Steelheads head home after big win
February 3, 2006 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Gary Steelheads News Release
The Gary Steelheads, returning to Northwest Indiana after an impressive road win at Dakota, host the Eastern Conference leading Rockford Lightning in back-to-back games Friday and Saturday night at the Genesis Center.
The Steelheads improved their record to 17-15 with a 113-97 victory against the Dakota Wizards in Bismarck. Gary maximized the victory by earning all seven quarter points, the first quarter point sweep on the road for the team this year.
The Steelheads placed five players in double figures, paced by guard Jimmie "Snap" Hunter with 27 points. He also contributed 8 assists and 7 rebounds. Forward Randy Holcomb tossed in 19 points with 9 rebounds, while guard Brian Chase added 18 points with 4 assists. Reserve Marlowe Currie picked up the slack with the departure of Edmund Saunders, scored 15 points with 7 rebounds. And center Chris Alexander contributed his second double-double performance in three nights with 18 points and 11 rebounds. He shot 8-for-12 from the field.
The Rockford Lightning come to Gary as the hottest team in the CBA, having won eight straight games. During that time, they have raised their quarter point average to a league-leading 4.5. Gary has the CBA's third-best quarter point average at 3.8.
CBA All Star forward Carl Mitchell will be in uniform for his first game with the Steelheads on Friday night. Gary acquired him on Wednesday from the Albany Patroons, in exchange for forward Edmund Saunders. Mitchell will wear uniform number 32.
Fish Hooks
- Tonight's game is the 55th CBA meeting between these Eastern Conference rivals, with the Lightning having a 32-22 edge. This is the 7th meeting between the two teams this season, with each team winning three times. Both teams have won once on the other team's home court. The last meeting between the teams took place in Rockford on January 26th, with the Lightning prevailing 116-108. In the last meeting at the Genesis Center on December 28th, Gary was victorious 118-102.
- On Wednesday, the Steelheads traded forward Edmund Saunders to the Albany Patroons for All Star forward Carl Mitchell. Mitchell is one of the more intriguing players in the CBA, possessing quickness, strength and shooting skill. He currently averages 13.7 ppg. and ranks 5th in the CBA in rebounding at 8.6 rpg. During the season he has ranked among the leading three point shooters in the league, currently hitting at a .400 clip. Mitchell also shoots .495 from the field and .800 from the foul line.
- Center Chris Alexander is on a streak of three consecutive double-double ballgames. He now has five double-doubles on the season. Since joining the Steelheads, 9.8 ppg. and 11.4 rebounds. He currently ranks second in the CBA in rebounding at 9.4 rpg., and he is third in the league in blocked shots at 1.4 bpg. Alexander was the Steelheads' most nominee for CBA Player of the Week two weeks ago. He turned in two double-double performances in Gary victories over Idaho and Yakama. He averaged 16 ppg. and 13.5 rpg. for the week. Rockford guard Marlon Parmer won the award that week, averaging 23 ppg. and 11 apg. for the week.
- The Steelheads received a big lift as the second half of the CBA season began. Forward Randy Holcomb finished a ten-day call-up with the Chicago Bulls prior to the All Star Game. He flew to Boise for the mid-season classic and was named the game's MVP, the first player in Steelheads' history to earn an MVP award in the mid-season classic. Holcomb earned the honor, even though his Eastern team fell to the Western stars, 119-110. The 6-foot-8 forward scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a losing cause. 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 still leads the team.
- Guard Jimmie "Snap" Hunter stands second in the CBA with a 27.1 ppg. average. "Snap" now has logged three of the CBA's top six individual game scoring performances this year, including his 41-point effort at Rockford Thursday night. "Snap" has also logged 40 and 39-point scoring efforts against the Lightning this year. Hunter also ranks among the league leaders in assists (5.4 apg.), steals (1.9 spg.), three point shooting (.441) and blocked shots (1.0 bpg.).
- 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."
- Guard Brian Chase now ranks second in the CBA in three-point shooting with a .462 percentage. He was the league's leading free throw shooter at .956, having hit 43-45 on the year. He temporarily does not have attempts to qualify.
- The Rockford Lightning have won eight straight games, making them the hottest team in the CBA. Their last loss came on January 12th at Dakota, 128-119.
- The Lightning have shown tremendous balance, with four players ranked in the CBA's top 16 in scoring. Roger Powell leads the Lightning with a 22.3 ppg. scoring average, ranking 4th in the CBA. Marlon Parmer is second a 22.3 ppg., ranking 5th in the league, followed by Ronnie Fields (20.5 ppg./9th) and Cordell Henry (15.2 ppg./15th).
- The Lightning have four of the top six field goal shooters in the CBA. Kenyon Gamble leads the CBA at .663, with John Jackson third at .640, Sidney Holmes fourth at .592 and Roger Powell sixth at .569.
- On Wednesday the Lightning signed former Steelheads' power forward Shelly Clark for the stretch run. Clark was a former CBA All Star in Gary and will provide veteran leadership for the Lightning front line. To make room for Clark, the Lighting released 7-foot-1 rookie center Marcus Campbell.
- The CBA's four leading offensive rebounders will be in action tonight. Sidney Holmes of Rockford leads the league at 3.7 rpg, while Chris Alexander is second (3.6 rpg.), Roger Powell of Rockford is third (3.2 rpg.) and Carl Mitchell of the Steelheads is fourth (3.2 rpg.).
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