Steelheads hope to stay hot
January 12, 2006 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Gary Steelheads News Release
After winning two of three games in a 72-hour period last week, the Gary Steelheads return to action hosting the Michigan Mayhem at the Genesis Center Thursday night. The Steelheads have improved to a 12-10 record, with a 3.7 quarter point average. Gary has won four of their last five, and five of their last seven games. The team remains in second place in the CBA's Eastern Conference.
The Steelheads lost at Albany on Thursday night, 124-118, only to turn around 24 hours later and defeat the Patroons 109-102 in a rematch at the Washington Avenue Armory. Gary capped off the weekend by returning home to the Genesis Center and winning 96-89 over the Dakota Wizards.
It was a huge week for guard Jimmie "Snap" Hunter, who became the first CBA player to be honored twice as the league's "Player of the Week." He scored 105 points in Gary's three games, including a club-record 50-point effort in the Friday game at Albany. His 19 points from the free throw line also established a new club record.
But "Snap" was not alone in superlatives. Center Chris Alexander grabbed 31 rebounds over the same three-game span. Guard Eric Chatfield added 54 points in the three games, while shooting 20-for-36 (.556) from the field. And forward Edmund Saunders connected for a career-high 31 points with 9 rebounds in Friday night's game.
The Michigan Mayhem have lost four straight games, including a 141-108 defeat at Yakama last Saturday night. Despite Jamar Brown's 16 rebounds, the Mayhem lost the boards in this game 51-36. Recently-acquired Willie Simms scored 27 points in the loss. Michigan is still seeking its first road win of the season.
Fish Hooks
- Tonight's game is the 17th meeting between the Steelheads and the Mayhem. The series is tied at 8 wins apiece, with Gary holding a 3-2 lead this season. Michigan has played well against the Steelheads, with two of their four wins this year coming at the expense of Gary at the L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon. Michigan has not won at the Genesis Center this year. During their expansion season last year, Michigan posted a winning record against the Steelheads, claiming 6 of the 11 meetings.
- Jimmie "Snap" Hunter scored 105 points in a 72-hour period last week. His 50-point effort in Friday night 109-102 win at Albany broke his own club record (48 points vs. Rockford 2/1/05), while his 19 free throws also established a new team record (previously held by Jemeil Rich with 15 free throws). Hunter now has two of the top three scoring efforts in the CBA this year, as well as five of the top nine. His 16 field goals (at Rockford 12/11/05) and 19 free throws are best in the league this year. To date, "Snap" is the only player to win "CBA Player of the Week" honors twice. He won for the second time this week. He was also honored during the second week of the CBA season. Both "Snap" and departed forward Randy Holcomb were named to represent the Steelheads on the CBA Eastern Conference All-Star team.
- 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."
- Fox Sports Net has prepared 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. A release with details on this program has already been distributed to the Steelheads' media list.
- Forward Randy Holcomb may be gone, but he is not forgotten. Holcomb became the fifth CBA player called up to the NBA, when the Chicago Bulls signed him to a ten-day contract. Holcomb 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 paced the team.
- Last Saturday the Steelheads replaced Randy Holcomb with 6-foot-10 forward Darius Rice. Although having been with the team only a few hours, he contributed 11 points and 5 rebounds to the winning effort against the Wizards.
- The Steelheads have a 5-2 record since center Chris Alexander and forward Edmund Saunders joined the team on December 21st. Alexander was named as a replacement player for the upcoming CBA All-Star team. Since joining Gary, he has averaged 11.7 rpg. He has two double-doubles, and came within one digit of two others. Saunders has moved up to second on the team in scoring (15.7 ppg.), including a CBA career-high 31 points at Albany last Friday night. He has scored 61 points in the last three games.
- Going into tonight's game, the Steelheads are the second best three-point shooting team in the CBA. Gary has connected on 182-of-447 shots (.407). They lead the league in three point attempts and three point field goals. In a meeting with the Albany Patroons on December 30th, the Steelheads shattered their single-game team record for three-point baskets by hitting 17-of-20 from beyond the arc. The previous record of 14 three pointers came against Sioux Falls on December 1st, 2001.
- Guard Eric Chatfield was nominated for CBA Player of the Week last week, based on averaging a double-double for the week. The talented 6-foot-3 guard averaged 17.0 ppg. and 10.0 apg. for the week, while shooting .632 from the field and .667 from three point range. He did not miss a free throw for the week. He currently is ranked 6th in the CBA in assists (5.5 apg.).
- Robert Griffin has moved into the starting lineup at the small forward spot since the Randy Holcomb call-up. Griffin earned the assignment with a season-high 20-point scoring effort against the Albany Patroons at the Genesis Center on December 30th.
- Steelheads' forward Kevin Frey continues to suffer from a wrist injury and has been placed on injured reserve. The Steelheads re-signed forward Corey Minnifield to replace him.
- Gary's 137-127 overtime win over the Dakota Wizards no longer ranks as the CBA's top scoring performance this season. The total has been eclipsed twice by the Yakama Sun Kings, including their 141-108 victory over the Mayhem January 7th. Gary has also been involved in the lowest CBA score of the year, holding the Sioux Falls Skyforce to just 77 points in a victory at the Genesis Center. They also held the Michigan Mayhem to 81 points in a home court win on December 15th.
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Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from January 12, 2006
- Lightning Welcome Football State Champions - Rockford Lightning
- Idaho's Josh Davis Earns Third NBA Call-Up This Season, Signs with Phoenix Suns - CBA 1
- Mitchell, Moon and Thompson to Star in Slam Dunk & Long Distance Shootout Competitions - Albany Patroons
- Richardson Rejoins Patroons - Albany Patroons
- Skyforce Downed by Stampede - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Steelheads hope to stay hot - Gary Steelheads
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