Battle Creek Flight
The Battle Creek Flight are a team in the Independent Basketball Association (IBA) located in Battle Creek, Michigan. They previously played in the Premier Basketball League (PBL) and in the International Basketball League. The team was known as the Battle Creek Knights prior to the 2013–14 season.
| Founded | 2004 |
|---|---|
| League | IBL (2004–08) PBL (2008–09) IBL (2009–10) IBA (2011–present) |
| Team history | Battle Creek Knights (2004–2013) Battle Creek Flight (2013–present) |
| Based in | Battle Creek, Michigan |
| Arena | Kellogg Arena 2004–present |
| Colors | Black, Silver, Orange |
| Owner | Scott Niecko
|
| Head coach | Terry Sare |
| Championships | 1 (2005: IBL) |
| Division titles | 2 (2005: IBL, 2009: PBL) |
| Dancers | Illegal Motion |
| Mascot | Sir Jam A Lot |
2005 season
The Knights lived up to their nickname of "The IBL's Power Team", by beating opponents by an average of 128–114. The Knights were led in scoring by Mike Williams, at 22.4 ppg. The Knights were undefeated in the regular season, and won the championship game, beating the Dayton Jets 124–121, for a final record of 21–0.
In addition to being the IBL's power team on the court, the Knights also led the league in attendance. Playing at Kellogg Arena, crowds of 2,500+ were not uncommon, and the team drew 1,854 to the championship and All-Star game, which they hosted. Three Knights made the all-star team; Bobby Madison, Jamal Gooding, and Mike Williams.
2006 season
The 2006 Knights were a victim of the IBL's expansion. The team finished 11–10, respectable, yet a far cry from being undefeated. The team lost their only playoff game 144–139 to the Holland Blast, an expansion team. Again, three all-stars were named, Logan Vander Velden, Mike Williams, and Jay Youngblood. Youngblood was also in the top 25 scorers, averaging 22.0 ppg (he also played part of the season with the Cuyahoga Falls Cougars. After the season, coach Williams resigned and was replaced by former Knight Logan Vander Velden.
2007 season
With Vander Velden at the helm, the Knights began to regain their winning ways, and locked into the 5th seed for the IBL playoffs, where they were eliminated by the defending champion Elkhart Express in the East final.
2008 season
The Knights started off with a 1–4 record, but rebounded to eventually end the regular season with a record of 9–11. The Knights opened the playoffs with a win against the Elgin Racers 116–100, only to fall to the Elkhart Express in the Eastern Conference finals 130–147.
During the off season, the Knights announced a switch to the winter playing Premier Basketball League (PBL).[1]
2009 season
In their first year in the PBL, the Knights reeled off 12 straight wins before falling on the road to the Wilmington Sea Dawgs. They would lose only one other game and finish with a regular season record of 18–2, taking first place in the PBL's Central Division. However, after controversy in the PBL championship series against the Rochester Razorsharks, the Knights left the PBL, first announcing they were taking a year off, but later changing that to playing in the IBL for 2010.
Current roster
As of December 27, 2013
Head Coach: Terry Sare
| # | Pos. | Ht. | Player | Acquired | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | F | 6'7" | Antione Lundy | 2012 | South Alabama |
| 23 | G | 6'4" | Tihon Johnson | 2012 | Mountain State |
| 5 | G | 6'4" | Dave Boykin | 2012 | Bridgeport |
| – | PG | 5'10" | Ameer Watts | 2012 | Missouri Southern State |
| 1 | PG | 5'10" | Marcus Lancaster | 2012 | Montevallo |
| 7 | F | 6'5" | Corey Massey | 2011 | Alma |
| 11 | PG | 6'2" | Ben Fuller | 2012 | Liberty |
| 10 | SF | 6'5" | Randon Dyer | 2011 | Did not attend college |
2009 season schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location (Att.) | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2 | Chicago Throwbacks | W 120–113 | Rashi Johnson, Kenny Langhorne (19) | Florentino Valencia (11) | Rashi Johnson (11) | Kellogg Arena (1,257) | 1–0 | |
