This Week in the USBL

Published on May 19, 2003 under United States Basketball League (USBL) News Release

MILFORD, CT – The United States Basketball League, Inc. (USBL) moves into the main section of the schedule this past week. Games have been closely played with some outstanding performances this week. A recap is as follows:

ADIRONDACK WILDCATS: The Wildcats started the week on the road as they traveled to Pennsylvania to take on the ValleyDawgs. An unkind 2nd and 3rd quarter did the Wildcats in as they lost 105-97. Ime Udoka was the high man with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Greg Stempin chipped in with 18 points and Eugene Edgerson had 14 rebounds. Next for the Wildcats was two home games in as many days. First was the Wildfire of Westchester. Poor shooting (36%) did the Wildcats is as they lost 82-75. Ime Udoka again had a double double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Newcomer Frantz Pierre-Louis had 15 points for the Wildcats. With the Laker Girls in the house, the Wildcats played the Kings of Brooklyn. Ime Udoka had a huge night, 28 points to go along with 15 rebounds. Greg Stempin had his best game in the USBL so far with 29 points.

(NEXT WEEK: May 21 vs. Kansas, May 23 vs. Westchester)

BREVARD BLUE DUCKS: The Blue Ducks traveled to the midwest to take on the Rim Rockers for the start of their midwestern swing. The Blue Ducks managed a 126-116 win in overtime against the Rim Rockers. Terrance Shannon was the high man for the Blue Ducks with 25 points. The Blue Ducks then traveled north to take on Oklahoma. A close game throughout, the Blue Ducks came out just a little short 131-128. John Mueller had 26 points for the Blue Ducks. Nate Burton had 24 and Earl Tyson had 18 points apiece. The Cagerz were the next host team for the Blue Ducks. They didn't show any hospitality as they defeated the Blue Ducks 115-93. Issac Spencer had 16 points for the Blue Ducks. 25 turnovers doomed the Blue Ducks. In the final game of the week for the Blue Ducks, they visited Dodge City. The road was again unkind as they lost 105-87. Issac Spencer again was the leading scorer with 15 points. Poor shooting was the culprit this time as they shot 39%.

(NEXT WEEK: May 23 vs. Dodge City, May 24 vs. Westchester)

BROOKLYN KINGS: With three games this week the Kings were looking to climb up the ladder and get to even on the season. In the first game the Kings traveled to Westchester to take on the Wildfire. Down by as much as 17 points the Kings roared back and tied the game, but ran out of gas at the end to lose 88-82. Fred Williams had 22 points and Uche Okafor had 13 rebounds to go along with 5 block shots. The Kings then traveled to Glens Falls to take on Adirondack. Again the Kings fell behind early, came roaring back, and came up a little short losing 97-92. Rookie Anthony Glover had 25 points in his professional debut for the Kings. The Kings then hosted the Wildfire in their last game of the week. The Kings came out on top and defeated the Wildfire 114-113. Making his professional debut, Lenny Cooke converted a three point play with 8 seconds left to put the Kings ahead for the victory. Cooke had 33 points and 12 rebounds in his professional debut. Anthony Glover had his second solid game in as many nights as he had 22 points. Rookie Antwan Dobie had 10 assists for the Kings.

(NEXT WEEK: May 21 @ Westchester, May 23 vs. Kansas, May 25 vs. Dodge City)

DODGE CITY LEGEND: The Legend have been the class of the USBL all season long. The Legend have used balanced scoring and a deep bench to place themselves at the top of the Midwest standings all season long. The Legend traveled to Oklahoma and were met with a hostile crowd and a tough Storm team. The Legend could never get on track as they lost for only the second time 103-97. Artie Griffin had 14 points for the Legend and Antonio Smith had 13 rebounds. Next for the Legend was a rematch of the 2001 Championship game, the Legend taking on the ValleyDawgs. The Legend exacted some sort of revenge as they won 106-98. Darrin Hancock had 24 points and Shawn Daniels had 22 for the Legend. In their final game of the week the Legend hosted the Blue Ducks. David Graves continues to play well and is an early candidate for Rookie of the Year. He had 20 points for the Legend. Brian Lubeck had 19 points and 10 rebounds in his best game of the season.

