Steelheads host Yakama
Published on December 6, 2005 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Gary Steelheads News Release
The Gary Steelheads host the Yakama Sun Kings Tuesday night at the Genesis Center, in a games that matches teams that are tied (along with the Rockford Lightning) for the best record in the CBA.
The visiting Sun Kings stand third in the Western Conference of the CBA, despite having the best record in the conference at 5-3. Yakama has a 3.8 quarter point average, placing them narrowly behind the Dakota Wizards and the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
The Sun Kings have won two straight and three of their last five, including a 105-99 victory over the Albany Patroons at the Yakima Valley SunDome. Antwain Barbour paced Yakama with 32 points and 10 assists. Ralph Holmes added 24 points with a team-high 7 rebounds.
The Gary Steelheads have won 5 of their last 7 games, placing them among the hottest teams in the CBA. Both of their wins this past week were in overtime, including most recently a Saturday night victory over the Dakota Wizards at the Genesis Center, 137-127. Jimmie Hunter paced the Steelheads with 39 points, including 9 points in the overtime period. "Snap" also handed out a team-high 8 assists. Randy Holcomb added 27 points and 12 rebounds. With the win, Gary surged back into first place in the Eastern Conference.
"Snap" Hunter's efforts earned him CBA Player of the Week honors. For this past week, he averaged 29.0 ppg., 3.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
Fish Hooks
- Having won five of their last seven games, the Steelheads are now atop the CBA's Eastern Conference with a quarter point average of 4.1. Rockford, with the same 5-3 record, sits second at 3.9. The Lightning lost to Idaho Saturday night, 105-103.
- The Steelheads have been outrebounded in 7 of their 8 games this year. Dakota outrebounded Gary by 34, although the Steelheads regained some of those possessions by forcing 18 more turnovers than the Wizards. Combined with good outside shooting and stingy defense, Gary managed to overcome the deficit and win.
- The Steelheads are shooting a lofty .493 from three point range. Gary has averaged over 8 three-pointers per game this year.
- Rookie coach Jaren Jackson has lead the Gary Steelheads to the best record in the league in the opening weeks of the 2005-06 CBA season. He has done this with only one returning player from last year's team, and with the loss of three Gary players that appeared in last year's CBA All-Star Game. Further, a majority of the roster has no previous CBA experience.
- Jackson has stressed fundamentals, particularly playing solid defense. Going into tonight's game, the Steelheads have scored an average of 3.5 more points than their opponents. Also, the Steelheads have dramatically reduced their turnovers from 20.0 per game last year to just 12.8 per game this year to date.
- Like the Steelheads, the Sun Kings have a virtually new roster. The only returning player from last year is forward Eric Williams. Yakama also features a CBA veteran in forward Leonard White, who is in his 11th season in the league. White is currently 5th in the CBA in rebounding (9.4 rpg.).
- The Sun Kings have won two straight games, and three of their last five. Yakama's Antwain Barbour ranks fourth in the league in scoring (25.1 ppg.), while Cheyne Gadson is ranked 15th (17.2 ppg). Gadson is also 2nd in league assists (8.0 apg.).
- There has been an issue regarding several box scores generated following recent Michigan Mayhem home games. The Steelheads have been involved in two of these games, and the Dakota Wizards have been involved in one. The issue began with a game played on November 22nd (CBA Game #9). Initially, this box had several unusual statistical anomolies. It has now been corrected. The box scores from both the Wizards' game on Thursday night (CBA Game #24) and the Steelheads' game on Friday night (CBA Game #26) appear to have similar issues. The league is reviewing these box scores.
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from December 6, 2005
- CBA Transactions - CBA 1
- CBA Weekly Notes - CBA 1
- Skyforce signs big man - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Steelheads Sign Shelly Clark - Gary Steelheads
- Lightning News Update - Rockford Lightning
- Wizards Announce This Year's Reading Wizards Program - Dakota Wizards
- Steelheads host Yakama - Gary Steelheads
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