PBL Weekly Report

March 29, 2010 - Premier Basketball League (PBL) News Release


Buffalo Stampede

3380 Sheridan Drive, #177

Buffalo, NY 14226

Phone (716) 603-9749

Fax (716) 836-2884

Head coach: Romeo McKinney

Home arena: Koessler Athletic Center, Canisius College

buffalostampedepbl.com

With three games left in their second PBL season, the Buffalo Stampede have already improved on their 1-19 maiden season, and are now in a dogfight with Quebec and Maryland to not finish the season last in the division. Saturday night Buffalo took on Quebec at the Koessler Athletic Center. Despit 20 points from Mike Norwood and 17 from All-Star Corey Herring, the Stampede could not surpass the Kebs, losing 127-94. Kevin Ross added 12 points for Buffalo.

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 continue to fight for a playoff spot, and improved their chances at one with a 132-118 pasting of the Maryland GreenHawks at a Washington, D.C. road venue. Desmond Ferguson lit up the scoreboard with 28 team-high points, including six "Moneyball" three-point shots. Eric Gilchrese and Eric Crookshank had 22 points apiece; Crookshank continued his rebounding dominance with 11 boards, while Gary Ervin led the team in assists, with eight.

No rest for the Rainmen - it was on a plane and back to the MetroCentre for a Saturday afternoon matchup with the Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry. Despite 26 points and 11 rebounds by Gary Ervin, and another 17-point, 18-rebounds night from Eric Crookshank, the Rainmen lost their fourth straight overtime contest, 106-94, to Lawton-Fort Sill. Desmond Ferguson and Tony Bennett, who along with the previously mentioned Crookshank and Ervin, were named to the All-Star team, scored 18 points apiece for Halifax.

Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry

#14 Central Mall

Lawton, OK 73501

Phone: (580) 353-2287

Fax: (580) 353-1619

Head coach: Micheal Ray Richardson

Home arena: Great Plains Coliseum

lfscavs.com

With the PBL's current longest winning streak intact, the Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry traveled to Halifax for a Saturday afternoon contest with the Rainmen. And thanks to 25 points from Eddie Smith and a 20-point, 13-board night for Elvin Mims, the Cavs pulled out a 104-96 overtime triumph for their 13th straight win. The win keeps Lawton-Fort Sill on pace to tie the 2007-08 Rochester Razorsharks and 2008-09 Battle Creek Knights for best regular-season winning percentage of .900.

Manchester Millrats

816 Elm Street, PMB #182

Manchester, NH 03101

Office: 888-646-RATS (7287)

Fax: 866-321-2821

Head coach: Heath Teixiera

Home arena: Southern New Hampshire University Fieldhouse

manchestermillrats.com

The Manchester Millrats' final game of the season took place on the road at Blue Cross Arena, and the Rats almost upended the Sharks for the visitor's season finale. But the Sharks came back for a 117-107 victory over Manchester. Anthony Anderson, who was named to the PBL All-Star Team, finished with 25 points on the night, tops among his teammates. Steve Deluca had 17 points, while Charles Bronson added 15 and Dwight Brewington 11.

Maryland GreenHawks

101 North Adams Street

Rockville, MD 20850

Office: (301) 466-1781

Fax: (301) 738-3709

Head coach: Chad Warren

Home arena: Thomas S. Wootton Athletic Center

gogreenhawks.com

With their final home game of the season, the Maryland GreenHawks welcomed the Halifax Rainmen to Coolidge High School in Washington, D.C. The high-scoring game saw Terrance Mouton hit 27 points, with Harvey Thomas adding 20. But the score, 132-118, went to the Rainmen. Joseph Flegler had twelve assists in the game, while Sean McKeon and All-Star Michael Anderson protected the glass with eight blocked shots apiece. McKeon also had ten rebounds for Maryland.

Things did not improve for the GreenHawks on Saturday, as they were defeated on the road by the Vermont Frost Heaves, 133-119. Maryland was led in scoring by Terrance Mouton with 33 points, while Demetrius Howard added 21 points and Scooter Sherrill scored 20.

Puerto Rico Capitanes

José R. Irizarry #152

Arecibo, PR 00612

phone: (787) 880-1530, (787) 880-1531

fax : (787) 880-1536

Head coach: David Rosario

Home arena: Coliseo Manuel Iguina Reyes de Arecibo

capitanesdearecibo.net

The Puerto Rico Capitanes did not play in the PBL this week.

