International Basketball League (IBL), Chinese Basketball Association (Chinese-CBA), Lebanon Basketball Association (LEB), as an assistant coach and head coach.
MARYLAND-READING GAME RESCHEDULED FOR MARCH 7
The Maryland Nighthawks-Reading Railers game that was originally scheduled for Sunday, January 27, but was postponed due to transportation problems, has been rescheduled for March 7, 2008 in Maryland, with a tip-off set for 7PM.
Fans holding General Admission tickets to the regularly scheduled game will be able to use these tickets to any of the seven remaining Nighthawks home games.
Fans holding Dream Seats and Courtside tickets to the regularly scheduled game will only be able to use these tickets to the make-up game on Friday, March 7 at 7PM.
PBL TEAM REPORTS
Arkansas Impact
2600 Howard Street
Little Rock, AR 72206
Office: (501) 821-0166
Fax: (501) 821-0166
Head coach: Todd Day
Home arena: Barton Coliseum
arkansasimpactbasketball.com
In the Impact's 132-118 Sunday afternoon victory over the Chicago Throwbacks, nine of the ten men Arkansas dressed scored 10 points or more, led by 27 points from 6'6" small forward Tyrone Davis. Ryan Holmes put 16 points on the board, while Nick Tuggle and Brian Bunche each scored 14. Tuggle added 10 rebounds for a nice double-double. With the victory, Arkansas moved back into first place in the PBL's Western Division.
Chicago Throwbacks
P.O. Box 1608
Calumet City, IL 60409
Office: (515) 208-1231
Fax: (219) 884-4558
Head coach: Donnie Boyce
Home arena: Attack Athletics
chicagothrowbacks.com
A Dallas-Chicago matchup that was originally scheduled for Friday evening was rescheduled for Saturday night, due to weather and travel issues. Still, on Saturday night the Throwbacks were able to upend the Dallas Defenders 103-98, led by 23 points from Stanley Thomas. "We needed this win to get back in the race," said head coach Donnie Boyce of his players.
A strong run by the Chicago Throwbacks was not enough to surpass the Arkansas Impact, as the visiting Impact took a 132-118 victory over the Throwbacks. Jimmie Miles, a 6'2" rookie guard from Robert Morris, finished the night with 28 points, including four 3-pointers. Steve Strong scored 23 points, while Jerome Harper and Michael O'Neal finished with 7 rebounds apiece.
Dallas Defenders
15305 North Dallas Parkway
Suite 300
Addison TX 75001
Office: (972) 455-2883
Fax: (972) 715-2099
Head coach: Chuck Davisson
Home arena: Alfred J. Loos Fieldhouse
defendershoops.com
The Dallas Defenders were originally scheduled to play at Chicago Friday night, but were stymied by travel and weather conditions, so the game was rescheduled for Saturday evening at Attack Athletics. Unfortunately for the Defenders, the team fell 103-98.
The Defenders returned home to face the winless Maryland Nighthawks, but the College Park quintet emerged victorious 127-101 over the home Defenders.
Jacksonville Jam
11111-70 San Jose Blvd #188
Jacksonville FL 32223
Phone: (904) 302-5323
Fax: (813) 283-7887
Head coach: Mike Gillespie
Home arena: University of North Florida Arena
jaxjam.com
With 1,411 fans in the stands, and most of them wearing red as part of "National Wear Red Day," in support of the American Heart Association's "Go Red For Women" movement, the Jacksonville Jam grabbed another last-second victory, this time over the Rockford Fury, 105-104. Brian Greene had 26 points, six rebounds and six assists and made two free throws with 16 seconds left in the game. The Jam trailed the entire fourth quarter until guard Terrence Woods, who had 17 points on the night, hit a 3-pointer with 1:16 remaining to tie the game at 101. Later, as the Fury had possession and a one-point lead, forward Antonio Lawrence stole the ball and pushed the fast break, which led to Greene's free throws.
