Kentucky Mavericks
The Kentucky Mavericks were a minor league basketball team who competed in the Premier Basketball League based in Owensboro, Kentucky. This team is no longer in operation.
| Founded | 2006 |
|---|---|
| League | ABA (2006–07), (2008–11), (2013–15) CBA (2007–08) Premier Basketball League (2015–2017) |
| Team history | Rio Grande Valley Silverados (2006–08) Southeast Texas Mustangs (2008–09) Southeast Texas Mavericks (2009–11) Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks (2013–15) Kentucky Mavericks (2015–2017) |
| Based in | Owensboro, Kentucky |
| Arena | Owensboro Sportscenter |
| Colors | Blue, Red, White |
| Owner | Jerry Nelson, Jr. |
| Head coach | Steve Tucker |
| Championships | 4 (2010), (2011), (2014), (2015) |
| Division titles | 4 (ABA) |
| Dancers | Lady Mavs |
| Mascot | Maverick Horse |
History
Rio Grande Valley/Southeast Texas
Originally known as the Rio Grande Valley Silverados, the team was originally a member of the former Continental Basketball Association. Owned by McAllen businessmen Art Gonzalez and Kevin Mitchell, the Silverados were based out of McAllen, Texas and played their home games at the McAllen Convention Center.
In the team's initial ABA season of 2008-09, the team played in Beaumont. The Mustangs proved to be a force to be reckoned with winning 27 of their first 28 games, many by margins of 50 points or more. Their only loss was a one-point defeat in the final seconds of the game to the Texas Fuel. The Mavericks rose to the top of the ABA Power Rankings early in the season and did not fall from that perch until suffering defeat in the ABA Playoff Semifinals.
On May 14, 2009, owner Jerry Nelson announced the new name and logo. The team name was changed to Southeast Texas Mavericks.
The name had changed, but the game remained much the same for the franchise as the Mavericks consistently remained atop the ABA Power Rankings. On January 25, 2010 the Mavericks set an ABA record for victory margin by beating the New Mexico Rim Rockers 158-72. The margin of 86 points erased the old mark of 81 set by the Kentucky Colonels in the 2004-05 season.
The Southeast Texas Mavericks were ranked third in the MLN Sports Zone Minor League Pro Basketball Top 10 for January 2010, ahead of teams from the NBA Development League and Premier Basketball League, among others.
After dominating the ABA for the three-straight seasons, the owners of the Mavericks decided to leave the ABA and seek a more challenging professional basketball league. The Mavericks contacted the NBA Development League office about possibly buying a franchise and beginning the process of becoming a member.[1]
After numerous meetings with NBA D-League officials, Mavericks’ owner Jerry Nelson accepted the league's "No" response to their request to join the D-League. The team sat out the next two seasons. In 2013, Nelson made the decision to return to the ABA and relocated the team to Shreveport.[2]
Shreveport-Bossier
During their time in Shreveport, the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks compiled a total record of 66-0, including a 50-0 record at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, the Mavericks home arena.
The team won two ABA championships during the 2013–14 season and 2014–15 season.
Kentucky
The Mavericks had much success in their time in Shreveport, but in the offseason of 2015, the Mavericks announced that they would be moving, and the city they chose was Owensboro, Kentucky. The Kentucky Mavericks also changed leagues from the ABA to the Premier Basketball League. In their first game in a new league and the new city, the Mavericks took on defending PBL Champions, the Rochester Razorsharks. The Mavericks defeated the Razorsharks handily, winning by a score of 108-88.[3]
As of April 2017 the Mavericks have ceased operations.[4]
ABA/PBL win streak
On February 14, 2016 the Mavericks extended their win streak to 103 games, having not lost a game since December 2010.[5] On March 6, 2016, the Mavericks winning streak came to an end, as they were defeated by the Rochester Razorsharks, by a score of 105-99.[6]
Season-by-season record
| Season | W | L | Win % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | 27 | 2 | 93.1% | ABA SW Division Champion. Lost in playoff semifinals. |
| 2009-10 | 23 | 3 | 88.5% | ABA League Champions |
| 2010-11 | 23 | 1 | 95.8% | ABA League Champions |
| 2013-14 | 30 | 0 | 100% | ABA League Champions[7] |
| 2014-15 | 32 | 0 | 100% | ABA League Champions |
| 2015-16 | 11 | 1 | 91.6% | TBD |
| Totals | 166 | 8 | 95.4% | 4 ABA League Championships |
Final roster
| Player Name | Number | Position | Height | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Jackson | #33 | PG | 5'11" | Columbus State University |
| Mike Crain | #11 | SG | 6'3" | Valdosta State University |
| Matthew Karn | Practice Player | SG | 6'3" | University of Nebraska |
| Alex Sanders | #50 | C | 6'9" | University of Louisville |
| Gerard DeVaughn | #32 | C | 6'9" | Stillman College |
Joshua Johnson
Ben Vozzola
Chris Hagan
Cory Wilford
Stan Simpson
Robert Crawford
Nick Waddell
Coaching roster
| Head Coach | Season |
|---|---|
| Coach Steve C. Tucker | 2007-2008 |
| Coach Steve C. Tucker | 2008-2009 |
| Coach Steve C. Tucker | 2009-2010 |
| Coach Steve C. Tucker | 2010-2011 |
| Coach Steve C. Tucker | 2011-2012 |
| Coach Steve C. Tucker | 2013-2014
Sarah Gayler |
| Coach Steve C. Tucker | 2014-2015
Sarah Gayler |
| Coach Steve C. Tucker | 2015-2016
Sarah Gayler |
| Coach Steve C. Tucker | 2016-2017
Sarah Gayler Alex Sanders |
References
- "SETX Mavericks leaving ABA...NBA-D League next?". The Examiner. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- "ABA team comes to Shreveport Bossier". KSLA. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- "Successful Season Opener as the Kentucky Mavericks beat the Rochester Razorsharks". mavup.com. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- "Kentucky Mavericks Ceasing Operations". Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- "Kentucky Mavericks Win 100th Straight Game". mavup.com. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- "Razorsharks get Revenge on Kentucky". razorsharks.com. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
- "Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks win the ABA Championship". ArkLaTexHomepage.com. Retrieved 14 April 2014.