Central Basketball Association

Central Basketball Association (CBA)
SportBasketball
Founded2013
First season2013
Ceased2019
No. of teams7
CountryUnited States
ContinentFIBA Americas (Americas)
Last
champion(s)		Indianapolis Blaze (2019)
Most titlesFort Wayne Flite (3)
Official websitewww.playCBA.com

The Central Basketball Association (CBA) was a semi-professional men's basketball league that began play in the spring of 2013. The league schedule typically began in March and ended in May.

History

The four charter members are Bowling Green Hornets, Middle Tennessee Storm, River City Panthers, St. Louis Hawks (all formerly of the Central Basketball League).

Three teams (Chattanooga Rail Runners, Fort Wayne Flite and Memphis Soul Kings) were added for the 2014 season. After the second CBA season St. Louis Hawks ceased operations. An original member of the league, St. Louis went 10-7 over two regular seasons, capturing the first-ever CBA championship.

For 2015, CBA added three expansion teams: Indianapolis Briks, Mississippi Eagles and Springfield Sentinels.[1]

After the 2015 season Memphis Soul Kings ceased operations. Chattanooga Rail Runners relocated to Memphis. Expansion teams Columbus Condors and Indianapolis Blaze were added for the 2016 season.

Teams

Team City Arena Founded First season in CBA
Baltimore Shuckers Baltimore, Maryland Anne Arundel Community College 2011 2017
Bowling Green Hornets Russellville, Kentucky Logan County High School 2013 2013
Fort Wayne Flite Fort Wayne, Indiana Horizon Christian Academy 2014 2014
Indianapolis Blaze Indianapolis, Indiana Shortridge High School 2015 2016
Jackson Eagles Jackson, Tennessee Lane College 2014 2015
Memphis Rail Runners Memphis, Tennessee JIFF Center 2014 2014
Middle Tennessee Storm Nashville, Tennessee Fisk University 2014 2014

Rail Runners [2] The first head coach was Rodney English (2014-2015), with the current head coach being Paul Gaffney (2015–present).[3] Gaffney is a 17-year veteran of the Harlem Globetrotters.[4] He founded the Rail Runners as a way to provide local players yet one more opportunity to realize their professional dreams.[5]

Former teams

  • Columbus Condors (2016)
  • Illinois Coal Miners (2017)
  • Indianapolis Briks (2015)
  • Memphis Soul Kings (2014)
  • Peoria Panthers (2013)
  • Springfield Sentinels (2015)
  • St. Louis Hawks (2013)
  • Washington Stars (2017)

Champions

Season Champion Runner-up Result
2013 St. Louis Hawks Bowling Green Hornets 107-96
2014 Middle Tennessee Storm St. Louis Hawks (CBA) 106-103 [6][7]
2015 Bowling Green Hornets Fort Wayne Flite 97-95
2016 Fort Wayne Flite Middle Tennessee Storm 110-83 [8]
2017 Fort Wayne Flite Indianapolis Blaze 95-92
2018 Fort Wayne Flite Indianapolis Blaze 98-95 2OT
2019 Indianapolis Blaze Fort Wayne Flite 83-82

References

  1. ^ "Central Basketball Association Expands To 9 Teams For 2015 Season". The Chattanoogan. 10 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Chattanooga Rail Runners – Better Know A Team". Spor Report. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Memphis Rail Runners". Central Basketball Association. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  4. ^ Branton, B.B. (2 March 2014). "Chattanooga Rail Runners Open Hoops Season". The Chattanooga. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  5. ^ Wiedmer, Mark (19 May 2014). "Wiedmer: Rail Runners a chance to prolong hoop dreams". timesfreepress.com. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Middle Tennessee Storm are 2014 CBA Champions". CBA. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  7. ^ "USBasket.com All-CBA Awards 2014". USbasket. 30 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Fort Wayne Flite capture CBA title". 21 Alive. 22 May 2016. Archived from the original on 26 May 2016.