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| PreSeason PBL Champs open season Friday (Trent Arena 7:30pm) |
After winning the
PBL Preseason Tournament in December the
Dayton Air Strikers will open the PBL Season against the
Charleston Gunners on Friday, January 6th
(7:30pm). The game will be at
Trent Arena in Kettering as the Strikers look to start out the season the way they
ended the IBL season and the PBL preseason - Winning. The Strikers have
won 7 straight games in the respective IBL and PBL and look to continue that winning formula on Friday. This team has been led by Penn St. grad and
local baller Brandon Hassell along with Pikeville College's
William "Bo" Harris and former Milwaukee-Wisconsin G
Avery Smith. The buzz in the PBL cities has been that the Air Strikers could
challenge the champions last season
(Rochester Razorsharks). Rochester was in attendance when the Air Strikers won the PBL preseason title at Lake Michigan, and the
champs was impressed, so look for a great regular season as the
Strikers and Razorsharks compete in the same division, along with Charleston, Lake Michigan and Scranton (PA). (more info at
www.thepbl.com)(
www.daytonairstrikers.com)
There will be some new faces on the team, along with some of the players from last season in the IBL. Gone will be
CJ Anderson, Marcus Thompson, and Jerrelle Redden, and others from last season and local legend
Quade Milum (Colonel White) agreed to join the
Harlem Globetrotters. However there will be some new faces such as
Laron Mann, Aaron Perry & Mike Troll, who have relished the opportunity to step in and make their presence known. And the Air Strikers will continue to
develop talent from the Miami Valley area, as one local will be counted on to make a impact this season
(Daquan Walker) and another will be making his rookie debut in the pro ranks
(Devaughn Buntyn). Both of these hoopers played at
Dayton Dunbar while Buntyn finished at
Xenia.
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| Coach McGuire with his Strikers |
There is a
better buzz about the team this season as opposed to last season, and this season figures to be a key one as the Air Strikers look to
build their fanbase,
win games and offer a great atmosphere for
good players to become better pros. There is more stability within the franchise, and with a
head coach like Chris McGuire, the team will always be competitive and fun to watch.
Owner Anthony Byrd has seen the ups and downs of the semipro circuit, and now feels like this could be the
breakout year the Air Strikers (and the Miami Valley) need so that people will start to respect them in the same way they do the Dragons, Gems, and Silverbacks. There are a couple of big announcements for the Air Strikers on the way this year, and one things for sure - The Strikers are trying to build a winning basketball program and should be commended for that. There is some legitimate
NBA talent on the roster, so the games will be exciting for all to see.
Related Article:
Rocheseter wins PBL season opener against Scranton
NOTE: In February the Dayton Air Strikers will launch a
Youth Striker Program which will benefit kids (girls and boys) who want to become better basketball players
(from ages 8-18) and a
Striker Development Team which will consist of mostly
talent from the Miami Valley. The Strikers want to develop a "farm system" which gives young people who have the desire and
dreams to make college and pro basketball a reality. Contact
dcash@daytonairstrikers.com for more info.
2012 DAYTON
AIRSTRIKERS ROSTER
Dayton Air Strikers Roster for 2011-12 Season
Laron Mann - #12
D.O.B. 2/28/87
Home Town - Accokeek MD.
College: College of Southern Maryland
5'11 166lbs
Notes: Mann started the Pre-Season Championship Game at Lake Michigan; very smart player, with great ability to lead the offense and defense. Tough as nails player. Strong player who can get inside with strength or hit the open J.
William “Bo” Harris - #5
02/08/86
6'7 LBS: 230 lbs
Pikeville College
Hometown: Winchester KY
Notes: "Bo" as teammates call him is a forward that can drop perimeter J's as well as slashing to the hoop. Can rebound, and play D and is a vocal leader. Can play mulitple positions. Was very effecient in Preseason tournament.
Avery Smith - #3
8-4-86
6'3 185lbs
University of Milwaukee Wisconsin
Hometown: Milwaukee Wisconsin
Notes: Smith is a combo guard who will be counted on to lead a talented group of players; Smith has all the tools to be a special player. Quick,athletic, smooth guard with strength and will defend.
Must stay focused, as he will have to distribute and score on a nightly basis.
Mike Troll - #9 3/1/88
6'1 188lbs
American International College
Woodhaven New York
Notes: Troll was drafted from the PBL Combine, and the New York PG has been very solid, showing ability to knock down open shot, and being smart with the ball. Has a burst and can get to anywhere on the court. Good decision maker as well. A rookie on the pro circuit.