| January 8 | Wilmington Sea Dawgs | W 96–95 | Kenny Langhorne (24) | Chris Gaines (9) | Rashi Johnson (6) | Kellogg Arena | 2–0 | |
| January 10 | at Chicago Throwbacks | W 106–94 | Rashi Johnson (25) | Rashi Johnson, Chris Wesby (5) | Rashi Johnson (5) | Attack Athletics | 3–0 | |
| January 17 | Detroit Panthers | W 109–101 | Rashi Johnson (24) | Jason Arbet, Chris Wesby (7) | Rashi Johnson (10) | Kellogg Arena | 4–0 | |
| January 19 | Augusta Groove | W 107–98 | Florentino Valencia (18) | Florentino Valencia (11) | Rashi Johnson (10) | Kellogg Arena | 5–0 | |
| January 24 | at Mid-Michigan Destroyers | W 120–116 | Kenny Langhorne (29) | Kenny Langhorne (10) | Jeremy File, Deon Rose, Coleco Buie, Chris Gaines, Rashi Johnson (1) | Western High School | 6–0 | |
| January 31 | at Detroit Panthers | W 119–106 | Kenny Langhorne (23) | Jeremy File (6) | Jeremy File, Rashi Johnson (4) | Groves High School | 7–0 | |
| February 5 | Quebec Kebs | W 104–101 | Kenny Langhorne (20) | Coleco Buie, Rashi Johnson (6) | Rashi Johnson (5) | Kellogg Arena | 8–0 | |
| February 6 | Chicago Throwbacks | W 117–112 | Kenny Langhorne (19) | Jason Arbet (9) | Rashi Johnson (12) | Kellogg Arena | 9–0 | |
| February 13 | at Quebec Kebs | W 94–86 | Kenny Langhorne (23) | Florentino Valencia (14) | Allen White, Frank Phillips, Jason Arbet (1) | Pavillon de la Jeunesse | 10–0 | |
| February 19 | Mid-Michigan Destroyers | W 131–111 | Kenny Langhorne (19) | Kenny Langhorne (7) | Rashi Johnson (12) | Kellogg Arena | 11–0 | |
| February 20 | Detroit Panthers | W 143–133 | Coleco Buie (32) | Frank Phillips (7) | Rashi Johnson (15) | Kellogg Arena | 12–0 | |
| February 22 | at Wilmington Sea Dawgs | L 121–117 | Kenny Langhorne (21) | Rashi Johnson (7) | Frank Phillips, Rashi Johnson (5) | Schwartz Center | 12–1 | |
| February 27 | Buffalo Stampede | W 114–90 | Kenny Langhorne (24) | Frank Phillips (10) | Rashi Johnson (7) | Kellogg Arena | 13–1 | |
| March 1 | at Detroit Panthers | L 110–108 | Florentino Valencia (19) | Frank Phillips (9) | Jeremy File (5) | Groves High School | 13–2 | |
| March 8 | at Chicago Throwbacks | W 114–109 | Florentino Valencia (20) | Rashi Johnson (10) | Rashi Johnson (7) | Attack Athletics | 14–2 | |
| March 13 | Chicago Throwbacks | W 123–120 | Chris Gaines (21) | Deon Rose (10) | Rashi Johnson (7) | Kellogg Arena | 15–2 | |
| March 22 | at Augusta Groove | W 122–97 | Kenny Langhorne (24) | Frank Phillips (7) | Jason Arbet, Frank Phillips (3) | Richmond Academy | 16–2 | |
| March 27 | at Chicago Throwbacks | W 121–95 | Rashi Johnson (38) | Kenny Langhorne, Rashi Johnson (5) | Rashi Johnson (5) | Attack Athletics | 17–2 | |
| March 28 | at Buffalo Stampede | W 109–106 | Kenny Langhorne (23) | Florentino Valencia (10) | Rashi Johnson (8) | Koessler Athletic Center | 18–2 | |
| Playoffs Semifinal series | ||||||||
| April 3 | at Wilmington Sea Dawgs | L 112–108 | Rashi Johnson, Frank Phillips (22) | Frank Phillips (14) | Rashi Johnson (7) | Schwartz Center | 18–3 | |
| April 5 | Wilmington Sea Dawgs | W 111–90 | Kenny Langhorne (20) | Kenny Langhorne (7) | Rashi Johnson (8) | Kellogg Arena | 19–3 | |
| April 6 | Wilmington Sea Dawgs | W 119–112 | Rashi Johnson (24) | Frank Phillips (1) | Rashi Johnson (10) | Kellogg Arena | 20–3 | |
| PBL Finals | ||||||||
| April 19 | at Rochester Razor Sharks | L 152–115 | Coleco Buie (24) | Kenny Langhorne (8) | Rashi Johnson (6) | Blue Cross Arena | 20–4 | |
Season results
| Year | Wins | Losses | Pct. | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 21 | 0 | 1.000 | 1st – East Division |
| 2006 | 11 | 10 | .524 | T-5th – East Division |
| 2007 | 14 | 9 | .609 | 3rd – East Division |
| 2008 | 10 | 12 | .455 | 4th – East Division |
| 2009 | 18 | 2 | .900 | 1st – Central Division |
2005 – IBL Champions
All-Stars
2005
- Jamel Gooding
- Bobby Madison
- Mike Williams
2006
- Jamel Gooding
- Logan Vander Velden
- Jay Youngblood
2007
- Isaac Jefferson
- Nick Zachery
2008
- Bobby Madison
References
- "Premier Basketball League Welcomes Battle Creek Knights". Our Sports Central. 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2008-07-31.