Maryland Nighthawks
101 North Adams Street
Rockville, MD 20850
Office: (301) 758-1090
Fax: (301) 738-3709
Head coach: Lawrence Moten
Home arena: Hanley Center for Athletic Excellence, Georgetown Prep H.S.
marylandnighthawks.com
All it took for the Maryland Nighthawks to score their first victory of the season was a visit from Spongebob. Not the cartoon character who lives at the bottom of the sea, but Andrew "Spongebob" Washington, who scored 30 points in his return to the Nighthawks - spurring their 127-101 road victory over the Dallas Defenders. David Bailey added 21 points to the Nighthawks win, while Kevin Robinson had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, with three blocked shots added for good measure. Warren Jefferson was just one assist shy of a double-double, with 10 points and nine assists in the match.
Quad Cities Riverhawks
Beyond The Baseline
1540 W 12th Street
Davenport, IA 52804
Office: 1-866-694-5728
Fax: 1-800-970-2479
Head coach: LaTroy Farrow
Home arena: Wharton Fieldhouse
qcriverhawks.com
The Quad Cities Riverhawks did not play this week.
Reading Railers
35 N 6th Street
Reading, PA 19601
Office: (610) 898-9466
Fax: (610) 898-9386
Head coach: Sal Mentesana
Home arena: Sovereign Center
readingrailers.com
The Reading Railers did not play this week.
Rochester Razorsharks
39 State Street, Suite 100
Rochester NY 14614
Office: (585) 232-9190
Fax: (585) 232-8086
Head Coach: Rod Baker
Home Venue: Blue Cross Arena
razorsharks.com
A swap at the top of the PBL's Eastern Division, as the Rochester Razorsharks hosted - and defeated - the Wilmington Sea Dawgs Saturday afternoon, with a 107-97 victory at the Blue Cross Arena. Sammy Monroe (24 points) and Jerice Crouch (21 points) had top-scoring nights for the Razorsharks. The first quarter ended with a half-court, buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Demond Stewart, who finished with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Jermaine Bell and James "Mook" Reaves dominated the shot-blocking stats, with Bell blocking four shots and Reaves denying three.
Rockford Fury
5301 East State Street, Suite 114
Rockford IL 61108
Office: (815) 399-4222
Fax: 1-800-970-2479
Head coach: Dave Knickelbein
Home arena: Seaver Gymnasium, Rockford College
rockfordfury.com
The Rockford Fury held the lead for most of their Friday night contest against the Jacksonville Jam, only to watch as the Jam tied the game at 101, then stole the ball, leading to Brian Greene's game-winning free throws, as Rockford fell to the Fury 105-104. Reggie George finished the night with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Frank Richards had 14 points and 4 blocked shots. Ameer Watts and Amir Major each scored 10 points for the Fury.
Wilmington Sea Dawgs
430 Eastwood Road, Suite 200
Wilmington NC 28403
Office: (910) 791-5523
Fax: (910) 256-4589
Head coach: Kevin Whitted
Home arena: Joe and Barbara Schwartz Center, Cape Fear CC
goseadawgs.com
In a battle of the top two teams in the PBL's Eastern Division, the Wilmington Sea Dawgs traveled to Rochester for a Sunday afternoon matchup with the Razorsharks. Unfortunately for Wilmington, the Razorsharks took an early lead and eventually won 107-97. Cedric McGinnis finished leading the Sea Dawgs with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Alexander Harper netted 21 points, five assists and three steals. Jermaine Williams scored 13 points, and led the team in blocked shots, with four.
Game reports compiled via team press releases, and from articles appearing in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, the Reading Eagle, the Rockford Register-Star, the Quad City Times, the Wilmington Star-News, and other newspapers.
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Premier Basketball League Stories from February 6, 2008
- Quad City Riverhawks News and Notes - Quad City Riverhawks
- Jacksonville Jam Ends Relationship with Premier Basketball League - Jacksonville Slam
- PBL weekly report - PBL
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