PBL Weekly Report
March 9, 2009 - Premier Basketball League (PBL) News Release
PBL TEAM REPORTS
Augusta Groove
2332 Rutherford
Augusta, GA 30906
706-737-5550 ext 310
fax:706-739-0219
Head coach: Rick Brown
Home arena: Richmond Academy
augustagroovebasketball.com
The Augusta Groove's playoff hopes hinged on their successes this week. On Thursday night, the Peachtree State Crew could not find a way to get past the Wilmington Sea Dawgs, losing 111-97 Thursday night at the Schwartz Center. Donielle Davis was the offensive star of the night for Augusta, putting 26 points on the board; while Demetrius Howard (16 pts), Cory Sims (13 pts) and Kenneth Curtis (11 pts) were also able to score in double figures for the Groove. Calvin Roland led Augusta in rebounds, pulling down 10 boards on the night.
A return to the home court at Richmond Academy, and with the struggling Buffalo Stampede in town, the Groove kept their playoff hopes alive by taking apart the Stampede 126-113. Roderick McGahee put 21 points on the board, while Cory Sims and Donielle Davis scored 20 points apiece. Lance Leach's 10 assists augmented his 11 points for a double-double.
The home court, however, did not help the Groove when the Rochester Razorsharks came for a Sunday night visit; Donielle Davis' 26 team-high points could not help the Groove surpass the Sharks, and Augusta lost 117-99. Demetrius Howard added 19, while Latterrance Casey and Cory Sims scored 16 points apiece.
Battle Creek Knights
McCamly Place
50 Capital Ave. SW
Battle Creek, MI 49017
Phone: (269) 965-5001
Fax: (269) 965-5004
Head coach: Terry Sare
Home arena: Kellogg Arena
bcknights.com
On Sunday night, Florentino Valencia led five Battle Creek Knights in double figures with 20 points, as the Knights defeated the Chicago Throwbacks 114-109. Battle Creek also had successful nights from Rashi Johnson with 19 points and ten rebounds, and Kenny Langhorne throwing in 16 points.
Buffalo Stampede
3498 Sheridan Drive
Amherst, NY 14226
Phone (716) 834-3498
Fax (716) 834-3544
Head coach: John Fitzpatrick
Home arena: Koessler Athletic Ctr.
buffalostampedepbl.com
Newly-signed Derick Payne led the Stampede Saturday night with a team-high 28 points, but the Stampede could not gain ground against the Augusta Groove, and Buffalo lost their twelfth straight game, 126-113 to the Groove. Markus Price scored 24 points for Buffalo, while Tyrone Rayson added 19. Kevin Ross led the Stampede with 10 rebounds; he also finished with 14 points and a double-double for the game.
Things didn't fare as well for Buffalo Sunday night, as the Stampede lost a heartbreaker 122-97 to the Wilmington Sea Dawgs at the Schwartz Center. In the loss, Tyrone Rayson had a double-double of 26 poitns and 19 rebounds, the latter a Stampede rebound single-game record. Derick Payne added 20 points, while Markus Price scored 16 in the Stampede loss.
Chicago Throwbacks
430 East 162nd Street, Suite 507
South Holland IL 60473
Office: (219) 588-3071
Fax: (219) 884-4558
Head coach: Charles Scott
Home arena: Attack Athletics
chicagothrowbacks.com
While the Chicago Throwbacks have improved their record over last season's 5-15 PBL maiden season, their playoff hopes were muddied after a 123-116 home loss to the Detroit Panthers. Despite the loss, three Throwbacks scored 20 or more points in the loss, including a team-leading 28 points from Dameon Mason; 23 points from Stanley Thomas; and 22 points by Willie Mitchell, the points coming against his old team. Imari Sawyer had a double-double of 11 points and 10 team-leading assists.
On Sunday night, the Throwbacks battled the Battle Creek Knights in a close match, but the Windy City Crew eventually fell 114-109. In the loss, Casey Love led the Throwbacks in scoring with 22 points; Jimmie Miles added 20 as well. Imari Sawyer assembled a double-double of 15 points and 11 assists. The loss eliminated the Throwbacks from the postseason.
