Warriors open home schedule with forfeit win
Published on June 5, 2009 under World Basketball Association (WBA)
Cartersville Warriors News Release
Coming off two road wins in as many days last weekend to open their season, the Cartersville Warriors were all set to start the home portion of their World Basketball Association schedule Friday night against the Memphis Blue Tornadoes at J.H. Morgan Gymnasium.
Unfortunately, the Warriors were unable to show their stuff on their home court, as the Blue Tornadoes' team van broke down en route to Cartersville, giving the Warriors a forfeit victory to run their record to 3-0.
"It's really disappointing that we didn't get to play," said Cartersville coach Cory Baldwin. "You always look forward to your home opener and we didn't get to have one. We practiced hard this week and I wanted to see it pay off against a team we had a tough game against last weekend (Cartersville beat Memphis 70-64 May 30 in Memphis). Now we have to come back and get geared up again mentally and not let this speed bump affect us."
The cancellation of Friday's game didn't come until 6:15 p.m. EST, about 45 minutes before the scheduled 7 o'clock tipoff. However, the lateness of the decision came in large part due to the fact that Warriors' co-owner David Archer wasn't informed of the van breakdown until just before 6 p.m. EST.
"I'm extremely disappointed not to have our home opener," Archer said. "I don't know how many people were going to be here, but we'd already made plans and the referees had driven 3 ½ hours to get here. Memphis only called us an hour before the game to let us know they weren't coming and where they said they were broken down (Muscle Shoals, Ala.) is more than an hour from Cartersville. There was a lack of professionalism in how it was handled.
"I'm not 100 percent sure it's a forfeit, but I think it is because the expenses for the game have already been incurred (the referees had to be paid even though there was no game). It's a buzzkill not to play after winning two games on the road last week. It really bothers me that we didn't get to play tonight."
Despite the disappointment of Friday's forfeit win, the Warriors have a chance to get the bad taste of their mouths quickly, as they host a non-WBA game against BC Howren Saturday night at 7:30. Cartersville returns to WBA action Sunday afternoon against the Decatur Court Kings. Tipoff at J.H. Morgan Gymnasium is set for 4 p.m.
World Basketball Association Stories from June 5, 2009
- Warriors open home schedule with forfeit win - Cartersville Warriors
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