Wildcats Lose Championship Game

QUEBEC CITY, CANADA (ABA) - Despite injuries to starters Issa Konare and Brett Gravitt, the Vermont Frost Heaves defeated the San Diego Wildcats 87-84 this evening at the Pavillon de la Jeunesse to win their second consecutive ABA title.

Guard Dwuan Rice was named MVP of the ABA Final 8 Championships after contributing 18 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals in the final. Rice had also rescued Vermont in Saturday's semifinal defeat of Texas after Konare went down with lower back spasms.

Center Dokun Akingbade added 15 points in the final, while Gravitt contributed 12 and Dwayne Lee 11 for Vermont, which ended its season 37-4. The only team to beat the Frost Heaves all season, the Manchester Millrats, lost to San Diego in the semifinals.

"I'm sure most people wrote us off after they saw Brett on crutches and Issa unable to move after yesterday's game," said Frost Heaves coach Will Voigt. "But this game exemplified our whole season. Obviously, Dwuan and Dokun led the way, but each and every guy stepped up. We couldn't stick within our system because our system got thrown out the window with injuries."

San Diego held a 44-41 lead after a see-saw first half in which the Wildcats sank six of 11 three-point attempts. But the Californians missed All-Star guard Cardell Butler, the former And1 Mix Tapes Tour player, who sat out much of the half with foul trouble.

After a tight third quarter Vermont pushed out to a 75-67 lead in the fourth as Gravitt and Markus Austin took turns defending Butler, who was limited to 14 points for the game.

The Wildcats sank only one three-pointer in the second half, but they closed to within 84-82 with a minute to play. That's when Vermont strung together several defensive stops, along with free throws from Austin and Rice, to clinch the title.

Jamal Kendrick, whom Voigt coached in the Los Angeles Summer Pro League in his first coaching job a decade ago, led San Diego with 21 points.

Wildcats Return Home Saturday

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Wildcats of the American Basketball Association (ABA) are one of the top teams in minor league professional basketball. The Wildcats, who are 16-4, return to the Ray and Joan Kroc Center this Saturday, 7:15 p.m., to play host to the Long Beach Breakers. Long Beach is coached by former NBA player Olden Polynice. For more information, please visit the Wildcats website at www.sandiegowildcats.com or call 619-701-3136.

Wildcats Travel to Far East

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Wildcats will travel to Singapore to meet the Beijing Aoshen Olympian this weekend. Two of the league's top rated teams will battle in a two-game set. "We are really looking forward to the trip," stated Wildcats team owner Anthony Lacey. "We've heard that they have a very good team, very tall, with top Chinese players from their national team as well as one of the best ABA players ever, All Star Jamel Staten. Teamed with Sun Yue and the others, they are very formidable and it should be very exciting basketball."

Wildcats Defeat Long Beach

LONG BEACH - The San Diego Wildcats of the American Basketball Association (ABA) edged the Long Beach Breakers 118-115 last night at Long Beach City College. this season. The West Division leading Wildcats improved to a league-best 13-1 record, while Long Beach fell to 7-4.

Wildcats Move to Number One in ABA Power Rankings

SAN DIEGO - The American Basketball Association (ABA) today released its Power Rankings through Monday, December 17 and the San Diego Wildcats have taken over the Number One spot replacing the powerful Manchester Millrats following a loss to the Vermont Frost Heaves. "The top four or five teams are very strong," stated Brad Hester, VP of Team Operations. "It looks like it is going to go back and forth all season long. And there are other teams showing surprising strength. The competition is tough all around the league."

The Top Five Rankings:

1. San Diego Wildcats

2. Manchester Millrats

3. Vermont Frost Heaves

4. Texas Tycoons

5. Beijing Aoshen Olympian

Wildcats Rumble Over San Francisco

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Wildcats of the American Basketball Association (ABA) defeated the San Francisco Rumble 93-86 on Saturday night at the Ray and Joan Kroc Center. San Diego, which leads the Western Conference, improved to 10-0 on the season. Cardell "Ballaholic" Butler led the Wildcats in scoring. San Diego continues its homestand next Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. against the Maywood Buzz.

Wildcats Move to 8-0 WIth Home Win

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Wildcats of the American Basketball Association (ABA) defeated the San Francisco Rumble 144-115 at the Ray and Joan Kroc Center on Friday. Cardell Butler and Leonard Mosley led the ABA Western Conference leaders to an 8-0 record. San Diego continues their homestand on Sunday against Orange County at 7:15 p.m.

Wildcats Start ABA Season at 6-0

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Wildcats of the American Basketball Association (ABA) lead the Western Conference with a perfect 6-0 record. The Wildcats next home game is Wednesday, November 28, 7:15 p.m., as they host the Maywood Buzz at the Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center. San Diego has defeated the San Francisco Rumble, Orange County Gladiators, Los Angeles Push, Long Beach Breakers, and Maywood Buzz to start the season. Tickets are as low as five dollars and are available at the door. For more information about the San Diego Wildcats please visit the website at www.sandiegowildcats.com.