Steelheads game notes
May 13, 2007 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Gary Steelheads News Release
- THE SERIES: This is the second meeting between the Gary Steelheads and the Brooklyn Kings. The Kings won the first meeting between the two teams at Metcalfe Hall in Brooklynm 109-92. The Steelheads played perhaps their poorest first quarter of the season, falling behind 39-17. The Kings were able to maintain most of that lead the rest of the way, with the Steelheads able to close the gap to nine points in the third quarter. But Gary could not get closer.
- ROSTER ADJUSTMENTS: On Saturday, the Gary Steelheads adjusted their roster by moving center Chris Alexander and guard Akeem Clark from Injured Reserve to active status. Center Chris Garnett and guard Steve Lepore were moved from the active roster to Injured Reserve. These roster changes are reflected in Gary Steelheads Roster #05, which is included within these game notes.
- STREAK BUSTER: The Gary Steelheads first-ever USBL losing streak came to an end at Delaware last Thursday night, as Gary secured a 97-91 victory at Wilmington College. That victory stopped a Steelheads' slide at three games, two losses at Albany (87-81 abd 93-83) and a third at Brooklyn (109-92). Prior to that, Gary began the road trip with two forfeit victories at Jackson (see below). The Steelheads return home 3-3 for the road trip (including the forfeit wins), as well as 8-4 on the season.
- FORFEITURE: The Gary Steelheads were awarded two forfeit victories in Jackson, Mississippi, after the Wildcats failed to provide an adequate facility and resources for the games. According to the USBL office, the forfeits should not factor into any team averages.
- MISSING IN ACTION: The Gary Steelheads have been without the services of two of their key players since the third game of the season. Center Chris Alexander returns to the active roster for today's game, leaving guard Rob Griffin alone on the Mash Unit. The Delaware game was the tenth game for the Steelheads without these players (the previous meeting with Delaware was the first). The Steelheads also played without forward Jamario Moon for three games. He rejoined the team prior to a 98-86 victory over the Albany Patroons. He responded with a double-double performance of 16 points and 10 rebounds against his former team. Last Friday night against the Patroons in Albany, he duplicated the feat with 17 points and 13 rebounds against his former team. Moon left the team due to a death in his family. During the three games without these players, the Steelheads posted a 2-1 record. Griffin was the second leading scorer in the USBL at the time of his injury, while Moon was among the league leaders in six different categories. 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: To date, the Gary Steelheads are believed to have nine double-double performances on the season (the second game at Albany is unknown, because the Patroons have yet to produce a box score of the game). Gary added two more to the list last Friday night against the Patroons. Forward Jamario Moon scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while guard Ray Cunningham scored 10 points with 11 rebounds. In a 105-94 victory over the Patroons in Gary on April 21st, 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 seven played games (not including the two forfeit victories, Moon, Blackburn and Garnett have two double-doubles apiece, with Marlowe Currie, Ray Cunningham and Adam Schaper have one each. Moon came close to another double-double with 21 points and 9 rebounds at Delaware.
- A SPECIAL ROOKIE: Bethel College product Adam Schaper isn't playing like a rookie in the USBL. The Kansas game on April 20th 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 in an 86-78 loss to the Cagerz. The 13 rebounds tied teammates Jermaine Blackburn, Marlowe Currie and Jamario Moon for what was then the best single-game rebounding performance in the USBL this year. Schaper made it six straight double-digit games a week ago Sunday, with 14 points against Albany. The streak stopped with Friday night's loss at Albany, when Schaper connected for 6 points in 21 minutes. He has not scored in double figures since.
- 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.
- IT'S SHOWTIME WITH THE STEELHEADS: The Gary Steelheads went on line with a new Internet Radio Show Friday, May 4th. Entitled Showtime With the Steelheads, the program is intended to inform basketball fans each week about the Steelheads, the United States Basketball League and professional basketball. The program features news updates and interviews, aimed at giving listeners an inside look at the game of basketball. A special segment of the program, Hidden Heroes, introduces the audience to people who play an important role in supporting the Gary Steelheads and Northwest Indiana. Showtime With the Steelheads is a downloadable Internet radio program, sometimes referred to as a "Podcast." The program is being hosted on the Internet by OurSports Central, the nation's preeminent Internet site for information on minor league and second-tier professional sports. OurSports Central is in its second year of offering downloadable Internet programs relating to a number of sports, collectively known as "OurSports Central Radio. The web site's Internet address is www.oursportscentral.com. A menu of radio programs can be found prominently on the site's front page. Showtime With the Steelheads is anchored by Steelheads' play-by-play broadcaster and Media/Public Relations Director Bill Hazen. The program utilizes the latest in digital audio technology to increase the audio quality of interview segments, which are often recorded as the team travels. The next edition of the program will be posted in the middle of next week.
- 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.
- 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.
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United States Basketball League Stories from May 13, 2007
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