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Negaunee Invitational Basketball Tournament

For immediate release

April 18, 2007

Class A draws big competition in small town

NEGAUNEE—Basketball fans have a special treat this weekend as top Midwest talent converges on Negaunee’s Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium for the 43rd annual Negaunee Invitational Basketball Tournament. Class A action begins at 2:00 p.m. on Friday.

In the first match-up, Rookies of Negaunee takes on Grass Roots of Minneapolis. Rookies will be led by former NMU players Billy Hill, Matt LePage, Ryan Reichel and Marco Volcy; Hill and Volcy made the 2006 All-Tournament Team.

At 3:15 p.m., Get Back of Saginaw faces the G.I. Bad Boys of Gary, Ind. Brian Tennant (Olivet), Chris Davis (Seton Hall), Forrest Saunders (Florida International), Mark Davis (Old Dominion) and Mark Barnes (Alma) are on the roster for Get Back. The G.I. Bad Boys, led by Brian Pryor, have several players with semi pro and international experience, including Terrance and Torrance Hayes (Lakeland), Mark Atkins (Missouri), and Anthony Allison (Valparaiso).

A. Eaddy Ballers of Ann Arbor meet Solid Gold of Chicago at 4:30 p.m. A. Eaddy Ballers feature Jesse Davis (pro/Germany), Elgin Bates (pro/Switzerland), Johnny Epps (pro/China), Derrick Bird (Auburn) and Ryan Sidney (pro/Israel). Solid Gold won the Nike Pro Am Summer League in the Chicago area last year.

At 5:45 p.m., Lewis/Skil of Traverse City takes on Milwaukee Spirits. Fan favorite Lewis/Skil will look to former Eastern player Mark Hughes, John Lynn (Grand Valley) and 2006 All-Tournament Team selections Eric Elliott (Hope) and Bobby Allen (LSSU). Milwaukee Spirits’ roster includes former UW-Milwaukee, UW-Whitewater and UW-Platteville players, many with semi-pro experience including Danny Osby, who was named to the 2006 Class A All-Tournament Team.

Omni Construction of Chicago will face Boykins Outlawz of Lansing at 7:00 p.m. Several former Robert Morris players are on the Omni roster, including six-foot-nine Rodriguez Drain, Pierre Austin, Casey Love and Mike Griff. Chris Boykins Outlawz will look to former NBA players Charles and Carl Thomas, Tom Marowelli (Oakland), Thomas Jackson (Butler) and DaJuan Wiley (Michigan State).

At 8:15 p.m., 2005 and 2006 N.I.T. Champions Sportco of Stevens Point takes on Wooden Nickel (Midwest). The reigning champion’s roster includes Will Green (UW-Eau Claire), Kalonji Kadima (UW-Stevens Point) and 2006 All-Tournament Team players Josh Buettner (Michigan Tech), Roy Boone (UW-Madison), and the 2006 Class A MVP Jason Kalsow. Wooden Nickel will look to six-foot-ten Dan Zorik (UIC) and Nick Buck (NMU).

Heads da Bed of Indianapolis takes on The Dawgs of Flint at 9:30 p.m. The Dawgs will look to former L.A. Laker Corey Hightower, Kevin Toney (Mott), Jermaine Smith (Shaw) and Broderick Miller. Heads da Bed features Jermaine Gardner (IUPUI), Virgil Akers (Taylor), Michael Elliott (Montana State) and Courtney James (Minnesota).

For the final match-up of the evening, the Team Minnesota of the Twin Cities faces Basketball Unlimited/Clark of Detroit. Day Day Smith (Ferris), Justin Hall (Toledo) and James Head (Eastern) look to lead Basketball Unlimited.

On Saturday, the Casa Calabria Three-point Shootout and the Rookies Slam Dunk competitions will begin at 8:15 p.m.

Admission is $3 per person. For details, visit www.negauneeinvitational.com

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For immediate release

April 9, 2007

Class B athletes converge on N.I.T. this weekend

NEGAUNEE—N.I.T. basketball action heats up this weekend with competition in Class B, featuring many former college and high school stars. Fans can get their post-March Madness basketball fix beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Friday at the Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium.

