Steelheads come home after big win on the road
November 21, 2005 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Gary Steelheads News Release
The Gary Steelheads return to the Genesis Center, following an impressive road victory at Rockford Sunday night, winning 113-106. A strong second-half performance, punctuated by 35 points from Jimmy "Snap" Hunter, secured the victory. Hunter tossed in 40 points against his former team, currently the top single-game scoring effort in the CBA this year. The Steelheads earned 5 quarterpoints for the victory.
The Gary victory throws the team into a four-way logjam for the top spot in the Eastern Conference of the CBA. The Michigan Mayhem, also tied for the conference lead, are the opponent tonight.
Michigan split two games with the expansion Albany Patroons, winning in Muskegan Friday night 106-84 and losing in a rematch Saturday night in Albany, 115-107. Like the Steelheads, they are 1-1 on the season.
The Steelheads had their home opener spoiled by the Rockford Lightning on Friday night, 106-100. But Gary returned the favor Sunday night in Rockford's home opener. The Lightning lead by five points at the half, after winning both the first and second quarter points. But the Steelheads grabbed control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Lightning 30-20. Trailing 58-51 at 10:27, the Steelheads went on a 12-2 run to take the lead. A smothering Steelheads' defense held the high-scoring Lightning to 20 points for the quarter.
After being outrebounded by 16 on Friday night, the Steelheads closed the rebound deficit to 7 in the rematch. For the second straight game, Gary forced over twenty Lightning turnovers with 21.
Forward Randy Holcomb added 24 points, with 9 rebounds and 5 assists to the Gary cause. Center Darrell Johns contributed a double-double, with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Marlon Parmer paced the Lightning with 23 points.
Fish Hooks
- Sunday's victory at Rockford marks coach Jaren Jackson's first win with the Steelheads. He coached the Philadelphia Fusion of the ABA during the 2004-05 season. In 2003-04, Jackson spent a season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Georgetown University. As a senior, Jackson helped the Hoyas advance to the Big East title and the NCAA Elite Eight.
- In its expansion year last season, the Michigan Mayhem proved a very difficult team for the Gary Steelheads. In 11 meetings, the Steelheads could win only 5 of them. This directly impacted the Steelheads' playoff hopes, as Michigan had a losing record against every other team in the division. Tonight marks the 12th meeting between these two teams.
- Mayhem guard Darrick Martin is the first NBA callup this year. He joined the Toronto Raptors just prior to the beginning of the CBA season.
- Michigan's Alpha Bangura leads the CBA in scoring, with back-to-back 37-point scoring efforts against Albany. This sets up an high-scoring matchup with the Steelheads' Jimmie "Snap" Hunter, who is currently ranked 2nd in the CBA in scoring at 33 ppg.
- The Steelheads' Darrell Johns is ranked among the CBA leaders in five different categories. Johns ranks 4th in the league in rebounding (11.0 rpg.), 7th in offensive rebounds (3.5 rpg.), 16th in scoring (17.5 ppg.), 3rd in field goal percentage (.700) and 4th in blocked shots (1.5 bpg.).
- In its 60th Anniversary Season, the CBA remains the oldest professional basketball league in existence. Known originally as the Eastern Basketball Association, the league was renamed the Continental Basketball Association during the 1978-79 season.
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Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from November 21, 2005
- Steelheads Host Michigan Mayhem Tuesday Night - Gary Steelheads
- Steelheads come home after big win on the road - Gary Steelheads
- CBA Transactions - CBA 1
- Lightning fall in home opener - Rockford Lightning
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