
Salem's IBL Team Quickly Taking Shape
March 16, 2012 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Salem Soldiers News Release
The International Basketball League's return to Salem is looking to be a strong one, if early moves are any indication.
The IBL team announced last month has chosen to re-brand itself as the Salem Soldiers and have also unveiled a new team logo today.
"We wanted to have a strong team name and salute our military, and competing as the Salem Soldiers we accomplish that and our sponsors support the initiative," commented team owner Price Johnson on the reasoning behind the selection of the team name.
Further, the Soldiers will offer free admission to their home games at The Hoop to anyone with military identification.
On the court, the team is taking shape with the announcement that Johnson will also serve as Head Coach for the 2012 season. Johnson brings with him an impressive resume that includes coaching the EA Sports All-Star touring team for several years and serving as a special assignment coach in the NBA for both George Karl and Nate McMillan. Johnson also coached the Salem Stampede last season, helping lead the team to the NABL finals.
The Soldiers have also announced they have added a pair of Portland State Vikings who have just wrapped up their senior seasons, forward Chehales Tapscott and center Nate Lozeau.
Tapscott provided an outstanding inside presence for the Vikings this season, averaging 14.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. He was also named first team all-Big Sky Conference as a senior, after leading the conference in rebounding, steals and double-doubles.
Lozeau, at 6-foot-10 and 270 pounds, will provide size in the post for the Soldiers are doing the same at Portland State, where he averaged seven points per game on 56 percent shooting from the floor, along with 4.6 rebounds per game, as a senior. Prior to joining the Vikings, he spent his first two collegiate seasons at the University of San Diego.
"Chehales expressed an interested in playing right away after college, and the Soldiers position as a spring team allows him to do that," Coach Johnson explained. "Our team's up-tempo style should serve him well and I expect him to be a dominant player in the IBL."
These two new roster additions are supplemented by guard Jeremiah Dominguez and forward Phil Nelson, both previously announced as joining the team, giving the Soldiers lineup for 2012 a distinctly Viking feel.
"We have heard from a lot of people that Salem is hungry for basketball to return," added Johnson. "I am proud to be able to do this for the community and I think they will be very excited about the team we put on the floor."
The Soldiers tip-off the 2012 season on the road April 21 against the Bellingham Slam. The first of ten home games at The Hoop in Salem will take place on May 11 versus the Vancouver Volcanoes, the 2011 IBL champions. The Soldiers' complete schedule may be viewed on the IBL's website at
Two hours prior to each home game, the Soldiers will host a free basketball clinic for children, with each clinic focusing on a different aspect of the game. Clinic participants will also receive free admission to that night's game.
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International Basketball League Stories from March 16, 2012
- Salem's IBL Team Quickly Taking Shape - Salem Soldiers
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.
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