(NEXT GAME: May 20 @ Texas, May 21 @ Texas, May 23 @ Brevard, May 25 @ Brooklyn)

KANSAS CAGERZ: The Cagerz have been struggling in the early part of the season. They had 4 games in as many days at home and looked to make a turnaround to the season. The Rim Rockers visited first. They cam out on the short end as the Cagerz won 114-113. "Mr. Double Double" Johnny Jackson had 23 points and 16 points for the Cagerz. Bryan Lucas chipped in with 20 for the Cagerz. The ValleyDawgs were the next to visit Salina. They had the same result as the Rim Rockers losing 104-102. Tai Crutchfield and Tim Pledger each had 19 points for the Cagerz. Johnny Jackson had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Brevard was next in town to face the Cagerz. The Cagerz made it three in a row as they won 115-93. Lee Benson had 29 points for the Cagerz in the win. Johnny Jackson had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Tim Pledger had 15 points. The Cagerz made it four in a row as they defeated the visiting Rim Rockers 130-122. Lee Benson had his second big game in as many days, scoring 31 points. Johnny Jackson had 18 points and 17 rebounds for the Cagerz.

(NEXT WEEK: May 20 @ Westchester, May 21 @ Adirondack, May 23 @ Brooklyn, May 24 @ Pennsylvania)

OKLAHOMA STORM: The Storm ventured to Texas to take on the Rim Rockers. The Storm had trouble holding on to the ball all game (27 Turnovers) and cam out short 130-126. Albert Mouring led the Storm with 29 points. The Blue Ducks visited the Mark Price Arena looking to make it two in a row on their midwest swing. The Storm didn't let that happen as they won 131-128. Lamont Turner had 34 points and 12 rebounds to lead to the way for the Storm. Albert Mouring had 30 points and 10 rebounds in the victory. The Storm next hosted the Legend, looking to make up some ground in the standings. The Storm were successful as they won 103-97. Albert Mouring had his 2nd 30 point game of the week, scoring 32 in the victory. Tim Kisner dished out 14 assists for the Storm. The Storm next opponent was the Rim Rockers. The Storm had revenge on their mind as they won 127-117. Albert Mouring was again the leader for the Storm, dumping in 40 points. James Penny had 29 points in only 24 minutes of play.

(NEXT WEEK: May 19 vs. Pennsylvania)

PENNSYLVANIA VALLEYDAWGS: The ValleyDawgs returned from a short trip to Florida to play the Wildcats at home. The ValleyDawgs used great defense and timely shooting from the free throw line to knock off the Wildcats. Kareem Reid had 21 points for the ValleyDawgs. Quincy Wadley had 19 points in the victory. The home game was only a short stay as the ValleyDawgs next traveled to Kansas to start their midwest swing. The Cagerz were unkind and the ValleyDawgs lost 104-102. Ace Custis had 28 points and 14 rebounds in the loss. Kareem Reid had 24 points for the ValleyDawgs. The ValleyDawgs then traveled to Dodge City to take on the Legend. The ValleyDawgs got off to a slow start and were never able to recover as they lost 106-98. Ace Custis had his second big game of the trip as he again had 28 points to go along with 10 rebounds.