Carl Hampton - #231/16/86
6'4 210lbs
Indiana Northwest University
Hometown: Chicago
Notes: Hampton is in the Paul Pierce mold; Good skill set and once he gets rolling, can score in bunches; Can go inside and out; Physical player who will be counted on to provide scoring and defensive boost. Helped bring home championship in 4th when he dropped 10 pts in the final quarter.
Mark Gomillia -#20
4/12/89
6'5 200lbs
Stephen F. Austin State
Hometown:Atlanta Georgia
Notes: Gomillia is a long, athletic, wing with a NBA 3-pt range; Gomilia is very effective on defense, where he plays the lanes very well, and causes problems with his size; Plays hard, and can create scoring on offense and defense.
Aaron Perry - #27
8/11/83
6'8 217lbs
Sacramento State
Hometown: Detroit Michigan
Notes: Perry is a long athletic, Robert Horry type of player who will battle down low; Great ability to step out and hit J; rebounds well, and causes problems with his shot blocking ability. Also has clutch in his blood, knocking down 2 late 3pt bombs to help Air Strikers move to the Preseason FInals.
Brandon Hassell - #33
5/27/86
6'11 240lbs
Penn State University
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Notes: The Valley view and Penn St grad was a force in the Championship game (24pts) against Lake Michigan and their 7"3 behemoth; If he plays at that level, he will be a MVP candidiate in the PBL. NBA size, with ability to hit open J; Can also go and slam on any athlete, but must use jump hook and inside moves to become dominant player.
Daquan Walker - #16
5-22-88
6'3 190lbs
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Notes: Local Legend Walker played for the Air Strikers in the IBL last summer and showed promise; He also jump started the run in the crucial 4th quarter which helped the Air Strikers win the Championship; Has ability to drop the NBA- 3 or go and dunk on you; Can play multiple positions; Tough player, coming from Dunbar High; Good rebounder and defender as well.
Leonard Mitchell - #32
6/3/84
190lbs 6'2
Columbus St. Community College
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Notes: Mitchell was a part-time starter on Strikers team that won all of its games in the IBL last summer; Mitchell is a hard-nosed defender who will sacrifice for the betterment of the team; Can hit the open shot and has a great ability to get to the basket. A leader on the court and in the locker room, Mitchell is the quintessential PG.
Devaugn Buntyn
4/20/89
6'4 172lbs
Sinclair College
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Notes: Buntyn is one of the new young talents that came to tryouts and was kept from the Miami Valley. Buntyn has loads of ability, and got some valuable time in the Preseason Tournaments; Buntyn, who played at Dunbar before transferring to Xenia, can shoot the 3 and slash to the hoop as well. Very fast, and has ability to make special plays. Will be one to watch in the future.
Eugene Wade
1/9/88
6’9’ 210lbs
Simmons Bible College
Notes: Wade is a long athletic big who can pound it inside and drop the midrange J. Very tough on Defense, he will be looked on to provide energy and presence inside. Still has great upside and is a hard worker.
Brandon Russ
Born: 1987
Ht:6'8" WT:248lbS
S. Indiana
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Notes: Big Brandon Russ will be coming back to the team, which is a major plus; Russ is a big post who was a catalyst in the undefeated Striker season in the IBL; Russ scores on the blocks, and can step out and hit the mid-range shot; He bangs in the paint, and can rebound with the best of em'. Has length and size to play a undersized center, but is more suited at Power Forward.
However with 2 minutes to go the Strikers lost a 7 point lead, as Gunner guards Will Collins, Mike Armstead and Vince Goldsberry dropped key buckets to make it look like Charleston would sneak a road victory in its opener. Down 102-97 after a Will Collins 3 pt dagger, the Strikers would get a free throw by William "Bo" Harris, and after the Gunners made 1 of 2 FT's the Air Strikers G Leonard Mitchell dropped a huge 3 to pull the Air Strikers within 1 (102-101); After a quick foul with 2 seconds left, the stage was set for the amazing finish (which should someday soon make it to ESPN TOP 10) 
After the Gunners missed the second attempt, "Bo" Harris grabbed the rebound, slid past two defenders and shot a 55 -foot heave from just past halfcourt that was a prayer - and was answered with a back rim swish as the Air Strikers had pulled out the come from behind victory. The Gunners team, coaches, and fans watched in shock while the Air Striker players, coaches, fans -and even the mascot - in Trent Arena went crazy...Dayton Air Strikers 104, Charleston Gunners 103.
