Skyforce and Wizards set to battle in 2005 CBA playoffs
Published on March 4, 2005 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release
Boise, ID (March 4, 2005) â The Sioux Falls Skyforce and Dakota Wizards have secured the two available Western Conference postseason positions in the 2005 CBA Playoffs, and will begin their best-of-five Conference Finals series on Wednesday, March 16, at the Bismarck Civic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota.
"We are really proud of our guys and I think that it is going to be a very hard fought series between two teams that respect each other," stated first-year Skyforce Head Coach Dave Joerger, who led the Wizards to the 2004 CBA Title last season. "It will be a good CBA series."
Sioux Falls clinched their first playoff berth in three seasons on Thursday night after winning six of seven quarter points in a 131-106 victory over Dakota at the Sioux Falls Arena. The feat also ended the postseason hopes of the Idaho Stampede, who were officially eliminated from playoff contention, as they are mathematically unable to catch either the Wizards or Skyforce in the quarter-point standings.
Earlier in the week, Dakota clinched their fourth-straight postseason appearance when they defeated Sioux Falls 97-96 (4-3) on Wednesday night in Bismarck. The Wizards have won two of the past three CBA Championships (2002, 2004) and now must get past their closest geographical rival to earn a shot to defend their title.
"This is obviously where both teams had hoped to be at the beginning of the season," stated Wizards first-year Head Coach Casey Owens. "We have been in first and second place all season long and I think this is an eagerly anticipated match up. There is a lot of pride on the line between both communities and I am just really pleased and proud of our team.
"It has the potential to be on of the most exciting series the CBA has seen in a long time."
The Wizards currently hold a 4.10 to 3.98 quarter-point average lead over the Skyforce as the two teams fight for the regular season title and home-court advantage in the series. Sioux Falls has three games left in the regular season, while Dakota has five games left to play. If Dakota finishes with the number one seed, the series will go 2-2-1, with games one, two and five in Bismarck. If Sioux Falls earns the top seed, the series will go 2-3, with the first two games in Bismarck, and the remaining games to be played in the Sioux Falls Arena.
The winner of the Western Conference series will then face the Eastern Conference champion in the 2005 CBA Finals, which returns to a best-of-five game series this year. The 2005 CBA Finals is scheduled to begin on Saturday, March 26, on the home court of the team with the higher seed.
The two Western Conference Finals playoff scenarios are as follows:
#2 Sioux Falls vs. #1 Dakota
Wednesday
March 16
Sioux Falls @ Dakota
7:05
Friday
March 18
Sioux Falls @ Dakota
7:05
Sunday
March 20
Dakota @ Sioux Falls
7:05
Tuesday
March 22
Dakota @ Sioux Falls
7:05
Thursday
March 24
Sioux Falls @ Dakota
7:05
#2 Dakota vs. #1 Sioux Falls (2-3 due to date conflicts)
Wednesday
March 16
Sioux Falls @ Dakota
7:05
Friday
March 18
Sioux Falls @ Dakota
7:05
Sunday
March 20
Dakota @ Sioux Falls
7:05
Tuesday
March 22
Dakota @ Sioux Falls
7:05
Thursday
March 24
Dakota @ Sioux Falls
7:05
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