This Week in the USBL

Published on May 13, 2003 under United States Basketball League (USBL) News Release

MILFORD, CT – The United States Basketball League, Inc. now is moving into the main part of its schedule this season. The third week of action saw 17 contests this week. A rundown is as follows:

ADIRONDACK WILDCATS: The Wildcats were the road warriors of the USBL this past week. The Wildcats started the week with a trip to Eastern Division rival Pennsylvania. The trip wasn't successful as the Wildcats lost 112-106. Turnovers were a big problem for the Wildcats as they turned it over 26 times. Ime Udoka had 25 points and Greg Stempin had 20 to lead the way for the Wildcats. Next the Wildcats traveled south to Florida to play the Blue Ducks for two games. In the first game the Wildcats used a 24 half time lead to coast home to a 96-80 victory. Eugene Edgerson had his best game of the season with 18 points to go along with 15 rebounds, leading 6 players in double figures. Two nights later the Wildcats again faced off with the Blue Ducks. A victory was in the cards again as they won 83-77. Ime Udoka had another solid game with 22 points and Eugene Edgerson had another double double 15 points and 10 assists. Having to play the next night in Westchester was just too much for the Wildcats as they lost the next night to the Wildfire 87-84. Poor shooting was the main reason, going only 38% from the field. That's right Ime Udoka again had a great game with 22 points in the loss.

(NEXT WEEK: May 14 @ Pennsylvania, May 16 vs. Westchester, May 17 vs. Brooklyn)

BREVARD BLUE DUCKS: The Blue Ducks had some time at home this week. Playing four games in five days is always difficult. Coming to town first was the Adirondack Wildcats. The Wildcats managed to knock off the Blue Ducks twice in three days. The first game was a 96-80 defeat. Terrance Shannon led the way with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Blue Ducks only shot 34.5% from the field. The Wildcats did not treat their hosts well, knocking them off again by the score of 83-77. Terrance Shannon again led the way with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Darryl Hardy had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a losing cause. Pennsylvania was next in town. The Blue Ducks again came out on the short end of the stick, losing 121-101. Simeon Haley had 27 points to go along with 12 rebounds in the loss. The week wasn't all bad news, the bounced back the next night and won 111-100 over the ValleyDawgs. Terrance Shannon had 26 points and Simeon Haley had his second consecutive game with a double double, 19 points and 11 rebounds.

NEXT WEEK: May 12 @ Texas, May 14 @ Oklahoma, May 17 @ Kansas, May 18 @ Dodge City)

BROOKLYN KINGS: The Kings were the second Eastern Division team to venture to the Midwest Division this season. The Kings started in Salina as they faced the Cagerz. Seven players in double figures helped the Kings overcome a 20-point deficit to pull out a 110-108 victory. Former Chicago Bull Charles Jones had 20 points to lead the way with Clyde Ellis chipping in with 18 points. Next the Kings were in Dodge City to take on the Legend. A 27 to 19 first quarter deficit didn't help matters as the Kings lost by a score of 121-89. Gary Williams had 25 points in a losing cause. The Kings then played the red hot Oklahoma Storm. In a seesaw battle the Kings lost by a score of 108-106. The Kings had two chances at the end of the game to pull it out but they missed two three-point field goals, one at the buzzer, to fall just short. Rookie Antwan Dobie had 17 points to lead the Kings. In the final game of the trip the Kings faced Texas. The Kings kept the Rim Rockers winless as they won by a score of 115-106. Gary Williams had 19 points to pace the Kings to victory.