Detroit Panthers
199 W Brown Street, Suite 110
Birmingham, MI 48009
Phone (248) 645-2278
Fax (248) 920-0482
Head coach: C. Bill Jones
Home arena: Wiley Groves HS
detroitpanthers.com
The Detroit Panthers kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 123-116 road victory over the Chicago Throwbacks on Friday night. Brian Woodland was the star of the night, as his 30 team-leading points included a perfect 6-for-6 from 3-point range. Randy Gill added 24 points for the Motor City Crew, while Walt Waters picked up 19 points in the Detroit win.
Detroit continued their winning streak on Sunday, as they defeated Montreal 119-115 at Birmingham Groves HS. Stane's Bufford put 26 points into the standings, while Walter Waters and the newly-signed Michael Mansel each yanked down 13 team-leading rebounds apiece.
Halifax Rainmen
1888 Brunswick Street, Suite 611
Halifax, NS B3J 3J8
Phone: (902) 444-RAIN, (902) 444-7246
Fax: 1-866-424-4267
Head Coach: Les Berry
Home arena: Halifax MetroCentre
rainmenbasketball.ca
The Halifax Rainmen did not play this week.
Manchester Millrats
816 Elm Street, PMB #182
Manchester, NH 03101
Office: 888-646-RATS (7287)
Fax: 866-321-2821
Head coach: Rob Spon
Home arena: Southern New Hampshire University
manchestermillrats.com
The Manchester Millrats had a chance to clinch their first PBL divisional title Friday night against the Atlantic Division's second-place Vermont Frost Heaves, but despite the Rats' solid eight-game winning streak, they were unable to surpass the Heaves on the Burlington Memorial Auditorium home court, falling 106-99 in overtime. Tommy Mitchell was the top scorer for the Millrats; he finished with 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor. Newly-signed center Marc Mazur made a good first impression, with 10 points in his Millrats debut.
The Millrats were able to pop the champagne on Saturday night, however, as they took a 116-79 road win over the Quebec Kebs, ensuring the Rats of the Atlantic Division title and, with that, a berth in the postseason. Seven of the twelve Millrats finished the game with double-figure scoring, including a team-high 16 points from Al Stewart. Desmond Ferguson's twelve points were all from 3-point range, as the former NBA player hit four "Moneyball" 3-point shots.
Team Montreal
Contact info TBA
Head coach: Tito Destin
Home arena: Ãcole Lucien-Pagé
Despite 28 points from Ratana Sak, Montreal lost a close road game to Detroit 119-115. Kevin Benjamin added 22, while Buster Perkins put up a double-double of 21 points and 15 assists. David Dubois led Montreal with 15 rebounds.
Quebec Kebs
300 rue Métivier,
Québec, QC G1M 3Y9
Office: 418-780-4850
Fax: 418-780-4858
Head coach: Charles Dubé-Brais
Home arena: Pavillon de la Jeunesse
kebsdequebec.com
The Kebs' late-season struggles continued, as Quebec hosted Manchester at Pavillion de la Jeunesse Saturday night. Despite a team-high 23 points and 10 rebounds from Jean-Philippe Morin, the Kebs only scored 32 points in the first half - and fell 116-79 to the Atlantic Division front-runners. Alfred Neale (17 pts) and Darryl Hill (13 pts) also had double-figure scoring for Les Kebs.
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
The Rochester Razorsharks picked up another win to keep pace in the PBL Eastern Division, taking a 117-99 triumph. While Keith Friel put 25 points up on the scoreboard to lead the Sharks in scoring, James "Mook" Reaves returned to the Rochester lineup, scoring 21 points and 9 rebounds. Derik Hollyfield notched 19 points on the scoreboard.
Vermont Frost Heaves
4049 Williston Road
South Burlington VT 05403
Phone: (802) 860-0082
Fax: (802) 860-0085
Head coach: Will Voigt
Home arenas: Burlington Memorial Auditorium; Barre Municipal Auditorium
vermontfrostheaves.com
It was the PBL's version of the irresistible force meeting the immovable object, and it took an overtime period to find the solution. The Vermont Frost Heaves had never lost a home game at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium, while their opponents, the Manchester Millrats, had beaten Vermont three straight times this year, and were also cruising on an 8-game winning streak. But on Friday night, Vermont came out on top with a 106-99 overtime win at Burlington, keeping the Frost Heaves' playoff hopes alive. With three seconds left in regulation, Vermont's John Williams hit a key jump shot, then helped the Heaves burn off seven straight overtime points in the victory. Williams led his team in points with 26; Benson Callier had a double-double with 21 points and ten boards.