“This is the biggest Class B field we’ve ever had,” tournament director John Basolo said. “There will be some excellent match-ups.”

            The first game begins at 2:00 p.m., and features The Circus from the Copper Country and Chi-Town All Stars from Chicago. The AllStars roster includes former NMU player Wendell Jackson and Terrance Shaw and Antwuan Holt of Ferris State fame.  Former Finlandia players Calvin Larson, Kevin Parades and John Statler are on the roster for The Circus, as well as Nik Patrick and Michael Pawlawk of Gogebic Community College.

            The 3:15 p.m. match-up has Jasper Ridge Brewery of Ishpeming taking on J.J. Shamrock of Marquette. Former Hemitites Cory Shultz and Scott Chapman join Westwood stars Jeremy Riechel and Joe Ogea and Modeltowners Brent Zambrowski and Matt Beauchamp. J.J. Shamrock will look to IHS players Mark Dellangelo (NMU); Jason Charbonneau, Kyle Rundman (Gogebic) and Brandon and Jason Lawson, as well as Boone Bell (NMU, Westwood) and Darrin Kudwa (CFFP, Gogebic).

            Corrigan’s IGA of Carney will take on the Milwaukee Stormers at 4:30 p.m. Former Carney-Nadeau players Mike and Paul Polfus and Daren Grondin and Jared Benson, as well as Bark River-Harris’ Brock Bower and Dave Ashby round out their roster. For the Stormers, Andrew Tobias (2006 NIT All-Tournament Team), Jacon Biley and Nathan Fraction (MATC) will join Marty Collins and Rick Givens on the court.

            Reigning champions 41 Steakhouse of Ishpeming will face Wildkatz of Marquette at 5:45 p.m. The Wildkatz roster features IHS grads Dustin Brancheau, Kyle Schinella and Zach Gauthier, as well as Freddy Wells (Detroit) and Zach Nicholes (Brighton).  For 41 Steakhouse, former NMU players Matt Wonders (last year’s Class B MVP) and Dan Olkkonen will join Dan Waterman (MTU) and Heath Eliason (2006 NIT All-Tournament Team) and Mike O’Donnel (Finlandia) in defending their crown.

            At 7:00 p.m., Fernelius Motors of Sault Ste. Marie will face J.M. Builders of Escanaba. Fernelius team will be led by former St. Ignace players Garth Law, Steve McDonald (LSSU), Jimmy Clement (LSSU) and Lew Robinson (Olivet). J.M. Builders roster includes Shane Walling (Escanaba High School), Gladstone grads Casey Goodman and Chris Platt, and Carl Dolholf (Northland) and Eric Spindler (Olivet).

            Rookies of Negaunee will take on B.D.I. of Midland at 8:15 p.m. Rookies line-up includes former NMU players Matt LePage (2006 NIT All-Tournament Team), Billy Hill, Gary Greenwood, Steve Maselter (2006 NIT All-Tournament Team) and Ryan Reichel. B.D.I.’s roster includes former Northwood players Derek Fillmore, D.J. Hughes, Rich Kamm, Graham Mertz and Curt Ludtke.

            The 9:30 p.m. game will see the Appleton Hawks match-up against U.P. Insurance of Negaunee. U.P. Insurance roster includes former NHS players Chris, Rich, Jon Paul, Dustin and Ryan Katona and Jordan Micklow. The Appleton Hawks will look to IHS grad Michael Lusardi (Alma), Devante Blanks (UWGB), Justin Matsick (Rochester), Chancellor Collins (UWGB) and Justin Freier (UW-Stevens Point).

            At the final match-up of the evening, the Prentice Pine Devils of Wisconsin take on Pearly Gates Bar & Grill of Green Bay. For Pearly Gates, former St. Norbert players Eric DeJardine, Brandon Hansen, Mike Mickelson and Kari Hannula are on the roster, as well as Finlandia’s Jeff Steifel, Isaac Browning, Craig Bond and Nick McGuire. The Pine Devils feature former NIT All-Tournament Team players Cameron Keikkinen and Nikki Heikkinen and Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Team recipients Adam Blomberg, Ben Blomberg, Kaynen Heikkinen and Kyle Lord.

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