Quebec Kebs

420, Charest Est, Suite 600

Quebec City, Qc, G1K 8M4

Office: 418-780-4850

Fax: 418-522-0308

Head coach: Alejandro Hasbani

Home arena: Pavillon de l'éducation physique et des sports de l'Université Laval

kebsdequebec.com/en (English)

kebsdequebec.com (Francais)

The Kebs began a two-game road trip this week. First, on Thursday night in Blue Cross Arena, the Kebs took on the Rochester Razorsharks. Samuel Audet-Sow and Jamaal Wise both had 20 points apiece in Quebec's 125-95 loss in Rochester; Charles Fortier added 19 points, while Marlon Pompey had 12 points and 13 team-high rebounds. Brandon Morris led the Kebs in assists, with 7 handouts.

Of the two teams Quebec has scored victories over this season, one of them was the Buffalo Stampede. On the road Saturday night in the Queen City, Les Kebs trounced the Stamps for the second time this year, winning 127-94 for their first win on the road. Three Kebs scored 20 points or more, including All-Stars Samuel Audet-Sow (29 pts) and Jamaal Wise (24 pts, 15 rebounds). Brandon Morris added 10 assists, while Marlon Pompey had 23 points and 11 boards.

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 at Rochester Community War Memorial

razorsharks.com

With their Thursday night 125-95 victory over the Quebec Kebs at Blue Cross Arena, the Rochester Razorsharks have clinched a playoff berth for the PBL postseason. And they did it with seven Razorsharks scoring in double figures - Lincoln Smith led the way with 19 points, followed by Keith Friel's 18 points (including four 3-pointers), 17 from Melvin Council, 15 from Jermaine Tate, 14 from Glen Dandridge and 10 from Derik Hollyfield. Lincoln Smith also had 10 rebounds to lead his team in that category.

Clinching a playoff spot is one thing, but the Sharks are refusing to rest now that they have a postseason berth. On Saturday, in front of their fans at Blue Cross Arena, the Razorsharks defeated the Manchester Millrats 117-107, on the strength of a 34-18 third quarter domination. Jerice Crouch finished the game with 24 points; while Melvin Council added 16 and Keith Friel scored 17 points.

Vermont Frost Heaves

4049 Williston Road

South Burlington VT 05403

Phone: (802) 860-0082

Fax: (802) 860-0085

Head coach: Joseph Salerno

Home arenas: Burlington Memorial Auditorium; Barre Municipal Auditorium

vermontfrostheaves.com

The Vermont Frost Heaves just won't give up. On Saturday afternoon in Burlington, the Frost Heaves decimated the Maryland GreenHawks 133-119, on the strength of Marshall Brown's 27 points, to go with 19 points from Dwuan Rice, 16 points from Markus Austin, and a 13-point, 12-reobund game from Ross Demasi. With the win, the Heaves remain one win behind Halifax for the fourth and final playoff spot.

PBL TRANSACTIONS

March 23, 2010 - Maryland GreenHawks sign Demetrius Howard.

March 25, 2010 - Rochester Razorsharks sign Cedric McGinnis. Placed Eric Walton on Injured Reserve list.

March 25, 2010 - Quebec Kebs sign Otis Thompson. Place John Ruffus on Injured Reserve list.

March 26, 2010 - Rochester Razorsharks sign C Nigel Moore. Release Cedric McGinnis.

March 26, 2010 - Quebec Kebs sign Dominique Soucy and Onye Ibekwe. Releases Jeremy Bell, Brandon Cotton and John Ruffus.

March 26, 2010 - Maryland GreenHawks sign PF Gallo Cham.

March 28, 2010 - Maryland GreenHawks signed Tristan Martin. Released Derick Payne.

ROCHESTER'S MELVIN COUNCIL NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The Premier Basketball League is pleased to announce that Rochester Razorsharks guard Melvin Council has been named Player of the Week for the week ending March 28, 2010. Council becomes the first Razorshark this season to receive Player of the Week honors. Council, a 6'3" 185-pound guard from Robert Morris (Ill.), scored in double figures in Rochester's two victories this week. He had 17 points in Rochester's 125-95 win over Quebec, and then followed that with 16 points in Rochester's 117-107 victory over Manchester. "Melvin has been a pleasant surprise for us this season," said Razorsharks head coach Rod Baker. "He came on when Keith Friel went down earlier this year with a staph illness, and Melvin gave us big minutes and big points against Puerto Rico, and he hasn't looked back since."

VERMONT'S JOSEPH SALERNO NAMED COACH OF THE MONTH

The Premier Basketball League is pleased to announce that Vermont Frost Heaves head coach Joseph Salerno is the Coach of the Month for March 2010. Joining the Frost Heaves in mid-season, and inheriting a team with a 0-4 record, Salerno has assembled a solid squad, putting together a 10-3 record, including going 6-1 in March. In a short period of time, Salerno has taken the Frost Heaves from the bottom of the standings to a potential playoff berth.



Premier Basketball League Stories from March 29, 2010


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central