This Week in the USBL
Published on June 23, 2003 under United States Basketball League (USBL) News Release
MILFORD, CT â The United States Basketball League, Inc. concluded the final week of the 18th season of play. Teams shored up their seeds for the Post-Season Festival and looked to peak at the end of the season.
ADIRONDACK WILDCATS: The Wildcats had a busy week with 5 games. The Wildcats traveled to Westchester to start the week. The Wildcats came out on top 101-95. Eugene Edgerson led 5 players in double figures with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Demetric Shaw chipped in with 19. The Wildcats then returned home to face the Brevard Blue Ducks for two games. In the first Adirondack hold off a hard charging Blue Duck team to pull out a needed victory 99-96. Frantz Pierre Louis had 28 points and 13 rebounds in the victory. Eugene Edgerson had 15 points in the victory. The Wildcats again faced the Blue Ducks, but won by a bigger margin 106-97. Micah Brand was the high man in this game with 19 points, leading seven players in double figures. Next for the Wildcats were rival Pennsylvania. A poor fourth quarter did the Wildcats in as they lost 105-102. Eugene Edgerson had 19 points in the loss. In their final game of a busy week, the Wildcats traveled to Brooklyn. The Wildcats were down by 6 with 10 seconds left but two three point field goals by Kevin Morris tied the game, which the Wildcats pulled out by a score of 149-143 in overtime. Chad Wilkerson had 28 points in the victory. Jerome Coleman had 26 points and Simeon Haley had 20 points.
(NEXT WEEK: Post-Season Festival in Dodge City: vs. Oklahoma Friday at 5:00 PM CST)
BREVARD BLUE DUCKS: The Blue Ducks finished the season on the road. They first played the Brooklyn Kings. The Kings were not good hosts as they won 126-120. Ike Spencer had 28 points and 12 rebounds in the loss. Next for the Blue Ducks were two games against Adirondack. In the first game the Blue Ducks lost 99-96. Ike Spencer was again the high man with 26 points. Nate Burton had 25 points in the loss. The next meeting was no better as Adirondack again won 106-97. Ike Spencer had 31 points in the loss. Nate Burton again had 25 points in a losing effort. In their final game of the regular season the Blue Ducks faced Westchester. Tony Harris had 37 points but it was not enough as the Blue Ducks lost 109-105.
(NEXT WEEK: Post-Season Festival in Dodge City: vs. Dodge City Friday at 8:00 PM CST)
BROOKLYN KINGS: The Kings traveled to Pennsylvania to open the week. Lenny Cooke had 32 points but it was not enough as the Kings lost 133-117. The Kings then faced Brevard at home. Lenny Cooke had 47 points and 17 rebounds as the Kings won 126-120. Kwame James had 15 points in the win. Next for the Kings was Pennsylvania. The Kings gave a great effort but came up short 119-106. Anthony Glover had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. Fred Williams had 19 points and 12 rebounds. In the final game of the regular season the Kings hosted Adirondack. The Kings held a 6 point lead in the waning seconds but couldn't hold on, losing 148-143 in overtime. Lenny Cooke had 53 points, a USBL season high. Cooke's 53 points is also good for 4th All-Time in USBL history.
(NEXT WEEK: Post-Season Festival in Dodge City: vs. Pennsylvania Friday at 11:00 AM CST)
DODGE CITY LEGEND: The Legend had a familiar opponent this week as the faced Texas four times. In the first of four, The Legend won 123-75 in Texas. 7 players scored in double figures with Brian Lubeck leading the way with 22 points. The next night, again in Texas, the Legend won 116-95. Harold Swanagan had 25 points in the victory. Alvin Jefferson hit for 20 points. Dodge City then traveled to Oklahoma to face the Storm. The Legend led throughout and coasted to a 130-119 victory. Antonio Smith exploded for 37 points and 11 rebounds in the victory. Immanuel McElroy had 24 points in the victory. Dodge City then finished up the regular season, with two home games, against Texas. In the first game the Legend led 42-33 after the first period and never looked back as they won 126-112. David Graves led 7 players in double figures with 24 points. Shawn Daniels had 20 points in the victory. In the final game of the season, Dodge City rolled over Texas 146-107. Artie Griffin had 26 points on 8/14 shooting from 3-point range. Brian Lubeck had another solid game with 25 points. The Legend finish the season 25-5, the second best regular season ever. They also went 15-0 at home, which has been done twice before; the 1995 and 1996 Florida Sharks both went 16-0 in the regular season at home.
(NEXT WEEK: Post-Season Festival at home: vs. Brevard Friday at 8:00 PM CST)
KANSAS CAGERZ: The Cagerz had a short week with 2 games on the road to end the regular season. The Cagerz traveled to Dodge City to face Texas in a make up game from June 15th. The Cagerz were behind by 6 at half-time but then they turned it on and won 107-81. Tim Pledger had 27 points in the victory. Johnny Jackson had 14 points and 11 rebounds with Lee Benson also having a double, 19 points and 17 rebounds. Kansas then faced Oklahoma in Enid. In a triple overtime thriller, Cedric Suitt hit a three-point field goal at the buzzer to knock off Oklahoma 147-146. Lee Benson had 46 points and 15 rebounds in the victory. Jeff Boschee had 28 points in the win.
