Saturday, May 10th, 2008
There will be no
more American Basketball Association championships for the Vermont Frost Heaves.
Citing the lack of stability in the ABA Vermont owner Alex Wolff announced
Friday that the two time champion Heaves will be leaving that league to join the
Premier Basketball League in 2008-2009. The Heaves and their biggest rival last
season, the Manchester Millrats, will both make the jump, joining several former
ABA clubs including the Premier league champion Rochester Razor Sharks in the
PBL. The new league plays a shorter schedule than the ABA, with twenty games as
opposed to the 36 the Heaves have been playing in the ABA, but Wolff says he is
hopeful that schedule will be lengthened, and added he plans to schedule
tournaments and exhibitions to assure that Vermont will maintain the number of
home games they have had the past two seasons. He says the team will continue to
split its schedule between Burlington and Barre.
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008
Two years ... two
championships ... two Coach of the Year Awards. The ABA has announced that
Vermont Frost Heaves coach Will Voigt is the league Coach of the Year for the
second straight year. The Cabot native led the Heaves to a 37-4 record and their
second straight league title.
The Heaves' Terrance Green was named an ABA First Team
All Star, while Issa Konare earned second team honors and Antonio Burks landed
on the third team.
Sunday, March 30th, 2008
Two years ... two
championships. The Vermont Frost Heaves won their second straight ABA Title on
Sunday afternoon in Quebec City, edging the San Diego Wildcats 87-84. Vermont
rallied from a 44-41 halftime deficit to win a defense oriented game that went
back and forth pretty much all the way. The Heaves, missing regular season stars
John Bryant and Terrance Green due to injury saw another of their key players,
Issa Konare, play just eight minutes due to back trouble that started in
Saturday's semi-final win over Texas. They needed other people to step up and
the biggest step was taken by 5-9 guard Dwuan Rice. Rice scored 18 points and
dished out six assists to key the Vermont win, earning tournament MVP honors.
Dokun Akingbade added 15 points, Brett Gravitt chipped in 12 and Dwayne Lee
contributed 11 for the winning Heaves, who end their season with a record of
37-4. The Heaves will return to Vermont on Monday, with a victory celebration
planned for Monday evening at 5:00 at the National Guard Armory in Berlin.
Saturday, March 29th, 2008
The Vermont Frost
Heaves have advanced to their second straight ABA Championship Game. The
defending champions fought off a strong challenge from the Texas Tycoons,
winning their semi-final showdown on Saturday evening in Quebec City 106-100.
Vermont outscored the Tycoons 16-10 down the stretch after the Texas team
rallied to tie the game at 90. The big man down the stretch was one of the
smallest men on the floor. Dwaun Rice score nine of Vermont's last 16 points. He
finished the game with 15. Dokun Akingbade led Vermont with 20 points. Antonio
Burks added 18 and Issa Konare added 15 before leaving the game in the fourth
quarter with back spasms. He is doubtful for Sunday's championship game. Dwayne
Lee and Brett Gravitt chipped in 12 points each for the Heaves who will bring a
36-4 record into the title game, scheduled for 4:00 pm Sunday afternoon in
Quebec City. They will play the San Diego Wildcats, who knocked off Vermont's
arch-rivals, the Manchester Millrats, 115-109 in overtime in Saturday's other
semi-final.
Thursday, March 27th, 2008
The Vermont Frost
Heaves are two wins away from successfully defending their American Basketball
Association championship. The Heaves advanced to the ABA semi-finals on Thursday
night, beating the San Francisco Rumble 118-93 in the quarterfinals in Quebec
City. Antonio Burks scored 25 points and Issa Konare added 22 as Vermont
overcame 24 turnovers to win their 35th game in 39 starts this season. Dwayne
Lee chipped in 13 points and Markus Austin, Dokun Akingbade and former
Burlington High and St. Michael's star B.J. Robertson each added 11 in the win.
The Heaves will now meet the Texas Tycoons in Saturday's semi-final in Quebec
City.
Saturday, March 22nd, 2008
The Vermont Frost Heaves' Issa Konare scored 17 points and
pulled down eight rebounds and Antonio Burks scored five points and added three
boards as their East All Star Team topped the West 161-140 in the ABA's All Star
Game on Saturday afternoon at the Barre Auditorium. Anthony Anderson of the
Manchester Millrats earned Most Valuable Player Honors with a 33 point effort
for the winners.
The top eight teams in the league now get ready for the
playoffs, which begin on Thursday in Quebec City. The Frost Heaves are the top
seed and will open with the San Francisco Rumble.
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008
The Vermont Frost
Heaves won their final home game of the season on Wednesday night, topping the
Atlanta Vision at the Barre Auditorium 106-97. Issa Konare scored 29 points and
pulled down 18 rebounds to lead the Vermont attack. Antonio Burks added 18
points, Burlington High and St. Michael's grad B.J. Robertson chipped in 12 and
Brett Gravitt contributed 11. The Heaves are 34-4 and will be the top seed when
the ABA playoffs begin next Thursday in Quebec City. Vermont will draw the San
Francisco Rumble in their first game. Before that they will serve as the hosts
for the ABA's annual All Star Game this Saturday in Barre. Burks and Konare will
be the Vermont representatives.