Wilmington Sea Dawgs
430 Eastwood Road, Suite 200
Wilmington NC 28403
Office: (910) 791-5523
Fax: (910) 256-4589
Head coach: Dale Kuhl
Home arena: Joe and Barbara Schwartz Center, Cape Fear CC
wilmingtonseadawgs.com
In their fifth and final regular-season matchup between these two Eastern Division rivals, the Wilmington Sea Dawgs took out the Augusta Groove 111-97, on the strength of a 28-point performance by Cedric McGinnis. McGinnis, who also had five assists in the game, helped increase the Sea Dawgs' lead to a 22-point margin in the fourth quarter, before Augusta made a late-game charge. "There's a reason why we have been playing so well lately," said Wilmington head coach Dale Kuhl after the victory. "We have been playing very unselfish basketball, especially in this run [of wins]. We get different contributions from different guys every night." Kadiri Richard put in a defensive gem, pulling down ten rebounds and blocking five Augusta shots.
The Sea Dawgs then hosted Buffalo on Sunday night, and Wilmington's Kris Clark helped put another victory on the board, with a 122-97 triumph over the Stampede. Clark put 39 points on the scoreboard, the most points ever scored by a Sea Dawg in a regular-season PBL contest. Clark also set a franchise record with 8 completed 3-pointers. Cedric McGinnis added 21 points, and Alex Harper added 13 to the tally.
Game reports compiled via team press releases, and from articles appearing in newspapers from the teams' home locations.
PBL TRIPLE DOUBLES
1/4/09, Jonas Pierre, Quebec vs. Manchester, 12 pts, 14 rebs, 11 blocks
PBL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jan 4 - Brian Silverhorn, Halifax
Jan 11 - AJ Millen, Augusta
Jan 18 - Cedric McGinnis, Wilmington
Jan 25 - James "Mook" Reaves, Rochester
Feb 1 - Rob Sanders, Halifax
Feb 8 - Kris Clark, Wilmington
Feb 15 - Desmond Ferguson, Manchester
Feb 22 - Randy Gill, Detroit
Mar 1 - Randy Gill, Detroit
PBL COACH OF THE MONTH
January - Terry Sare, Battle Creek
February - Rob Spon, Manchester
PBL "FOUR SCORE" HALFCOURT BASKETS
A "Four Score" shot occurs when a player completes a successful field goal from beyond halfcourt. The team receives four points for such a basket, while, for statistical purposes, the player is credited with two completed two-point field goals. A list of all successful "Four Scores" for the 2008-09 season are listed below.
1/2/09, Willie Mitchell, Detroit v. Mid-Michigan (4th quarter)
1/8/09, Alex Harper, Wilmington at Battle Creek (4th quarter)
1/9/09, Randy Gill, Montreal at Vermont (3rd quarter)
PBL TRANSACTIONS
March 5 Detroit Panthers - Signed F Odgra Bobo and G Oscar Sanders. Released C Justin Fiori. Placed F James Head on the Injured Reserve list.
Manchester Millrats - Signed C Marc Mazur. Released C Kenyon Gamble.
Vermont Frost Heaves - Signed C Larry Turner. Released F Regis Koundja.
Kebs de Quebec - Released G Larry House.
March 6 Detroit Panthers - Signed F Lawrence Harden. Released F Chuck Bailey.
Rochester Razorsharks - Signed C Lincoln Smith. Released F Ratdech Kruatiwa. Activated James Reaves from the Injured Reserve list. Placed Aaron Williams on Injured Reserve list.
PBL BROADCAST SCHEDULE
@SPORTSTV (http://www.at-sportstv.com)
Saturday, March 14 Augusta at Rochester, 2:05est
Tuesday, March 17 Wilmington at Rochester, 7:05est
Sunday, March 22 Buffalo at Rochester, 1:05est
Saturday, March 28 Montreal at Halifax, 6:00est
Saturday, March 28 Chicago at Rochester, 2:05est
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Premier Basketball League Stories from March 9, 2009
- Rainmen Trade Dandridge To Quebec For Anderson - Halifax Rainmen
- Millrats And Kebs Complete Blockbuster Trade - Saint John Riptide
- PBL Weekly Report - PBL
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