Steelheads host Skyforce
January 28, 2006 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Gary Steelheads News Release
The Gary Steelheads return home for the second of four games in five days, as the Steelheads host the Sioux Falls Skyforce at the Genesis Center. The Steelheads stand in second place in the CBA's Eastern Conference, while the Skyforce hold the same position in the West.
The Steelheads began the current string of games, losing to the Rockford Lightning at the MetroCentre in Rockford Thursday night, 116-108. For the Steelheads it was their first loss since the All Star break, giving the team a 15-13 record on the season. The Steelheads managed just ½ of a quarter point in the defeat.
The first quarter was played to a 28-28 tie, with Rockford winning every subsequent quarter. The Lightning shot the ball better from the field, hitting at a .488 clip, while the Steelheads shot just .446 on the night.
Gary was paced by guard Jimmie "Snap" Hunter, who fired in 41 points in a losing cause. Hunter's huge game included 14-of-27 from the field, 4-for-6 from three point range and 9-for-9 from the foul line. It is the third time this year that Hunter has scored 40 or more points in a game, with two of those games coming against the Lightning at the MetroCentre. Hunter is now averaging 32.8 ppg. against the Lightning this season. He has scored at least 26 points or more in every Rockford contest this season except one (he tossed in 23 points with 9 assists in a victory over the Lightning on December 28th).
Forward Randy Holcomb added 21 points for the Steelheads, while guard Brian Chase hit five 3 pointers on his way to a 20 point night. Forward Edmund Saunders came within one digit of a double-double with 16 points and 9 rebounds, while center Chris Alexander paced Steelheads' rebounders with 14.
Fish Hooks
- Tonight's game is the 33rd CBA meeting between the Steelheads and the Skyforce, and the third meeting in the league's 60th Anniversary Season. Sioux Falls has a 19-13 lead in the series. The teams have split two games this season, with the Steelheads winning at the Genesis Center on December 23rd, 85-77, and the Skyforce winning at the Sioux Falls Arena on January 13th, 109-104. Last year, the Skyforce won 3 of the 4 meetings between the two teams.
- The Steelheads have won 5 of their last 8 games, reaching a season high water mark of three games over .500 twice in the past week. The loss at Rockford lowered the team's record to 15-13, but Gary firmly retains second place in the Eastern Conference.
- The Gary Steelheads opened the season losing 2 of their first 3 games at the Genesis Center. Since that time, Gary has gone 10-2 at home, accumulated an 11-4 home record for the season (.733). The current CBA home court winning percentage is .698.
- The Gary 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 continues as the CBA's leading scorer with a 27.8 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. Hunter also ranks among the league leaders in assists (5.3 apg.), steals (2.0 spg.), three point shooting (.452) 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."
- On Tuesday, the Steelheads placed 6-foot-10 forward Darius Rice on injured reserve with a foot injury. Gary moved guard Lonnie Randolph from the injured reserve back to the active roster.
- 7-foot-1 center Chris Alexander was the Steelheads' most recent nominee for CBA Player of the Week. Alexander 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 weekly award, averaging 23 ppg. and 11 apg. for the week. Alexander paced Steelheads' rebounders with 14 against Rockford Thursday night.
- Forward Edmund Saunders is continuing his solid contribution up front. In 13 games with the Steelheads, Saunders has averaged 14.4 ppg. and 7.2 rpg. He scored a career high 31 points at Albany on January 6th.
- Guard Brian Chase had a pair of sensational games earning him the team's Player of the Week nomination two weeks ago. Against the Michigan Mayhem, Chase connected for CBA career-best 26 points with 8 steals. The next night at Sioux Falls, Chase contributed a double-double 25 points with 10 assists. The honor went to Maurice Baker of Dakota. Chase hit 5 three point baskets in a 20-point effort against Rockford Thursday night.
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