(NEXT WEEK: May 14 @ Westchester, May 17 @ Adirondack, May 18 vs. Westchester)

DODGE CITY LEGEND: Dodge City was the last of the unbeaten to fall this week, but by no means was this a bad week for the Legend as they went 3-1 on the week. First Brooklyn came to town but didn't want to stay long, losing 121-89 to the Legend. Balanced scoring has been the norm all season long and this game was no different. Seven players scored in double figures with Immanuel McElroy had 19 points to lead the balanced attack. Antonio Smith had 16 points and 17 rebounds and Lazarus Sims had 14 points to go along with 10 assists. Next was the trifecta with Kansas. The road was unkind as the Legend lost for the first time this season 97-90. The Legend shot only 46.9% from the line and threw the ball away 28 times. The Legend quickly righted the ship and knock off the Cagerz twice in three days. Darren Hancock had 15 points to lead the Legend to a 106-95 victory. Antonio Smith had 14 points and 19 rebounds. In the final game of three, seven players were again in double figures as the Legend won 115-106. Immanuel McElroy had 20 points for the Legend. Lazarus Sims had 15 points and 16 assists and Antonio Smith had 14 points and 12 rebounds, his third double double in four games this week.

(NEXT WEEK: May 15 @ Oklahoma, May 17 vs. Pennsylvania, May 18 vs. Brevard)

KANSAS CAGERZ: With four games this week the Cagerz were busy. First game of the week was against the Brooklyn Kings. The Cagerz built a 20 point lead but were not able to hold on, losing 110-108. "Mr. Double Double" Johnny Jackson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Cagerz. Bryan Lucas had 10 points and 15 rebounds. Next were three games against the Legend. The Cagerz knocked off the Legend by a score of 97-90. Five players scored in double figures, with Billy Thomas leading the way with 18 points. Two trips to Dodge City in three days is never easy and the Legend were not kind to the Cagerz. First the Cagerz lost 106-95. Brian Lucas had 16 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Cagerz. The second trip was no better than the first, losing 115-106. Lamont Rowland had 26 points in his best game as a professional.

(NEXT WEEK: May 15 vs. Texas, May 16 vs. Pennsylvania, May 17 vs. Brevard, May 18 vs. Texas)

OKLAHOMA STORM: The Storm had an outstanding week. First for the Storm was the Rim Rockers. The Storm played well and won by a 121-102 margin. USBL Leading Scorer Albert Mouring had 29 points to pace the Storm. Next for the Storm were the Westchester Wildfire. The Storm didn't make Wildfire Head Coach John Starks return to his home state a good one as they won 99-85. Mouring again led the way with 22 points. James Penny had 19 points and 13 rebounds and Lonnie Jones had 14 points and 12 rebounds in a winning cause. The Storm went on the road as they helped the Rim Rockers open their home schedule. The Storm didn't help them too much as they won 101-97. Mouring had 26 points to again pace the Storm. Lonnie Jones had 15 points and 13 rebounds with Tim Kisner contributing 11 assists. Last game of the week for the Storm was against the Kings. Albert Mouring was one assist away from the first USBL triple double of the season; he had 36 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists in a 108-106 victory. Tim Kisner had 11 points and 16 assists.

(NEXT WEEK: May 13 @ Texas, May 14 vs. Brevard, May 15 vs. Dodge City, May 17 vs. Texas)

PENNSYLVANIA VALLEYDAWGS: The ValleyDawgs had three games this week including a trip to Florida. First was a home game against their Eastern Division rival Adirondack. The ValleyDawgs used as 29-19 third quarter to defeat the Wildcats 112-106. Quincy Wadley had 26 points and Kareem Reid had 19 points and 10 assists in the victory. A trip to Florida was next as the ValleyDawgs faced off against Brevard. Six players were in double figures as Quincy Wadley again led the way with 26 points. Kareem Reid had 24 points and 10 assists. The ValleyDawgs had 20 steals and forced 21 turnovers in the victory. Overconfidence was a back breaker as the ValleyDawgs saw their six game winning streak come to an end, losing 111-100. Quincy Wadley had 32 points and 7 steals.

