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ValleyDawgs-Cagerz Rivalry Heats Up Tonight

May 22, 2004 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs News Release


TELEVISION: Service Electric Cable TV2 Commentators: Mike Zambelli and Rich Baksa

RADIO: WEST AM 1400, ESPN2 (Dial Position 45 on SECTV) by Pressing SAP button Play-by-Play: Angelo Di Carlo and Mike Quigley

‘DAWGS DROP SECOND STRAIGHT: Adirondack came to town on Wednesday looking to avoid a season sweep. The ‘Dawgs had won all three contests this season. But the ‘Dawgs weren't clicking well in the 1st quarter and shot just 22% from the field. A late run closed the gap to 21-18 after the first frame. Adirondack built a comfortable 49-39 lead with 2 minutes left in the first half, but the ValleyDawgs again made a late quarter rally, scoring 9 straight points and trailing but just one, 49-48, at the half. But the third quarter was all Adirondack. They outscored the ValleyDawgs 35-19 and never looked back. Pennsylvania attempted to make a late comeback but it wasn't enough as Adirondack won it 109-103. Jimmy "Snap" Hunter scored 31 points and had 10 rebounds in the win for the Wildcats. Antonio Meeking led the way for PA with 16 points and 11 boards, while rookie Kenya Carruthers scored 16 as well. The loss was the second straight for the ValleyDawgs who dropped to 10-5 on the season.

KINGS PULL WITHIN FIRST PLACE TIE WITH PA: With the ValleyDawgs on a two-game losing streak, the Brooklyn Kings picked no better time to start a hot streak. Last night, the Kings traveled on the road to Brevard and knocked off the Blue Ducks 112-103. The win was the third straight for Brooklyn who has tied the ValleyDawgs for first place in the Eastern Division. Both teams are 10-5.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE: After playing 9 of its first 13 games on the road, PA opened up a 4-game homestand Tuesday in a loss to Brooklyn. On Wednesday, the ‘Dawgs lost again at home, this time to Adirondack. Tonight, Pennsylvania battles Kansas and on Wednesday they take on the expansion Cedar Rapids River Raiders for the first time. The ValleyDawgs are 4-2 at their new home at Liberty High School's Memorial Gym. On Thursday, the ValleyDawgs will travel to New York City to battle the Brooklyn Kings for the final time this season. Brooklyn has won 2 of the three matchups between the two Eastern Division leaders. One week from tonight, PA is back at home. On Saturday the 29th they host the Oklahoma Storm and on Sunday the 30th they host John Starks and the Westchester Wildfire.

INJURIES CONTINUE TO PLAGUE DAWGS: Marcus Hill (6'5" Tulsa) is out for the season after injuring his right hand Sunday while trying to reach for a loose ball. His hand was caught in a collision with Adirondack's Marshall Phillips. Hill had surgery on Thursday. Leading scorer Marcus Fleming (6'8" Alcorn State) sat out Tuesday's game with a day-to-day elbow injury before returning to the lineup Wednesday. Fleming and Hill join Joe Crispin, Quincy Wadley, Carlos Wheeler, and Paul Alverez on the injured list. Jerry Holman continues to nurse a left eye injury that he suffered Tuesday night. John Thomas (6'0" St. Francis) and Kenya Carruthers (6'7" Kansas Wesleyan) were added to the roster Tuesday. NEWCOMERS SHINING: The ValleyDawgs added two players Tuesday in guard John Thomas (6'0" St. Thomas) and rookie forward Kenya Carruthers (6'7" Kansas Wesleyan). Thomas is averaging 12 points, 4.5 assists, and 2 steals in two games. Carruthers is averaging 10 PPG and 4.5 RPG. He had a team high 16 points in Wednesday's loss to Adirondack.

FLEMING A CATALYST TO VICTORY: The ValleyDawgs are a perfect 4-0 this season when Marcus Fleming has a double double. They are 7-1 when he leads them in either scoring or rebounding in a game. PA is 3-1 when Fleming is its top scorer and 5-0 when he is Pennsylvania's top rebounder. Fleming leads the ValleyDawgs in scoring (15.9 PPG) and is 7th in the USBL in rebounding (8.5 RPG).

OTHER TOP DAWGS:

Tim Winn is the ValleyDawgs second leading scorer, averaging 14 PPG. He is 8th in the USBL in assists, averaging 4.5 APG.

