Undefeated Steelheads Host Delaware Tuesday Night at the Genesis Center
April 16, 2007 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Gary Steelheads News Release
GARY, Indiana - Following two weekend victories over the Jackson Wildcats, the Gary Steelheads host the Delaware Starz at the Genesis Center Tuesday night. Game time is scheduled for 7:05PM CDT.
The Steelheads looked impressive in their debut weekend in the United States Basketball League, winning both games with the Wildcats handily. Consistent in the victories was a solid defensive performance that twice held Jackson under the century mark. Friday night the Wildcats managed just .341 shooting from the field, while Saturday night it was only .364. The Wildcats didn't even score over the first 4:46 of the second loss.
Offensively, the story has been balance. Gary placed seven players in double figures Friday night, with six reaching double digits the following night. Sharp-shooting Rob Griffin unloaded for 29 points in the Steelheads 117-95 victory on Saturday night, the team's best individual offensive performance of the young season. Griffin currently leads the USBL in scoring with a 22.5 ppg average. His running mate in the backcourt, Louis White, leads the league in assists at 6.0 apg.
For the visiting Starz, this will be the expansion team's first game. The Starz had been scheduled to open their season last Friday night at Long Island, but that game was postponed. After their game with the Steelheads, the team will head to Jackson, Mississippi to take on the Wildcats on Thursday night. The Starz play six straight road games, before their opener May 2nd against the Brooklyn Kings. Delaware is coached by Mike Richmond, with former DePaul standout Dallas Comegys serving as an assistant.
The Delaware game will air through the SportsJuice web site (www.sportsjuice.com), with Bill Hazen calling his seventh season of Steelheads' games. Airtime will be 6:50PM CDT. For ticket information, contact the Steelheads office at (219) 883-3000.
--It's Showtime!--
Fish Hooks
- THE SERIES: This is the first ever meeting between the two teams. It is also the first ever professional game for the Starz.
- BLOCK PARTY: Going into Tuesday night's game with Delaware, the Gary Steelheads stand head and shoulders above the USBL in blocking shots. The three leading swatters are all from the Steelheads: Jamario Moon (3.5 bpg), Chris Alexander (1.5 bpg) and Adam Schaper (1.5 bpg). As a team the Steelheads are averaging 7.5 bpg in the young season.
- CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME: The Gary Steelheads have three players that have yet to miss a charity shot in the team's first two games, both Genesis Center victories. Jamario Moon is 12-12 from the foul line, while Eddy Barlow is 7-7 and Lonnie Randolph is 3-3. As a team, the Steelheads are shooting a blistering .825 from the foul line.
- PICTURE OF CONSISTENCY: Guard Louis White has already demonstrated his ability to perform in clutch situations. He has also played with great consistency, handing out 6 assists in each of his Steelheads' games.
- HELLO MARLOWE: Forward Marlowe Currie is off to a fantastic start in his second season with the Steelheads. Through his first two games as a starter, Currie is tied for the USBL lead in steals with 2.5 thefts per game. He stands tied with teammate Jamario Moon for second in the league in assists at 4.0 apg. Three of the top four assist leaders in the USBL are Steelheads.
- IT'S SCHAPER TIME: Rookie forward Adam Schaper has been an incredible surprise in the young season. A product of Bethel College in South Bend, Schaper has scored 17 points in each of his first two games. He currently stands fourth in USBL scoring and second in the league in blocked shots at 1.5 bpg.
- IT'S SHOWTIME: You'll hear the phrase, "It's Showtime" a great deal at Steelheads games. That's because the team is now owned and operated by a new ownership group, Showtime Sports and Entertainment. The following principals compose this group: Jewell Harris Jr., Esq., Darnail Lyles, Esq., Dr. Adolphus Anekwe, Dr. Olusegun Ishmael, Dr. Paul Okolocha, Dr. Basil Ubanwa and Ben Richmond (owner of Family Mobile Medical and the Beach Café Restaurant). Jewell Harris Jr. is President, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. Showtime Sports and Entertainment came about in an effort to better diversify ownership of the franchise, to assure its long term stability and viability. The company also will be involved in other entertainment promotion.
- FROM CBA WORST TO CBA FIRST: The regular season performance of the Gary Steelheads during the 2005-2006 season constitutee one of the great single-season turnarounds in CBA history. During 2004-2005, the Steelheads finished at the bottom of the league with a 17-31 record and 135½ quarter points (2.8 QPA). In 2005-2006, Gary improved a net total of 24 games from 14 games under .500 to 10 games over .500 at 29-19. They raised their quarter point average to 4.10, an increase of 1.3 quarter points per game over the previous year. And the Steelheads won an incredible 25½ more quarters of basketball than the previous year.
- WATCH OUT FOR THAT CLIFF: The Steelheads named former Chicago Bulls forward Cliff Levingston to succeed Jaren Jackson as head coach on November 21st, 2006. He joined the Steelheads as an assistant on February 8th. Levingston played on the Chicago Bulls' first two championship teams and was a fan favorite. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1982 NBA Draft, going ninth in the first round. He retired from the game in 1995. In 2000, Levingston began his coaching career as an assistant coach in the CBA with the Ft. Wayne Fury. In 2001, he served as an assistant coach with the Dodge City Legend of the USBL. After a year as a college assistant at St. Francis, he returned to Dodge City as head coach. His Legend team won the USBL title, and Levingston was named USBL Coach of the Year. During 2003-04, Levingston served as an assistant for the Harlem Globe Trotters. Two years ago, he coached the St. Louis Flight of the ABA.
- HOW THE STEELHEADS WON IN THE CBA: The Gary Steelheads finished their last CBA season with a best-ever franchise record of 29-19. But this alone did not deliver the top seed in the playoffs. Yakama, Sioux Falls and Rockford all had more wins. But Gary was more efficient than any other team in winning quarters. The Steelheads won 110 quarters of basketball, six more quarters than any other team in the league. With each quarter having a value of one quarter point, this surplus of quarter victories made the difference. The USBL does not use a quarter point system.
- A DAY TO REMEMBER FROM 2005-2006: Success over the length of a professional basketball season requires that a number of diverse elements come together. Timing and talent are key ingredients, and the Steelheads had both in abundance during 2005-2006. But, arguably, one moment may stand out among many as the key to the team's success that year. The date was December 21st, 2005, when the Gary Steelheads acquired center Chris Alexander from the Dakota Wizards and signed power forward Edmund Saunders. At that time, the Steelheads were being outrebounded by a whopping 9.8 rebounds per game. Alexander and Saunders cut into that deficit immediately, and Gary's winning percentage began to climb. Saunders played well enough that the Steelheads were able to trade him to Albany for all star forward Carl Mitchell, who has continued to anchor the power forward spot. By the end of the season, the Steelheads had shaved the rebound deficit down to 1.9 rpg. And Gary's regular season record since these roster moves was an excellent 22-11.
- BIG "D" RETURNS TO BIG "G": Tonight's game marks a return to the Chicago area for one-time DePaul standout Dallas Comegys. The former Blue Demon is an assistant coach with the Delaware Starz.
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