Detroit Panthers (PBL)

Last updated
Detroit Panthers
Detroit Panthers (PBL) Logo.png
League ABA (2000–2006)
PBL
2006-2009,2022
Pro Basketball Association
2021
Founded2000
HistoryDetroit Dogs: (2000–2002)
Detroit Wheels: (2004–2006)
Detroit Panthers: (2006–2009,2021-)
Arena Groves High School (2,500)
Location Beverly Hills, Michigan
Team colors    
Championships1,1

The Detroit Panthers are an American minor-league basketball team in the Premier Basketball League. Formerly a member of the American Basketball Association, the team was previously known as the Detroit Dogs and the Detroit Wheels. The Panthers were one of the charter franchises of the ABA and won the league's first championship as the Detroit Dogs.

Contents

History

2000–2002: Detroit Dogs

Initially founded in 2000 as one of the new ABA's charter franchises, the Detroit Dogs quickly became one of the league's better teams. Their first coach was Detroit's own George Gervin, a star with the original ABA in the 1970s. The Dogs finished with a 24–20 record and the best record in the Eastern Division, facing the Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs in the first round of the playoffs. After trailing for most of the game, Detroit rallied and won 117–112, moving to the second round. In the semifinals, Detroit handled the Indiana Legends 119–105, and advanced to the new ABA's first championship game against the heavily favored Chicago Skyliners, owners of a 31–12 record. Detroit would get off to a fast start and easily defeat the Skyliners, 107–91. Gee Gervin (George's son), who led the team during the regular season, won the first-ever ABA Championship Game MVP Award.

During their second season, 2001–02, the Detroit Dogs struggled as a team, losing five games in a row at one point. A late-season rally gave the Dogs an 11–17 record, good enough for fourth place and a playoff spot. The Phoenix Eclipse promptly eliminated Detroit, 112–97.

2003–2006: Detroit Wheels

For the 2002–03 season, the ABA took the year off, but returned in the 2003–04 season. In an effort to rebrand themselves, the Detroit Dogs renamed themselves the Detroit Wheels, as a reference to the car-building industry that made the city famous. The Wheels struggled both on and off the court, with several games cancelled due to an inability to secure arena dates (a common problem in the ABA). Detroit managed to play just 12 games and finished with a losing record at 4–8. In 2004–05, they finished with the same record, missing the playoffs for two consecutive years.

In 2005–2006, the "wheels" officially came off for Detroit, as they endured the worst season in their history, thanks to various injuries to key players. A long losing streak deposited the Wheels into last place in the Freddie Lewis Division with a 6–17 record. After another losing season and no playoffs, the Wheels were ready to reinvent themselves yet again.

2006–2007: Detroit Panthers

As the Detroit Panthers, the team turned things around as they went on a six-game winning streak during the 2006–07 regular season. The Panthers, led by 6'6" guard, Tyrone Mack, finished with a 16–10 record, taking the North Division title, and gearing up for a championship run. [1] In the playoffs, they were slated to face the Peoria Kings in Detroit on March 14, 2007. [2] In a press release, the league stated that Detroit was one of five teams that qualified for the playoffs but chose not to compete [3] for what league CEO Joe Newman called "valid acceptable reasons. The "Detroit Panthers" official Disc Jockey was Chip Pepitone, better known as "DJ Gemini"

2007: Off year

After giving up their playoff season, the Detroit Panthers suspended operations for the 2007–08 season, and eventually dropped out of the ABA

2008–2009: Going to the PBL

In the spring of 2008, the team joined the Premier Basketball League for the 2009 season. [4] The Panthers went 6–14. In October 2009, the Panthers announced they'd be sitting out the 2010 PBL season. They would not return. [5]

Returning to the PBL

In February of 2021, under new ownership of Cecil L. Hood, the Panthers joined the Pro Basketball Association. [6] In fall of 2021 the team rejoined the Premier Basketball League for the 2022 season. [7]

Season-by-season records

ABA

PBL

Final roster

Head Coach: Terry Sare

#Pos.Ht.PlayerAcquiredCollege
1 Flag of the United States.svg PG5'11 Giovanni Riley 2008 Wisconsin-Whitewater
3 Flag of the United States.svg PG6'0 Brian Woodland 2008 Henderson State
5 Flag of the United States.svg PF6'8 Willie Mitchell 2008 Alabama-Birmingham
10 Flag of the United States.svg SF6'7 David Myers 2008 Michigan
11 Flag of the United States.svg PG6'2 Reginald Riley 2008 Newman
14 Flag of the United States.svg SF6'6 Tyrone Mack 2008 Northwestern
22 Flag of the United States.svg SG6'3 Kyle Johnson 2008 Wisconsin
23 Flag of the United States.svg SF6'5 Jasen Hunt 2008 Central State
30 Flag of the United States.svg SG6'4 Micah Kirstein 2008 St. Francis (IL)
33 Flag of the United States.svg SG6'5 Stane's Bufford 2008 Western Michigan
44 Flag of the United States.svg C6'6 Corey Gupton 2008 Park
45 Flag of the United States.svg C6'9 Justin Fiori 2008 Schoolcraft

