Give and Go

Erie to have new semi-pro basketball team — Panthers

Jeff Kirik — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:18:41 +0000

The Erie Panthers will be a part of the Ohio Exposure Basketball League’s inaugural season, which begins with a preseason showcase tentatively scheduled for May 25. The regular season of the league will begin in late June.

Stacie Carter, of Akron, Ohio, is the owner of the Panthers. She also owns two other OEBL teams, the Detroit Mustangs and the Summit Eagles of Akron.

Read an Erie Times-News story about the Panthers.

Tryouts for the Panthers will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. as well at Wayne Middle School. Two more tryouts will f0llow May 14 and May 16.

Mercyhurst’s Ouegnin advances to Final 4 of dunk contest

Jeff Kirik — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:29:31 +0000

Jonathan Ouegnin

Mercyhurst University basketball player Jonathan Ouegnin has made the Final Four.

Actually, the 6-foot 4-inch junior guard has made the semifinals of a national college dunk of the year contest being conducted online by the website hoopsmanifesto.com.

Ouegnin made a spectacular dunk (check out the video below) Feb. 20 during the Lakers’ win over rival Gannon. ESPN’s Sportscenter show featured the dunk in its Top 10.

His dunk was one of 16 involved in the opening round of the contest. Ouegnin won his first-round matchup against Detroit’s Doug Anderson 58 percent to 42 percent. Ouegnin then won his quarterfinal matchup last week by a single vote over East Carolina’s Maurice Kemp.

In this week’s semifinals, Ouegnin is matched against Syracuse’s C.J. Fair. Fans can vote before Sunday’s midnight deadline but are limited to one vote. (Vote at the bottom of the page.)

In the other semifinal, Jacksonville’s Daniel Skinner faces Eastern Kentucky’s Marcus Lewis.

This is the fourth year the site has run the contest.

Again, here’s video of Ouegnin’s memorable dunk:

McCamey lands in Fort Wayne

Tom Reisenweber — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:20:48 +0000

Former Erie BayHawks guard Demetri McCamey has been picked up by Fort Wayne from the available player pool. McCamey was released by the Erie BayHawks on March 12 to make room for Henry Sims after Sims’ 10-day contract with New Orleans expired. McCamey was initially released by Rio Grande Valley on Dec. 25 before Erie acquired him on Dec. 27. McCamey scored nine points and pulled down three rebounds in 21 minutes, 13 seconds of Fort Wayne’s 116-107 loss to Rio Grande Valley. In 38 total games between three teams this season, McCamey is averaging 5.3 points, 1.7 assists and 1.5 rebounds. Fort Wayne is tied with Erie for the eighth and final playoff spot at 23-22. The Mad Ants hold the tiebreaker over the BayHawks.

–Tom Reisenweber

Benson is back with the BayHawks

Tom Reisenweber — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:26:09 +0000

After leaving Erie to play in the Philippines, Keith Benson is back with the Erie BayHawks. Benson, a 6-foot 11-inch, 230-pound center, played 17 games with Erie before leaving for the Philippines this season. He averaged 10.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks with the ‘Hawks. Over in the Philippines, Benson played or the Talk N Text Tropang Texters and averaged 23.6 points, 15.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in five games. Wesley Witherspoon was placed on the inactive list to make room for Benson, who will be in uniform tonight at Springfield.

–Tom Reisenweber

Sims to return to Erie

Tom Reisenweber — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:21:52 +0000

Erie BayHawks star center Henry Sims was signed to a 10-day contract with the New Orleans Hornets on March 2. That contract has expired and Sims is set to return to Erie. He appeared in two of four games with the Hornets. He played 49 seconds in a 105-102 loss to Orlando without recording a statistic, while playing four minutes in a 96-85 loss to Memphis. He went 2-of-3 from the field against the Grizzlies to score four points, pull down two rebounds and had one turnover. It is unclear if Sims will be available for Tuesday’s game between Erie and Texas at Erie Insurance Arena.

–Tom Reisenweber

Harris gone before suiting up with Erie

Tom Reisenweber — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:57:37 +0000

Terrel Harris came to the Erie BayHawks from Rio Grande Valley as part of the five-player trade involving D.J. Kennedy. Before Harris even had a chance to suit up for the BayHawks, he has departed for the NBA. Harris, a 6-5 guard from Oklahoma State, has been called up to the New Orleans Hornets. He averaged 12.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 12 games with the Vipers this season. Harris will be with the Hornets on Saturday against Memphis. Harris was ranked the No. 17 prospect in the D-League before the call up.

–Tom Reisenweber

Former BayHawks star Kennedy No. 2 prospect in D-League

Tom Reisenweber — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:23:33 +0000

D.J. Kennedy is on the rise since his trade to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The D-League released its new prospect rankings on Thursday with Kennedy moving up to No. 2 behind Santa Cruz guard Travis Leslie. Henry Sims, another former Erie BayHawks all-star, was removed from the list after his call-up to New Orleans. Terrel Harris came over in Erie’s trade with Rio Grande Valley and is the No. 17 prospect in the D-League. Harris, a 6-5 guard from Oklahoma State, is averaging 12.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

–Tom Reisenweber

BayHawks complete five-player trade

Tom Reisenweber — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:12:35 +0000

The Erie BayHawks continue their massive roster turnover with only a few days until the D-League trade deadline. After losing all-star center Henry Sims to a call-up recently, the BayHawks (20-18) have traded away D.J. Kennedy and Mike Singletary to Rio Grande Valley for guards Mustafa Shakur, Terrel Harris and forward Wesley Witherspoon. Kennedy, a D-League all-star, led Erie with 18.8 points and 5.5 assists per game and was second in rebounding at 8.3 rpg and second in steals at 1.7 spg. Singletary averaging 10 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game for the BayHawks.

Shakur, a 6-4, 213-pound guard from Arizona, spent the past two seasons in Italy. Rio Grande Valley controlled his rights from his last appearance in the D-League. Shakur is averaging 11.5 points, 3.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds for Sidigas Avellino.

Harris, a 6-5, 190-pound guard from Oklahoma State, is putting up 12.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season. He appeared in 22 games with the Miami Heat last season and played in seven games in Miami this year before being released in January.

Witherspoon is a 6-9, 215-pound forward from Memphis that could fill a need left by Sims’ departure for the BayHawks. He started the season with Austin before being traded to Rio Grande Valley. He averaged 4.7 points per game in 15 appearances with the Vipers.

All three new acquisitions will be in uniform Friday when the BayHawks take on Springfield at 7 p.m.

–Tom Reisenweber

Sims signs with Hornets

Tom Reisenweber — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:46:40 +0000

Erie BayHawks star Henry Sims has signed with the New Orleans Hornets. Sims, a 6-10 center from Georgetown, started all 36 games with the BayHawks this season. He averaged 17.1 points, 9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game and was named a D-League all-star.

–Tom Reisenweber

Mad Ants win 7th straight, blast BayHawks 112-84

admin — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 07:13:42 +0000

The Fort Wayne extended its winning streak to seven games after beating the Erie BayHawks 112-84, Saturday night at Erie Insurance Arena. Anthony Richardson scored a game-high 30 points in leading the Mad Ants (10-10), who have the longest current D-League winning streak. Erie (10-7) is now 1-2 against Fort Wayne.