Steelheads game notes
June 1, 2007 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Gary Steelheads News Release
- THE SERIES: This is the third meeting between the Steelheads and the Storm. The first meeting took place at the Genesis Center on May 18th, with Gary prevailing by a 101-92 score. Jamario Moon and Carl Edwards tied for the Gary scoring leadership with 22 points apiece, while Anthony Terrell had a game-high 27 points in just 28 minutes for Oklahoma. Moon also blocked five shots for the winners. The Steelheads were without center Chris Alexander and guard Rob Griffin. It was a relatively error-free game, with the two teams combining for only 25 total turnovers (Gary 13, Oklahoma 12). Gary had Alexander back for the second meeting last night, May 31st, prevailing 104-91. Oklahoma encountered a dead zone beginning the second quarter, in which they did not score a point for 4:23. The drought proved decisive, as the Storm never pulled closer than seven points after that. Gary held high-scoring Anthony Terrell to eight points, while the trio of Corey Minnifield, Marlowe Currie and newly-signed Keith Salscheider combined for 20-of-32 shooting from the field (.632).
- ROSTER ADJUSTMENTS: Guard Eddy Barlow signed a lucrative contract to play basketball in Venezuela. The Steelheads added swingman Keith Salscheider, who played with the Dodge City Legend during the 2006 USBL season.
- ROSTER WOES: The Gary Steelheads have been plagued by injuries and roster issues for all but two games this year. Gary had its full roster for the opening two games of the season against the Jackson Wildcats. Since then, a combination of injuries, family tragedies and NBA tryouts have kept the Steelheads below full strength. Guard Rob Griffin, the USBL's second-leading scorer at the the time of his injury, has missed 16 games. Center Chris Alexander missed 10 games due to injury, plus three more to facilitate NBA tryouts with both the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks. Forward Jamario Moon missed three games due to a death in the family. Guard Akeem Clark also suffered a family tragedy when his brother died. Clark has moved to and from the active roster in recent weeks, prior to his release. Since there are several Steelheads players getting serious looks from NBA teams, there is a possibility of additional NBA tryouts in the coming weeks.
- 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.
- LUNAR ECLIPSE CONCLUDES: Perhaps no player suffered more in games with the Kansas Cagerz than forward Jamario Moon. But that ended on Memorial Day, as Moon paced all scorers with 23 points. He hit 8-of-14 shots from the field, and 3-of-4 from three point range. He also grabbed five rebounds, handed out five assists and picked off four steals. Moon's all-around game was in evidence against Oklahoma Thursday night, as he came within one rebound of a double-double effort. He scored 16 points, grabbed nine rebounds and added to his league-leading blocked shot total with four.
- ALEXANDER THE GREAT: After being sidelined for ten games, center Chris Alexander returned to the roster for a Mother's Day 111-89 victory over the Brooklyn Kings. Alexander tossed in 14 points, one of five players in double figures for the winners. He hit 6-of-7 shots from the field. Chris then was unavailable for either the Oklahoma game or either of the games at Kansas, as he had tryouts with both the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks. He came back against the Cagerz on May 26th, contributing a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. He followed that by hitting 6-of-8 field goals for 12 points in the victory over Kansas on May 28th. He also contributed three steals. He played just 18 minutes in the Oklahoma victory, however, contributing four points, four rebounds and a blocked shot.
- BY THE NUMB3RS: Going into this week's action, the Steelheads were outrebounding their opponents by 3.9 rpg (down from 9.0 rpg), and were outshooting their opponents from the field (+4.7%), from the free throw line (+2.6%) and from three point range (+1.7%). Turnovers, however, had been the major problem for Gary at a -0.8 (down from-3.1) turnovers per game.
- A SPECIAL ROOKIE: Bethel College product Adam Schaper isn't playing like a rookie in the USBL. He has eight double-digit scoring games this season, all of them at the Genesis Center. Against Brooklyn on Mother's Day, Schaper tossed in 15 points with six rebounds and a blocked shot. He shot 7-of-11 from the field. Schaper added 14 more points in the victory over Oklahoma May 18th. He has not scored in double figures on the road to date. For the first time, Schaper was held below double digits at home in the May 26th loss to the Kansas Cagerz. In that game, he scored 4 points with 3 rebounds in 18 minutes. Against Kansas on May 28th, he scored 6 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 23 minutes.
- 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 was formed to better diversify ownership of the franchise, assuring long term stability and viability.
- IT'S SHOWTIME WITH THE STEELHEADS: The latest edition of Showtime With the Steelheads is now available for download through the OurSports Central web site. Guests on this week's program include Steelheads' head coach Cliff Levingston, VP/General Manager Kevin Spudic and a chat with Steelheads' Hidden Hero, Jeff Metz. 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 and produced by Steelheads' play-by-play broadcaster and Media/Public Relations Director Bill Hazen.
- CLIFF WATCHING: 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.
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