Steelheads and Skyforce to tangle
Published on December 23, 2005 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Gary Steelheads News Release
The Gary Steelheads return to the Genesis Center Friday night to host the defending CBA champion Sioux Falls Skyforce. The Steelheads have lost three of their last four games, including both games on their recent Western Conference swing at Yakama and Idaho. For the first time since the opening night of the CBA's 60th Anniversary Season, the Steelheads are below .500 with a 7-8 record. They stand in second place in the Eastern Conference.
On Tuesday, the Steelheads were overwhelmed by the Idaho Stampede at the Qwest Arena in Boise, 120-93. The Steelheads lost every quarter except the first, which they tied 27-27. Gary managed just ½ quarter point with the loss. For the road trip, Gary picked up just 2 ½ quarter points.
Guard Jimmie "Snap" Hunter paced the Steelheads with 24 points and 8 rebounds, while Randy Holcomb registered his fifth double-double of the season with 23 points and 11 boards. Rookie Chris Moore also added 8 rebounds, but nobody else had more than 4. On the night, Gary was outrebounded 49-39. It was the 12th time in the last 14 games that the Steelheads were outrebounded.
Gary held its turnovers to just 12, while forcing 15. But the Steelheads could not overcome their second-poorest shooting night of the season, connecting on just 33-of-82 shots (.402). The Stampede shot .553 for the game.
Sioux Falls has had a rough road trip in the Eastern Conference. They split two games at Albany, losing 100-93 and winning 101-87. The Skyforce then lost to the Michigan Mayhem in Muskegon, 86-82. The defending CBA champs have won 3 of their last 5 games and stand in second place in the CBA's Western Conference.
Fish Hooks
- Tonight's game is the 31st meeting between the Steelheads and the Skyforce, and the first of the CBA's 60th Anniversary Season. Sioux Falls has an 18-12 lead in the series. Last year, the Skyforce won 3 of the 4 meetings between the two teams.
- The Steelheads' 120-93 loss at Idaho Tuesday night marked the 12th time in the last 14 games that the Steelheads have been outrebounded (the margin was 49-38). Continued rebounding deficits prompted the team to move to strengthen their front line by signing 6-foot-8 forward Edmund Saunders and trading with the Dakota Wizards for 7-foot-1 center Chris Alexander. They make their first appearance with the Steelheads tonight. Gary released center Darrell Johns and forward Shelly Clark, who leaves the Steelheads as the all-time career rebounding leader with 859.
- This game has been billed as a "Battle of the Guards," featuring a matchup of local fan favorites, guards Jemeil Rich of the Skyforce and Jimmie "Snap" Hunter of the Steelheads. Rich and Hunter teamed together on the Steelheads last season. That year, both were named to appear in the CBA All-Star Game, played at the Genesis Center. Now the two CBA standouts wear different uniforms, but they still make a substantial impact on their team's success. Rich, one of the quickest guards in professional basketball, ranks first in the CBA in assists (9.7 apg.) and second in the league in steals (2.3 spg.). Hunter, with a rapidly-developing all-around game, now ranks second in the CBA in scoring at 27.1 ppg. To date, "Snap" has 3 of the 5 top scoring efforts in the league this season. Also, Hunter ranks 6th in the league in steals (1.9 spg.) and 5th in three-point shooting (.414). And, at 6-feet-4, "Snap" ranks an incredible 8th in the league in blocked shots (0.9 bpg.)! He was honored by the CBA as its "Player of the Week" for the second week of the season.
- With Gary's 106-97 loss at Yakama Sunday night, the Steelheads road record on the season fell to 3-3, tied with Rockford for second best in the CBA. Early in the year, Gary paced the league with a 3-1 road record. The Yakama Sun Kings now have the best road record in the league at 5-2.
- Going into tonight's game, the Steelheads are the best three-point shooting team in the CBA. Gary has connected on 123-of-314 shots (.392). The Skyforce have hit 47-of-141 three pointers (.333) for the season to date.
- The Steelheads nominated Hunter for CBA Player of the Week. Last week, "Snap" averaged 28.3 ppg., 6.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 steals. Rockford Lightning rookie forward Roger Powell was selected for the award. Hunter was previously named Player of the Week for the second week of the CBA season.
- Fox Sports Net is preparing 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 will appear within the program "Hoops," which is scheduled to air nationally on January 13th.
- Steelheads' guard Brian Chase will likely be matched up with Jemeil Rich at sometime during the evening. In the past seven games, he has hit stride. During this period, he has averaged 14.0 ppg. and 5.3 assists coming off the bench. In a victory over the Rockford Lightning on December 8th, he contributed a double-double of 11 points and a season-high 12 assists. He also had 4 steals in the game. Chase currently leads the CBA in free throw shooting (25-of-26, .962) and ranks 6th in the league in three point shooting (.403).
- Forward Randy Holcomb registered his fifth double-double of the season in the loss at Idaho. He scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Holcomb was the last player cut by the Chicago Bulls in their camp. He currently ranks 7th in the CBA in scoring (20.6 ppg.) and 5th in rebounding (8.5 rpg.).
- In the 106-97 loss at Yakama last Sunday, Eric Chatfield lead Steelheads' scorers with a season-high 24 points. Chatfield hit 4-of-6 three-pointers in the effort. It was the first time this year that Chatfield has paced the Steelheads' scoring parade. He averaged 26.1 ppg. playing overseas in Lebanon last season. He is currently ranked 7th in the league in assists (5.3 apg.).
- Gary's 137-127 overtime win over the Dakota Wizards is the CBA's top scoring performance to date this season. Incredibly, Gary was outrebounded by 34 in this game but still managed to win. Gary has also been involved in the lowest CBA score of the year, holding the Michigan Mayhem to just 81 points a week ago Thursday.
- The Skyforce are tied for the best home record in the CBA at 6-1. Their quarter point average of 3.9 is third best in the league.
- Brandon Hunter of the Skyforce is having an outstanding season. He is currently ranked 3rd in the CBA in scoring (23.9 ppg.) and second in the league in rebounding (11.9 rpg.). He is one of only two players in the CBA currently averaging a double-double (Eric Chenowith of Idaho is the other).
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from December 23, 2005
- Skyforce Game Update - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Steelheads and Skyforce to tangle - Gary Steelheads
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