2009 season schedule

DateOpponent Home/Away ScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
January 3 Mid-Michigan Destroyers Home109-114 Brian Woodland (27)Brian Woodland & David Myers (7) Reginald Riley (5) Groves High School 1-0
January 4 Chicago Throwbacks Home110-106 Corey Gupton (22) Stane's Bufford (9)Brian Woodland & Micah Kirstein (5)Groves High School1-1
January 10Mid-Michigan DestroyersAway107-102Stane's Bufford (26) Willie Mitchell (8)Brian Woodland (7) Bay City Western High School 2-1
January 17 Battle Creek Knights Away101-109Stane's Bufford (26)Willie Mitchell (10)Brian Woodland (4) Kellogg Arena 2-2
January 18Chicago ThrowbacksAway107-119 James Head (17)James Head (10) Giovanni Riley (3) Attack Athletics 2-3
January 24 Augusta Groove Home131-115Stane's Bufford (27)Willie Mitchell (10)Giovanni Riley (9)Groves High School2-4
January 31Battle Creek KnightsHome119-106Brian Woodland (20)James Head (9)Brian Woodland (8)Groves High School2-5
February 8Chicago ThrowbacksHome114-113Stane's Bufford (28) Chuck Bailey (8) Randy Gill (7)Groves High School2-6
February 13 Halifax Rainmen Away89-100Stane's Bufford (22)Chuck Bailey (13)Randy Gill (11) Halifax Metro Centre 2-7
February 15 Wilmington Sea Dawgs Away95-101Stane's Bufford (27)Chuck Bailey (13)Randy Gill (3) Schwartz Center 2-8
February 20Battle Creek KnightsAway133-143Randy Gill (35)Chuck Bailey (14)Randy Gill (5)Kellogg Arena2-9
February 22Mid-Michigan DestroyersAway118-103Chuck Bailey (30)Walter Waters (17)Brian Woodland (10)Western High School3-9
February 28Battle Creek KnightsHome108-110Randy Gill (35)Chuck Bailey (15)Randy Gill (14)Groves High School4-9
March 6Chicago ThrowbacksAway123-116Brian Woodland (30)Randy Gill (5)Randy Gill (3)Attack Athletics5-9
March 8Montreal SasquatchHome115-119Stane's Bufford (26) Michael Manciel & Walter Waters (13)Stane's Bufford (6)Groves High School6-9
March 15 Augusta Groove Home136-132Walter Waters (28)Walter Waters (15)Brian Woodland & Randy Gill (7)Groves High School6-10
March 21Augusta GrooveAway119-123Brian Woodland (45)Michael Manciel (12) Oscar Sanders (5) Richmond Academy 6-11
March 22Wilmington Sea DawgsHome*110-91Stane's Bufford (29)Walter Waters (12)Michael Manciel & Brian Woodland (3) Brunswick Community College 6-12
March 28Wilmington Sea DawgsHome107-103Stane's Bufford (31)Walter Waters (11)Brian Woodland (6)Groves High School6-13
March 29Wilmington Sea DawgsHome121-104Brian Woodland (41)Walter Waters (16)Stane's Bufford (9)Groves High School6-14

* Both Wilmington and Detroit need to make up a game, so Detroit is home for the game although it will be played very near Wilmington's home gym.

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References

  1. ↑ "The Official Site of the Detroit Panthers | Archived Press Releases". www.detroitpanthers.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-23.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2008-07-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2007031906001 [ dead link ]
  4. ↑ Detroit Panthers Join Premier Basketball League, Our Sports Central, 2008-05-20, retrieved 2008-05-20
  5. ↑ Detroit Panthers Will Sit Out 2010 Season, Our Sports Central, 2009-10-16, retrieved 2009-11-04
  6. ↑ Detroit Panthers, Pro Basketball Association, 2021-02-28, retrieved 2021-11-27
  7. ↑ Detroit Panthers, Premier Basketball League, 2021-09-28, retrieved 2021-11-27
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