The Communique

Issue date: 4/29/04 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Cameron Williams Courtney James rejects a shot against St. Louis Skyhawks player in a very close game. The river Raiders wo nby only two points, the score was 91 to 93.

Media Credit: Cameron Williams Brian Bracey makes a lay-up against Kansas Cagerz player during a home game at the U.S. Cellular Center.

After a year and a half of anxiously waiting for a team to take the court, all of Cedar Rapids was ready to get the season underway.

"Everybody around here is excited about the great start," said Sean McLaughlin the Raiders general manager and director of operations.

McLaughlin added that the Cedar Rapids community is lucky to have a great organization to compliment this area with affordable entertainment.

The Cedar Rapids River Raiders professional basketball team joined the Cedar Rapids professional sports teams' as an expansion franchise of the United States Basketball League (USBL) for the start of its' 2004 season.

The River Raiders opened up their 30 game inaugural season on April 16 with a home game at the U.S. Cellular Center defeating the Oklahoma Storm 110-97 in front of 5,913 fans. This attendance mark breaks the second largest USBL attendance record of 5,176.

Dave Joerger, a head coach in the CBA for the last three years, is the head coach of the River Raiders. Joerger was recently named CBA coach of the year as after guiding his team to a CBA championship, his third title in the CBA in four years. Helping him out as an assistant coach is former University of Iowa standout basketball player Kenyon Murray, who is 13 on the all-time scoring list at Iowa with 1,230 career points.

Joerger guided his club to a 3-1 start. With all three wins played in front of a home crowd, beating Kansas 112-104 and St. Louis in a close one; 93-91. The only loss came at Dodge City in an overtime thriller 108-101.

The franchise is owned by Marion business owners Barry and Toni Smith, owners of the Marion Microtel Inn and Suites and other real estate property in the area. According to the River Raiders website, the River Raiders aim to provide fans quality and low-cost entertainment in Eastern Iowa with an emphasis on family friendly entertainment acts at the games.

"We are very pleased with the support we have seen from the community thus far," said Barry Smith, president and owner of the River Raiders.
"We hope to continue having record crowds at River Raiders games for the rest of the season and seasons to come."

The remaining entertainment schedule features appearances by NBA mascots, a survivor contestant, a pro-wrestler, the L.A. Laker girls, other local talent, the team's official cheer and dance team and the Raiderettes and team mascot.

Over 1,000 season tickets have been sold for the home schedule, season tickets prices range from $70 to $140. Individual game ticket prices range from $5 to $12 depending on the location of the seats.

The River Raiders are in the Midwest Division of the USBL consisting of five teams: Dodge City (Kansas) Legend, Kansas Cagerz, Oklahoma Storm and the St. Louis Skyhawks.

The Eastern Division consists of six teams: the Adirondack (New York) Wildcats, the Brevard (Florida) the Blue Ducks, Brooklyn (New York) Kings, the Florence (South Carolina) Flyers, the Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs and the Westchester (New York) Wildfire.

Fans can tune in to the Cedar Rapids River Raiders radio network on KMJM AM 1360 (The FAN) in Cedar Rapids or KXIC 800 AM in Iowa City, and listen to all the home games.

For more information call 319-373-2683 or log on to the Raiders' website at www.crriverraiders.com.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools