Rochester Razorsharks
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| Rochester Razorsharks | |
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| Founded | 2005 |
| League | ABA 2005-2007 PBL 2007-present |
| Team History | Rochester Razorsharks 2005-present |
| Arena | Blue Cross Arena |
|---|---|
| Based in | Rochester, New York |
| Team Colors | Gray, Blue, & Black |
| Owner | Dr. Sev Hrywnak |
| Head Coach | Rod Baker |
| Championships | 2 (2006 ABA, 2008 PBL) |
| Division Titles | 2 (2006 ABA Blue Conference, 2008 PBL East Division) |
| Mascot | shark |
The Rochester Razorsharks are a Premier Basketball League team (and their defending champions) based in Rochester, New York, which was formerly a member of the American Basketball Association.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] 2005-2006
The Rochester Razorsharks were founded in 2005 as a professional basketball team in the American Basketball Association. They play their games in the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY. The Razorsharks had much success during their first season, as they finished their inaugural regular season at 26-4, ranked #1 in the ABA Pit Bull Power Rankings, and were named as ProBasketBallNews.com's top 10 Minor League teams. They also led the ABA in attendance. Their regular season high was 6,192 against Indiana.
Due to their success at the gates, Rochester hosted the 2006 ABA Great Eight Tournament playoffs. At their home arena, the Razorsharks, on March 26, won the ABA championship 117-114 in front of a franchise record crowd of 6,377.
The Razorsharks' championship continued what has become a Rochester basketball tradition: The Rochester Royals won the National Basketball League championship in their first season, 1945-46, and the Rochester Zeniths captured the Continental Basketball Association crown in their maiden campaign in 1978-79.
[edit] 2006-2007
During the team's first "off-season," the RazorSharks took a major step towards repeating as ABA Champions, as well as establishing plans for the future, by re-signing head coach Rod Baker to a multi-year contract. The deal was reported to be a two-year contract, keeping the 2005-06 ABA Coach of the Year in Rochester until the end of the 2007-2008 season.
Despite the loss of key player and 2006 ABA MVP Chris Carrawell, the RazorSharks reloaded well for the start of the next season, signing key players such as C/F Mike Mackell and including the mid-season pickup of G/F Ricky Price.
The team opened the season with two wins on the road, and returned home on Thursday, November 16th for their 2006 home opener, a 107-93 win over the rival Buffalo Silverbacks.
On Saturday, November 18, ABA Commissioner John Salley presented the players and staff with their Championship rings, and helped hoist the 2005-06 ABA Championship banner to the rafters of the Blue Cross Arena. The Razorsharks won that game, 124-114 over the Maryland Nighthawks.
On Thursday, December 28, 2006 the Rochester RazorSharks beat the Cape Cod Frenzy 92-88 and set a record 24th professional basketball consecutive home victory record topping the 1949-50 NBA Rochester Royals and the 1978-79 CBA Rochester Zeniths. A franchise attendance record was also set at this game with an announced attendance of 7,858. The crowd was also the largest ever to see a pro basketball game featuring a Rochester team. The RazorSharks finished the 2006-2007 regular season with an 18-0 home record extending their home win streak to 35 consecutive wins, and counting. The RazorSharks' last home loss came on November 24, 2005 to the Niagara DareDevils.
On Thursday, March 22, 2007, the RazorSharks announced they were leaving the ABA to help form the new Premier Basketball League. [1]
[edit] 2008
The team's first year in the PBL was very successful, compiling an 18-2 record which was the best in the league and earned them the first seed in the playoffs. Following first and second-round byes, they defeated the Reading Railers 100-76 for a berth in the championship game. All of this came despite just a four-player holdover from the previous year. Only James Reaves, John Halas, Demond Stewart, and Keith Friel were players for the RazorSharks in years past, and only three of them, Reaves, Stewart, and Friel were on the 2006 ABA Championship team.
On March 30, the Razorsharks won the PBL's inaugural championship, defeating the Arkansas Impact 142-112. Another notable incident in the title game was the backboard shattering following forward Sammy Monroe grabbing the rim for a rebound. The glass shrapnel injured teammate James "Mook" Reaves and delayed the game for 45 minutes while arena staff replaced the backboard and medical staff tended to Reaves' injuries.
[edit] Year-By-Year Results
[edit] 2005-2006 Final Record
| Regular Season | |||||||
| Wins | Losses | Percentage | League Ranking | Division Ranking | |||
| 26 | 4 | .867 | 1st - ABA | 1st - Connie Hawkins | |||
| Playoffs | |||||||
| Wins | Losses | Percentage | Finish | ||||
| 4 | 0 | 1.000 | Won ABA Championship (beat SoCal Legends ) | ||||
[edit] Team Leaders
-Points Per Game: James Reaves: 18.4
-Rebounds Per Game: James Reaves: 7.6
-Assists Per Game: Lazarus Sims: 6.2
[edit] 2006-2007 Record
| Wins | Losses | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 6 | .800 |
The RazorSharks received a final ABA PLAYOFF RANKING of 4 (of 37 teams) earning them a bye in the first round of the ABA playoffs.
[edit] Team Roster
[edit] 2007-2008
- 04 - Jerice Crouch - G
- 05 - John Halas- G
- 10 - Steve Hailey - G
- 13 - Keith Friel - G
- 15 - Derik Holyfield - G
- 20 - Demond Stewart - G
- 21 - Sammy Monroe - G/F
- 24 - Marlin Johnson - G/F
- 25 - Vidal Massiah - F
- 33 - Jermaine Bell - F
- 35 - James "Mook" Reaves - F
- 55 - Ron Rollerson - C
[edit] Staff
- Owner - Dr. Sev Hrywnak
- General Manager - Orest Hrywnak
- Head Coach - Rod Baker
- Vice President of Basketball Operations: Chris Iversen
- Ticket Manager: John Concordia
- Media/Community Relations: Anthony Andolina
Team Massage Therapist: Barb Boehly and Anne Flatley of Empire Therapeutic Massage Center
[edit] External links
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