Jerry Holman is 4th in the USBL in blocks (1.9 BPG) and 6th in field goal percentage (56%, 61-110). He is averaging 10.4 PPG and 7.4 RPG.

ROAD GAMES NOT A PROBLEM FOR ‘DAWGS: Pennsylvania is the only team in the USBL with a winning record away from home. Not only are the ‘Dawgs above .500 away from Liberty High School, they are well above it. PA is 6-3 on the road this year.

CAGERZ TO HOST 2004 USBL POST-SEASON FESTIVAL: The Post-Season Festival will be held on June 25th, 26th, and 27th at the Bicentennial Center in Salina, Kansas. This is the third time the Cagerz have hosted the Festival, having hosted it in 1999 and 2000. The Post-Season Festival will be comprised of the host team, Kansas Cagerz, and teams with the top seven records from the regular season. Teams will be seeded according to their seasonal record. Four games will take place on Friday, June 25th with the winners moving on to play on Saturday June 26th. The winners of those games will continue on and play for the USBL on Sunday, June 27th. The last three tournament hosts went on to win the USBL Championship. The ValleyDawgs started the trend in 2001, Oklahoma won it in Enid in 2002, and Dodge City won it last season.

CAGERZ BOAST TOP RECORD IN USBL: The Cagerz come into the game with the best record in the USBL at 12-4. They are in first place in the Midwest Division with a perfect 9-0 record at home. Last night, The Cagerz began their 6-game, 8-day Eastern Road Trip. It didn't start well as Westchester snapped Kansas' 6-game winning streak 103-92. Cleotis Brown scored 20 points for Kansas while Johnny Jackson chipped in 19 points and grabbed 12 boards. The loss dropped the Cagerz to 3-4 on the road this season. They play at Brooklyn Tuesday, at Adirondack Wednesday, at Florence Friday and at Brevard one week from tonight.

JACKSON APPROACHING ALL-TIME REBOUNDING LEAD: "Mr. Double Double" Johnny Jackson holds the USBL double double record with 72 and counting. Jackson needs only 29 rebounds; he currently has 1151 rebounds, to pass Andre Perry as the USBL All-Time leader in rebounds. Jackson also has 126 career-blocked shots and needs only 16 to move into the top ten all-time. This season, Jackson has 6 double doubles. He is 4th in the league in rebounding with 8.8 RPG, 2nd in offensive rebounding (4.4 ORPG), and first in blocks, averaging 2.4 BPG. He also averages 15.4 PPG.

SEASON SERIES: This is the first meeting of the season between the ValleyDawgs and Cagerz. The two teams will meet again on June 1st in Salina, Kansas.

ALL-TIME SERIES: There may not be a team the ValleyDawgs want to beat more from the Midwest than the Kansas Cagerz. The Cagerz and ‘Dawgs had a benches clearing brawl in a game in Salina, Kansas a few years ago. The following year when the ValleyDawgs returned to Kansas for a game, local police arrested ValleyDawg Terrance Roberson because of the previous year's brawl. The ValleyDawgs protested and Roberson was released in time for the start of the game. That game proved to be like every other trip to Salina, with the ValleyDawgs losing. The Cagerz have won all 4 meetings in Kansas. The ‘Dawgs have won 4 of the 5 games here in Pennsylvania. The only loss was in 2001, when Kansas swept the season series. The ValleyDawgs had the last laugh however by winning the USBL Championship that year. The two teams have never met in the post-season despite playing games against each other since 1999. Kansas leads the all-time series 5-4.

‘DAWGS SLASH TICKET PRICES: The ValleyDawgs have lowered their ticket prices in an effort to accommodate more fans. Now enjoying a professional basketball game is cheaper than going to the movies. Children 10 and under are free. All students are $3 when they show a student ID or when they wear a shirt from their school. And all adult tickets are $5. Reserved Seating is now $10.

VALLEYDAWGS CAREER RECORDS: Regular Season Post Season
1999 18-9 1-0 Reached USBL Post-Season semifinals
2000 20-10 0-1 Northern Division Champions
2001 18-12 3-0 USBL Champions
2002 14-16 0-1 Reached USBL Post-Season quarterfinals
2003 23-7 2-1 Eastern Champions, reached USBL Championship
2004 10-5 Overall 103-59 6-3 109-62



United States Basketball League Stories from May 22, 2004


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