Steelhead Set for Stampede Tonight
Published on January 20, 2006 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Gary Steelheads News Release
With the conclusion of the All Star break, the Gary Steelheads return to action hosting the Idaho Stampede at the Genesis Center Friday night. Gary begins the second half of the CBA's 60th Anniversary Season in second place in the Eastern Conference.
The Steelheads will welcome back the MVP of this year's CBA All Star Game, Randy Holcomb, who became the first Gary player ever to win the honor with a 20-point, 14-rebound performance Tuesday night. Holcomb flew to Boise to participate in the All Star Game late Monday, following the completion of a ten day contract with the Chicago Bulls. Friday night's game will mark his return to regular-season action with the Steelheads.
Guard Jimmie "Snap" Hunter tossed in 15 points for the East squad, while center Chris Alexander added 5 points to the cause. Both Holcomb and Hunter played most of the fourth quarter, when an East rally fell short.
The Stampede were also well represented in the CBA All Star Game. Guard David Jackson, who defeated the Steelheads "Snap" Hunter in the three-point shooting competiton, paced all Western Conference scorers with 22 points. Alpha Bangura, recently acquired from the Michigan Mayhem, added 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. Center Eric Chenowith added 6 points and 7 rebounds for the winning West squad.
The Stampede have proved a challenge for the Steelheads this year, having beaten Gary in both previous matchups. The addition of Alpha Bangura sets up a matchup of the top two scorers in the CBA. At the All Star break, Bangura lead the CBA in scoring at 28.6 ppg., while "Snap" Hunter stood second at 27.2 ppg. Fish Hooks
- Tonight's game is the 18th CBA meeting between the Steelheads and the Idaho Stampede. Gary retains a 9-8 series lead. This year, Idaho has prevailed in both previous meetings, winning at the Genesis Center 106-97 on December 13th and winning again at the Qwest Center in Boise, 117-93 on December 20th. The Steelheads were outrebounded by 14 in the first meeting and 11 in the second meeting. The following day, Gary added 6-foot-9 forward Edmund Saunders and acquired 7-foot-1 center Chris Alexander for financial considerations from the Dakota Wizards. The addition of these two players dramatically strengthened the team's front line. - The Gary Steelheads are getting a lift as the second half of the CBA season begins. Returning to the roster is All Star Game MVP Randy Holcomb, who became the first player in Steelheads' history to earn an MVP award in the mid-season classic. Holcomb has anchored the Steelheads' front line from the beginning of the season. The last player cut in the Chicago Bulls' training camp, Holcomb ranked 9th in the CBA in scoring (20.2 ppg.) and 7th in the league in rebounding (7.8 rpg.) when he was signed to a 10-day contract. His six double-doubles lead the team. - Combined with the addition of forwards Edmund Saunders and Darius Rice, and center Chris Alexander, the Steelheads now feature more size, talent and depth in the front court than at any other time this season. Saunders ranks third in team scoring (14.9 ppg.) and rebounding (7.3 rpg.). Alexander is averaging 10.7 rpg. since joining the Steelheads, in addition to adding 8.0 ppg. Rice is averaging 9.8 ppg. and 7.0 rpg. in his four games with the club. In his first start, he contributed a double-double performance of 22 points and 14 rebounds against the Michigan Mayhem a week ago Thursday. - To make room for Randy Holcomb's return, the Steelheads released forward Corey Minniefield. - Although he did not start in the All Star Game, Steelheads' guard Jimmie "Snap" Hunter added 15 points to the East cause. He begins the second half of the season ranked 2nd in the CBA in scoring (27.2 ppg.), 7th in assists (5.3 apg.), 5th in steals (2.0 spg.) and 8th in three point shooting (.440). Snap has two of the top five scoring efforts in the CBA this year. - Steelheads' coach Jaren Jackson believes "Snap" is ready for the NBA. "Snap has proven that he belongs in the NBA," said Jackson, an NBA veteran himself. "He has improved his defensive game to compliment his great scoring ability. Since the beginning of this season, he has shown that he is the best guard in the CBA. I am happy to have been a part of his improved play this season. I have been in awe of Snap's basketball skills since becoming his coach. I mention him in the same light as many of the top NBA guards I played against in my own NBA career. Any NBA team will be lucky to have him." - Fox Sports Net is airing a feature on the Steelheads and "Snap" Hunter. A video crew recorded several practices and covered a Steelheads' game at Rockford, won by the Lightning 124-123. The feature appears within the program "Hoops," which premiered nationally last Friday. In the Chicago area, the program is airing through the facilities of Comcast Sports. - Gary's loss a week ago Friday night at Sioux Falls ended a three-game winning streak for the Steelheads, during which the team had moved to a high water mark of three games over .500. The Steelheads also lost at Michigan last Sunday, as Willie Simms banked in the winning shot as time expired. - Going into tonight's game, the Steelheads remain the best three-point shooting team in the CBA. Gary has connected on 215-of-512 shots (.420). They lead the league in three point attempts and three point field goals. In a meeting with the Albany Patroons on December 30th, the Steelheads shattered their single-game team record for three-point baskets by hitting 17-of-20 from beyond the arc. The previous record of 14 three pointers came against Sioux Falls on December 1st, 2001. The Steelheads also hit 14 3's against Michigan a week ago Thursday night. - Guard Brian Chase had a pair of sensational games last week. Against the Michigan Mayhem a week ago Thursday night, Chase connected for CBA career-best 26 points with 8 steals. The next night at Sioux Falls, Chase contributed a double-double 25 points with 10 assists. The Steelheads nominated him for CBA Player of the Week. The honor went to Maurice Baker of Dakota. - Guard Eric Chatfield was nominated for CBA Player of the Week the week before, based on averaging a double-double for the week. The talented 6-foot-3 guard averaged 17.0 ppg. and 10.0 apg. for the week, while shooting .632 from the field and .667 from three point range. He did not miss a free throw for the week. He currently is ranked 8th in the CBA in assists (5.1 apg.). - Steelheads' forward Kevin Frey continues to suffer from a wrist injury and has been placed on injured reserve. - Gary's 137-127 overtime win over the Dakota Wizards no longer ranks as the CBA's top scoring performance this season. The total has been eclipsed twice by the Yakama Sun Kings, including their 141-108 victory over the Michigan Mayhem January 7th. Gary has also been involved in the lowest CBA score of the year, holding the Sioux Falls Skyforce to just 77 points in a victory at the Genesis Center on December 23rd. Gary also held the Mayhem to 81 points in a home court win on December 15th, which ranks as the second lowest score in the league this year.
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from January 20, 2006
- CBA Transactions - CBA 1
- 2006 CBA Postseason to include quarter points for the first time in the league's history - CBA 1
- Skyforce to tangle with Wizards - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Skyforce inks two more - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Steelheads hit the court after break - Gary Steelheads
- Parmer Dishes Out 17 Assists In Win - Rockford Lightning
- Steelhead Set for Stampede Tonight - Gary Steelheads
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.
