Steeheads game notes
April 21, 2007 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Gary Steelheads News Release
Fish Hooks
- THE SERIES: This is the second USBL meeting between the Steelheads and the Albany Patroons, with Gary defeating Albany 105-94 Friday night for a 1-0 edge. The teams met ten times during the 2005-2006 CBA season, with the Steelheads winning seven of them. The last meeting between the two teams in the CBA occurred on March 3rd, 2006, when the Steelheads defeated the Patroons 115-109. This was the second of back-to-back games in Albany, and the loss ended a six-game winning streak for the Patroons. Former Patroons forward Carl Mitchell paced the Steelheads' attack with 24 points. In total meetings covering both the USBL and the CBA, Gary has won 8 of 11 meetings.
- MISSING IN ACTION: The Gary Steelheads have played their last three games without the services of three key players. Guard Rob Griffin was the second leading scorer in the USBL at the time of his injury, while forward Jamario Moon was among the league leaders in six different categories. Moon left the team due to a death in the family. Center Chris Alexander, a strong rebounder and defensive presence, was among the league's leading shot blockers at the time of his injury.
- DOUBLE-DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE: In the Friday night victory over Albany, three Steelheads players contributed double-double performances: Jermaine Blackburn (15 points, 10 rebounds), Marlowe Currie (10 points, 13 rebounds) and Chris Garnett (10 points, 10 rebounds). Through five games, Gary has turned in six double-double performances. Blackburn and Garnett have two apiece, with Currie and Adam Schaper turning in the other two.
- DOUBLE YOUR DIGITS: For the third time in the young season, the Steelheads placed seven players in double figures Friday night. And guard Louis White (9 points vs. Albany) came within one point of making it eight players! Gary also placed six players in double figures in their second win over the Jackson Wildcats. The Kansas loss is the only exception, as the Steelheads managed just three players in double figures. In that game, Gary scored just 78 points.
- BLOCK PARTY GROWS AGAIN: The Gary Steelheads' Block Party continues to grow. Gary added yet another name to the Party prior to the first meeting with the Patroons. At that time, Jamario Moon was leading the USBL in blocked shots (3.5 bpg), with Chris Alexander 3rd (1.5 bpg) and Adam Schaper 4th (1.3 bpg). Ray Cunningham joined the Block Party three games ago and was tied for 4th in the league with 1.3 blocks prior to Friday night. The newest member was point guard Louis White, who ranked an incredible 6th in the USBL at 1.0 bpg. That gave the Steelheads five of the top six shot blockers in the league prior to Friday night's Albany game.
- LEPORE FINDS THE RANGE: After struggling with his shot the first three games (.188 from the field), guard Steve Lepore got on track against the Kansas Cagerz Thursday night. The Wake Forest product hit 4-of-7 from the field, and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc for 11 points. He also added 3 rebounds and 2 assists. The following night, he fired in 16 points against the Patroons, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.
- A SPECIAL ROOKIE: Bethel College product Adam Schaper isn't playing like a rookie in the USBL. The Kansas game was his fourth consecutive double-digit scoring performance, and his first USBL double-double. Schaper (pronounced "Shopper") scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while picking up 2 steals against the Cagerz. The 13 rebounds tied teammates Jermaine Blackburn and Marlowe Currie for the best performance in the USBL this year. Schaper made it five straight double-digit games on Friday night, with 15 points against Albany.
- IT'S SHOWTIME: You'll hear the phrase, "It's Showtime" a great deal at Steelheads games. That's because the team is now owned and operated by a new ownership group, Showtime Sports and Entertainment. The following principals compose this group: Jewell Harris Jr., Esq., Darnail Lyles, Esq., Dr. Adolphus Anekwe, Dr. Olusegun Ishmael, Dr. Paul Okolocha, Dr. Basil Ubanwa and Ben Richmond (owner of Family Mobile Medical and the Beach Café Restaurant). Jewell Harris Jr. is President, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. Showtime Sports and Entertainment came about in an effort to better diversify ownership of the franchise, to assure its long term stability and viability. The company also will be involved in other entertainment promotion.
- FROM CBA WORST TO CBA FIRST: The regular season performance of the Gary Steelheads during the 2005-2006 season constitutee one of the great single-season turnarounds in CBA history. During 2004-2005, the Steelheads finished at the bottom of the league with a 17-31 record and 135½ quarter points (2.8 QPA). In 2005-2006, Gary improved a net total of 24 games from 14 games under .500 to 10 games over .500 at 29-19. They raised their quarter point average to 4.10, an increase of 1.3 quarter points per game over the previous year. And the Steelheads won an incredible 25½ more quarters of basketball than the previous year.
- WATCH OUT FOR THAT CLIFF: The Steelheads named former Chicago Bulls forward Cliff Levingston to succeed Jaren Jackson as head coach on November 21st, 2006. He joined the Steelheads as an assistant on February 8th. Levingston played on the Chicago Bulls' first two championship teams and was a fan favorite. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1982 NBA Draft, going ninth in the first round. He retired from the game in 1995. In 2000, Levingston began his coaching career as an assistant coach in the CBA with the Ft. Wayne Fury. In 2001, he served as an assistant coach with the Dodge City Legend of the USBL. After a year as a college assistant at St. Francis, he returned to Dodge City as head coach. His Legend team won the USBL title, and Levingston was named USBL Coach of the Year. During 2003-04, Levingston served as an assistant for the Harlem Globe Trotters. Two years ago, he coached the St. Louis Flight of the ABA.
- HOW THE STEELHEADS WON IN THE CBA: The Gary Steelheads finished their last CBA season with a best-ever franchise record of 29-19. But this alone did not deliver the top seed in the playoffs. Yakama, Sioux Falls and Rockford all had more wins. But Gary was more efficient than any other team in winning quarters. The Steelheads won 110 quarters of basketball, six more quarters than any other team in the league. With each quarter having a value of one quarter point, this surplus of quarter victories made the difference. The USBL does not use a quarter point system.
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