Xplosion blasts into top ten
January 1, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Pittsburgh Xplosion News Release
Pittsburgh, PA. On the strength of a four-game winning streak, the Pittsburgh Xplosion are ranked for the first time in the Top 10 of the ABA's Pit Bull Power Rankings. The rankings are determined by a combination of factors, including won-lost record, number of games played, difficulty of schedule, home/away record and other factors. The Xplosion were ranked 10th in the 39-team league this week after boosting their record to 9-7 and surging into second place in the ABA's Freddie Lewis Division before the holiday break.
During their winning streak, the Xplosion scored more than 145 points in three of the four victories, with 148 against the Cleveland Rockers, a season-high 163 in a lopsided win against the Ohio Aviators and 150 against the Cleveland Rockers in a second meeting. After falling to 5-7 in a loss to the Indiana Alley Cats, Pittsburgh's offense lived up to the team's name. The team's resurgence has been propelled by the strong inside game of 6'9" Center Armon Gillam; high scoring from Janerio Spurlock, a 6'6" forward from Kansas State and guard Coleco Buie, a 6'5" guard from Southwest Missouri State; and the addition of five new players during the month in a roster shakeup that added shooting, speed, size and depth.
"After a slow start, our team is combining explosive scoring with tenacious man-to-man defense and strong rebounding," said Tom Thacker, head coach of the Pittsburgh Xplosion. "Our roster is much deeper and we're playing unselfish basketball. Our goal is to extend this exciting winning streak to 2006 when we resume our home schedule on Friday, Jan 6 and Sun, Jan 8 at Mellon Arena."
Gillam was named ABA Player of the Week in mid-December after scoring 31 points and grabbing 8 rebounds against the Rockers. The former NBA star and Bethel Park resident is averaging 22.6 points per game in his first season with the team.
Signed in late November, Spurlock brought potent outside shooting to the Xplosion's lineup. During the team's four-game winning streak, Spurlock averaged 22.2 points, including 33 in the win against the Rockers. Buie, a seasoned ABA veteran, exploded for 36 points in a win against Toledo and averaged 20 during the winning streak.
In December, the Xplosion shoot their roster up, signing five outstanding new players:
* Darius Mattear, a 6'7" forward who played last season in the ABA for the Mississippi Stingers after starring at the University of Texas-El Paso. Mattear poured in 28 points in his debut with the Xplosion.
* Rollie Smith, a 6'0" guard who was a Division II All-American at Clarion University, where he averaged 20 points per game as a senior. Smith played for the Cleveland Rockers this season before joining the Xplosion. He played last season in the ABA also.
* Carlos Cogsdell, a 6'8" forward from Homestead who starred at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.
* Wesley Fluellen, a 6'5" guard who starred for Robert Morris University and averaged 17 points per game last season in the ABA.
* Wayne Copeland, a 6'0" guard who played professionally in Germany and Denmark and at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.
At the Friday, Jan 6 game against the Ohio Aviators at Mellon Arena, the Xplosion will host and honor Perry Traditional Academy's football team, which won the city league football championship this season. At the Sun, Jan 8 game, the Xplosion will host and honor three high school football teams that either played in or won state championships: McKeesport, AAAA State Champion; Franklin Regional, AAA State Champion; and Duquesne, Class A State runnerup. Both games tip off at 7pm. Players and coaches with the football teams will be admitted for free and participate in half-time ceremonies to celebrate their winning seasons.
As the Xplosion announced earlier, all police officers, firefighters, EMS and active military will receive free admission to all Xplosion home games in 2006 by presenting ID at the Mellon Arena Box Office on game day.
Regular ticket prices for Xplosion games start at just $12.50 with half-price tickets available to groups of 20 or more. For tickets and information, visit www.pittsburghxplosion.com, www.ticketmaster.com or call 412 323 1919. Groups of 20+ should call Mellon Arena Group Services at 412 642 1977 or visit www.abalive.com.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
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American Basketball Association Stories from January 1, 2006
- Xplosion blasts into top ten - Pittsburgh Xplosion
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