(NEXT WEEK: Post-Season Festival in Dodge City: vs. Westchester Friday at 2:00 PM CST)
OKLAHOMA STORM: The Storm started the week at home against the Legend. The Legend got out to an early lead and the Storm never recovered. Lamont Turner had 37 points in the loss. Albert Mouring had 24 points. Texas next came to town. Lamont Turner again had 37 points, this time in a victory. Chris Porter had 32 points in the victory. In their final game of the season, the Storm hosted the Cagerz. A Cedric Suitt three pointer at the buzzer spelled doom for the Storm as they lost 147-146 in triple overtime. Albert Mouring had 41 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. David Webber had 28 points and 14 assists.
(NEXT WEEK: Post-Season Festival in Dodge City: vs. Adirondack Friday at 5:00 PM CST)
PENNSYLVANIA VALLEYDAWGS: The ValleyDawgs hosted Brooklyn for consecutive games at home to start the week. In the first game the ValleyDawgs won 133-117. Kareem Reid had 32 points and 10 assists in the victory. Ace Custis had 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Olden Polynice had 10 points and 18 rebounds in the win. The Kings didn't have any better luck against the ValleyDawgs later in the week as the lost 119-106. Ronnie Fields led the way with 24 points. Olden Polynice had 20 rebounds and Kareem Reid had 16 points and 10 assists. The ValleyDawgs then traveled to Westchester. The ValleyDawgs won 97-90. Tim Winn led the way with 18 points. Ace Custis had 14 points and 16 rebounds in the victory. In their final game of the regular season, Pennsylvania faced Adirondack. The ValleyDawgs came out on top 105-102, to finish the regular season at 23-7, a franchise best. Kareem Reid had 20 points and 12 assists in the victory.
(NEXT WEEK: Post Season Festival in Dodge City: vs. Brooklyn Friday at 11:00AM CST)
TEXAS RIM ROCKERS: The Rim Rockers had a busy week with 6 games in 7 days. The Rim Rockers started off at home, facing Dodge City on consecutive nights. The Legend won the first game 123-75. Bingo Merriex had 22 points in the loss. The next night was closer but the Legend still came out on top 116-95. Bingo Merriex had 38 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. The Rim Rockers then traveled to Oklahoma. The Storm were too much for Texas as they won 140-123. Toshay Harvey had 30 points in the loss. Texas then traveled to Dodge City to take on Kansas in a rescheduled game from June 15th. The Cagerz came out on top 107-81. Dameon Sansom had 24 points in the loss. David Sykes had 11 points and 18 rebounds in the loss. Texas then again faced Dodge City twice in a row, this time in Dodge City. Dodge City won the first game by the score of 126-112. Toshay Harvey had 31 points in the loss. David Sykes again had a double double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. In their final game of the year, Texas came up short 146-107. David Sykes had 21 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. Toshay Harvey also had 21 points.
(NEXT WEEK: Season Over)
WESTCHESTER WILDFIRE: The Wildfire finished the season at home with three games. The first was against Adirondack. The Wildfire came up short 101-95. Vonteego Cummings had 32 points in the loss. Kwan Johnson had 21 points. Pennsylvania then came to town but the outcome was the same, the Wildfire lost 97-90. Vonteego Cummings was again the high man with 28 points. Lance Williams had 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Wildfire then faced Brevard. Westchester held off a scrappy Blue Duck team to win 109-105. Lance Williams led the way with 36 points. Greg Stevenson had 26 points in the victory.
(NEXT WEEK: Post-Season Festival in Dodge City: vs. Kansas Friday at 2:00 PM CST)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: LENNY COOKE, BROOKLYN KINGS
Cooke started the week with a 32-point performance against Pennsylvania. Cooke then ripped the Blue Ducks for 47 points and 17 rebounds. An injury limited Cooke to only 19 minutes the next game, but he soon recovered at home to the tune of 53 points, the USBL season high. This is also ranks 4th All-Time in USBL history. Cooke averaged 34 points a game this week. He shot 51% from the field and 66% from the line this past week, while scoring 134 points total.
HONORABLE MENTION
ISAAC SPENCER, BREVARD BLUE DUCKS
LAMONT TURNER, OKLAHOMA STORM
LEE BENSON, KANSAS CAGERZ
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: BRIAN LUBECK, DODGE CITY LEGEND
Lubeck had an impressive week for the Legend. He started off with 22 points on 7 for 8 shooting in a win over Texas. He followed that up with 6 points and 5 rebounds in only 15 minutes of play. Lubeck then had 16 points and 7 rebounds in a win over Texas. Lubeck finished the week with 25 points and 6 rebounds in only 18 minutes of play. This is Lubeck's first Rookie of the Week Award for the 2003 season.
HONORABLE MENTION
DAVID GRAVES, DODGE CITY LEGEND
ANTHONY GLOVER, BROOKLYN KINGS
BINGO MERRIEX, TEXAS RIM ROCKERS
TEAM OF THE WEEK: ADIRONDACK WILDCATS
The Wildcats started the week off 12-13, in a tie for the 7th seed for the Post-Season Festival. A 4-1 week changed that, as the Wildcats now face Oklahoma as the 5th seed. Wins over Brooklyn, Westchester and Brevard twice propelled the wildcats to a winning record, 16-14. The Wildcats will be looking to use this hot streak to advance in the Festival.
United States Basketball League Stories from June 23, 2003
- USBL Festival Seedings Announced - USBL
- Ducks ready for post-season tournament - Brevard Blue Ducks
- This Week in the USBL - USBL
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