April 4, 2006 > Ballers open 2006 season

by Biff Jones

The Tri-City Ballers of the International Basketball League (IBL) open the 2006 season this Friday, April 7th at Newark Memorial High School, 39375 Cedar Blvd, Newark. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. This is the team's second year in the IBL and first year playing out of the Tri-City area. Last year they played out of San Jose.

Their opening opponent is the Portland (Oregon) Chinooks who already have two wins in two games this season. In the opener against the Vancouver, WA Volcanoes, the Chinooks and Volcanoes drew 5000 fans in the Rose Garden, home venue of the NBA Portland Trailblazers. You may want to come to our local games early to secure a seat.

Other teams in the twelve-team Western Division of the twenty-four team league are Seattle and Tacoma of Washington, Salem, Eugene and Central Oregon (Bend) of Oregon, Aurora and Colorado (Lakewood) of Colorado, and Chico and Oakland of California.

To save costs, each team is permitted to take only one trip per year by commercial airline. The Ballers trip will be to Aurora and Colorado for four games mid-May.

The games are fast paced, and teams average about 125 points a game of two hours. Dead time is minimized by allowing each team only one timeout per quarter and using the international rule of allowing teams to take the ball out of bounds without referee handling. Other rules are the same as the NBA, including four twelve minute quarters.

Ward Farris is the head coach and general manager of the team while 6' 3'' guard, Jovan Harris, returns after leading the IBL in scoring in 2005 with 35.3 points per game average.

All home games are scheduled to be played at Newark Memorial with the exception of the game this Saturday, April 8th against the Chico Force. That game is to be played at James Logan High School, 1800 H Street, Union City. Most game times are scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. Games can also be heard on KOHL radio, 89.3FM.

Tickets for home games are $10.00 for adults and children 13 and over, and $5.00 for children 12 and under. Season tickets can be purchased at $90.00 for adults and $45.00 for children for ten games. For more information, contact the Ballers at 408-774-0720 or www.iblhoopsonline.com.