(NEXT WEEK: May 19 @ Oklahoma, May 22 @ Texas, May 24 vs. Kansas)

TEXAS RIM ROCKERS: The Rim Rockers were looking to capture their first win of the season against the visiting Blue Ducks. The Rim Rockers had chances but lost in overtime 126-116. Maurice Carter led the Rim Rockers with 28 points. Next for the Rim Rockers was the Storm of Oklahoma. This time the Rim Rockers came out on top and won their first game in USBL history 130-126. Maurice Carter had 36 points and Chad Wilkerson had 29 points in the win. The Rim Rockers then had a short three game road trip before playing their next 10 games at home. The first game was against Kansas. Two free throws by Johnny Jackson put the Cagerz ahead for good as the Rim Rockers lost another heartbreaker 114-113. Maurice Carter had 32 points in the loss. Rod Gregoire had 24 points and 13 rebounds. The Rim Rockers then traveled to Oklahoma. Again they came out on the losing end 128-117. Maurice Carter again led the way with 34 points. Rod Gregoire had the first triple double of the USBL season with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists. In their last trip to Kansas for the season, the Rim Rockers lost another game 130-122. Maurice Carter had 39 points and Chad Wilkerson had 22 points in the loss.

(NEXT WEEK: May 20 vs. Dodge City, May 21 vs. Dodge City, May 22 vs. Pennsylvania)

WESTCHESTER WILDFIRE: The Wildfire hosted the Kings in their first game of the week. The Wildfire saw a 17 point lead slip away but still came out on top 88-82. Kevin Freeman had 15 points for the Wildfire. Reggie Jessie had 13 points to help the cause. Next for the Wildfire was a short trip north to face the Wildcats. The Wildfire held the Wildcats to 36% shooting and won 82-75. Kevin Freeman was again the main man with 20 points and 9 rebounds. Kitwana Rhymer had 15 points and 9 rebounds in the win. The final game of the week for the Wildfire was a trip to Brooklyn. The Wildfire struggled without Kevin Freeman and lost 114-113. Rod Grizzard had 23 points and Kitwana Rhymer had 26 points for the Wildfire in the loss.

(NEXT WEEK: May 20 vs. Kansas, May 21 vs. Brooklyn, May 23 @ Brooklyn, May 24 @ Brevard)

PLAYER OF THE WEEK – MAURICE CARTER, TEXAS RIM ROCKERS

The Rim Rockers have been in every game the past two weeks and the biggest reason has been Carter. Carter started the week off with 28 points and that was his low for the week. Carter then put up 36, 32, 34, and 39 points in each of his next 4 games. During this time Carter shot 52% from the field and was 53 for 60 from the line. Carter has also played 232 out of a possible 240 minutes this week.

HONORABLE MENTION
JOHNNY JACKSON, KANSAS CAGERZ
ALBERT MOURING, OKLAHOMA STORM
IME UDOKA, ADIRONDACK WILDCATS

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – BINGO MERRIEX, TEXAS RIM ROCKERS

The TCU rookie is showing why he was the number one overall pick in the USBL draft. Merriex started the week slow with 16 points and 8 rebounds. He next had 17 points and 9 rebounds in a win over Oklahoma. His next three games Merriex showed that he is a force to be reckoned with. He had 21 points and 8 rebounds against Kansas. Next against Oklahoma he had 23 points and 11 rebounds and then he finished off the week with his second double double in as many days, 19 points and 14 rebounds.

HONORABLE MENTION
DAVID GRAVES, DODGE CITY LEGEND
ANTHONY GLOVER, BROOKLYN KINGS
ANTWAN DOBIE, BROOKLYN KINGS

TEAM OF THE WEEK – KANSAS CAGERZ

Four games in, as many days is always difficult. Being 3-8 to start it makes each game that much more valuable. The Cagerz worked through it and came out on top, going 4-0 on the week. The Cagerz knocked off the Rim Rockers 114-113 to start the week. Next was a 104-102 victory over the ValleyDawgs. The Blue Ducks came to town and got the same treatment as the others with a 115-93 loss to the Cagerz. In the last game of the week the Cagerz came out on top 130-122. Johnny Jackson had four double doubles in as many games for the Cagerz.

United States Basketball League Stories from May 19, 2003

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

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.