Trenton Shooting Stars

The Trenton Shooting Stars were a professional basketball team in the International Basketball League (IBL) from 1999 to 2001.

Trenton Shooting Stars
LeagueIBL
Founded1999
Folded2001
ArenaSovereign Bank Arena
LocationTrenton, New Jersey
Team colorswhite, blue, black
     
PresidentLarry Keating
OwnershipHerb Greenberg
Websitewww.iblhoops.com/teams/stars (archived on March 11, 2000)

History

edit

The team was owned by Herb Greenberg[1] and Larry Keating was the president: Kevin Mackey was named coach and director of basketball operations in May 1999,[2] and the newly opened Sovereign Bank Arena was the home court. During the IBL inaugural draft the Shooting Stars selected the following players: Kevin Ollie, Mark Baker, Shawnelle Scott, Todd Lindeman, Tyrone Grant, James Martin, Willie Simms, Moochie Norris, LaMarr Greer, Ryan Bowen and Cassette Wesson.[3] Mackey resigned on January 19, 2000 citing health issues,[4] and he was replaced by his assistant coach John Carideo, who stayed as the head coach until the end of the 2000–01 season.[5] In the first IBL season the team finished with a 32–32 record: Ray Tutt was the leading scorer with 19.4 points per game, while Tyrone Grant led the team in rebounds with 8.8 and Ryan Lorthridge was the assist leader with 8 per game.[6] Lorthridge was also the league assist leader. The Shooting Stars qualified for the playoffs, finishing second in the East Division behind the Cincinnati Stuff, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Richmond Rhythm.

In the second season, the team finished with an improved record of 27–25 (.519) and again qualified for the playoffs: they defeated the Cincinnati Stuff in the first round, but lost in the second round to the Grand Rapids Hoops. For the second year in a row, Ryan Lorthridge led the IBL in assists with 8.6 per game. The franchise ceased operations after the IBL folded in 2001.

Season-by-season records

edit
Years Wins Losses Winning percentage Head coach(s)
1999–00 32 32 .500 Kevin Mackey,
John Carideo
2000–01 27 25 .519 John Carideo

All-time roster

edit

Awards

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "A second pro team may quit Trenton". The Record. July 8, 2001. p. 4.
  2. ^ "BASKETBALL". The Gettysburg Times. May 20, 1999. p. 16.
  3. ^ "BASKETBALL IBL draftees". The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 21, 1999. p. 44.
  4. ^ "Basketball". The Philadelphia Inquirer. January 21, 2000. p. 45.
  5. ^ "SEA DRAGONS: After grinding schedule, Florida will have today off finally". The News-Press. May 21, 2001. p. 34.
  6. ^ "TRENTON STARS STATS". iblhoops.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2000. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
edit