(NEXT WEEK: May 16 @ Kansas, May 17 @ Dodge City)

TEXAS RIM ROCKERS: Another tough week for the Rim Rockers as they went 0-4 and are still winless at 0-12. The Rim Rockers had their final game in a 9 game road trip to start the Rookie Bingo Merriex had 28 points to lead the way for the Rim Rockers. Chad Wilkerson pitched in with 20. Next was the home opener against the same Oklahoma squad. Chad Wilkerson had 31 points for the Rim Rockers in the loss. Westchester came to town and they held on for a 82-80 victory over the Rim Rockers. Jai Pradia had 21 points for the Rim Rockers. In the final game of the week, the Rim Rockers lost a heart breaker to the Brooklyn Kings 126-116 in overtime. Maurice Carter led all scorers with 28 points.

(NEXT WEEK: May 12 vs. Brevard, May 13 vs. Oklahoma, May 15 @ Kansas, May 17 @ Oklahoma, May 18 @ Kansas)

WESTCHESTER WILDFIRE: The Wildfire finished off their Midwest swing and then hosted a divisional rival at home. First the Wildfire traveled to Head Coach John Starks home state of Oklahoma to face the Storm. A tough second quarter doomed the Wildfire as they lost 99-85. The "Dynamic Duo" of Kevin Freeman and Lance Williams led the way with 22 and 20 points respectively. Next the Wildfire ventured to Texas to take on the Rim Rockers. Kevin Freeman scored 20 as the Wildfire held on and defeated Texas 82-80. With the Freeman and Williams on the bench with injuries the Wildfire took on the Wildcats of Adirondack. Anthony Taylor stepped up and led the Wildfire to a 87-84 victory. Vonteego Cummings had 15 points in the victory.

(NEXT WEEK: May 14 vs. Brooklyn, May 16 @ Adirondack, May 18 @ Brooklyn)

"PLAYER OF THE WEEK" – ALBERT MOURING, OKLAHOMA STORM

Mouring, Week 1 POW, had another sensational week as the Storm went 4-0. Mouring started the week with 29 points and then had games of 22,26 and 39 points for the week. Mouring's best game of the week and the year so far was a 36 point, 14 rebound, and 9 assist game in a win over Brooklyn. Mouring averaged 28.5 points on 45.9 shooting from the field and 21 of 23 shooting from the line. Mouring is still the USBL League scoring Leader with a 28.7 per game average.

"HONORABLE MENTION"
QUINCY WADLEY – PENNSYLVANIA VALLEYDAWGS
ANTONIO SMITH – DODGE CITY LEGEND
TERRANCE SHANNON – BREVARD BLUE DUCKS

"ROOKIE OF THE WEEK" – DAVID GRAVES, DODGE CITY LEGEND

Graves, a Notre Dame graduate, has slowly become a very important component in the Legend attack. Graves had 14 points to start the week in a win over Brooklyn. A tough game against Kansas didn't stop Graves as he bounced back to score 24 points to lead the Legend to a victory. Graves then finished the week with 11 points. Graves is averaging 14.4 points per game, tops for the Legend. Graves is also deadly from the line, shooting 34 for 36 from the line, a USBL best 94.4 %.

"HONORABLE MENTION"
BINGO MERRIEX – TEXAS RIM ROCKERS
OUSMANE CISSE – ADIRONDACK WILDCATS

"TEAM OF THE WEEK" – OKLAHOMA STORM The Storm was the only team to go undefeated this week, going 4-0. Wins over Texas twice (121-102, 111-107), Westchester (99-85), and Brooklyn (108-106) helped the Storm to a 7-3 record and 2nd place in the Midwest Division. The Storm have won five games in a row going back to last week. POW Albert Mouring has been on fire and has led the way. Solid contributions from James Penny, Tim Kisner, and Lonnie Jones have made life easier for Head Coach Todd Chambers and the Storm.

"HONORABLE MENTION"
PENNSYLVANIA VALLEYDAWGS
DODGE CITY LEGEND

United States Basketball League Stories from May 13, 2003

• USBL Transactions - USBL
• This Week in the USBL - USBL

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