Tuesday, March 11th, 2008
Bonus basketball,
and another win on Tuesday night for the Vermont Frost Heaves. The Heaves
travelled to Atlanta where they won their 33rd game of the season, topping the
Atlanta Vision 85-77. This was the first game of a home and home series for the
Heaves and the Vision, a pair of games in preparation for the ABA playoffs at
the end of the month. Vermont trailed by five points at the half before coming
back to pick up the win. Antonio Burks led the Heaves with 22 points. Brett
Gavitt, Markus Austin and Issa Konare combined for 37 more as Vermont improved
to 33-4 on the season. They will play host to the Vision in the second half of
the home and home next Wednesday night at the Barre Auditorium.
Saturday, March 8th, 2008
The Vermont Frost Heaves exploded for a 41-2 run
during the third quarter to close out their regular season with a
120-75 defeat of the Boston Blizzard at Framingham State University on
Saturday night. Antonio Burks led the charge, scoring 20 points during
a second half in which the Frost Heaves. 32-4, wound up outscoring the
Blizzard 74-33. Burks finished with 25 points, while five other Frost
Heaves—Dokun Akingbade and B.J. Robertson (16 points each), as well as
Markus Austin (14), Erik Nelson (12) and Tyrone Barley (11)—also
reached double figures. To prepare for the ABA playoffs, Vermont will
play a home-and-home intersectional series with the Atlanta Vision—at
Atlanta on Tuesday night, March 11; and in Barre at the Aud on
Wednesday night, March 19. The Frost Heaves are assured a bye into the
ABA Final 8 Championship, which will take place in Quebec from March
27 through 30.
Sunday, March 2nd, 2008
Playing their third
game in four days the Vermont Frost Heaves didn't blink an eye on Sunday
afternoon, wrapping up the home portion of their schedule with a 117-85 win over
the Quebec City Kebekwa at Burlington's Memorial Auditorium. Antonio Burks led
five Vermont players in double figures with 26 points. Issa Konare added 20,
Brett Gravitt chipped in 15, Dokun Akingbade contributed 14 and Dwuan Rice
finished with 13. Akingbade yanked down 16 rebounds while Burks added 11, and
Rice dished out nine assists. Now 31-4 Vermont will finish up the regular season
on Wednesday in Boston.
Saturday, March 1st, 2008
The Vermont
Frost Heaves may be missing some people due to injury, but they dipped into the
alumni association on Saturday and things worked out just fine. With guards
Terrance Green and Dwayne Lee and forward John Bryant all down with injuroes,
Green and Bryant both likely lost for the season, the Heaves re-signed one of
the stars of last year's championship team, Tyrone Barley. He played 27 minutes
on Saturday as the Heaves crushed the Boston Blizzard 144-98 at Burlington's
Memorial Auditorium. Antonio Burks led the scoring parade with 28 points, Issa
Konare added 26, and Dokun Akingbade chipped in 19. Vermont also got a seven
point contribution from the game's Community All-Star, former UVM standout
Germain Mopa-Njila. Now 30-4, the Heaves will wrap up the home portion of the
regular season, hosting Quebec City on Sunday at Memorial Auditorium.
Thursday, February 28th, 2008
The Vermont
Frost Heaves keep winning, but there is a cloud looming on their horizon ... the
injury cloud. The Heaves ran their record to 29-4 on Thursday night, beating the
Montreal Royale 112-97 at Burlington's Memorial Auditorium. But the injuries are
suddenly becoming a major concern. John Bryant and Terrance Green are both
reportedly gone for the season ... Bryant with a shoulder injury and Green with
an ACL ... and now Dwayne Lee is going to miss a couple of weeks with an injured
hamstring. It didn't seem to hurt them on Thursday night. Dokun Akingbade scored
26 points and Antonio Burks added 22, including the 1,000th of his Vermont
career in the win. Vermont will host Quebec City in Burlington on Sunday.
Sunday, February 24th, 2008
For the second straight game the Vermont Frost
Heaves trailed at halftime, but rode another strong third quarter to a
95-82 victory over the Montreal Royal at the Pierre Charbonneau Centre
on Sunday afternoon. Guard Dwuan Rice contributed 19 points and six
assists for Vermont, which moved to 28-4 and remains No. 1 in the ABA
Power Rankings. Issa Konare andB.J. Robertson both added 13 points and
Dokun Akingbade had 12 for the visitors. After the Frost Heaves built
a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Royal sliced it to six
before Rice went to work. He contributed a jumper, and then a steal
and layup, to build the Vermont lead back to double digits. Now 28-4
on the season the Frost Heaves will next host Montreal on Thursday at
Burlington's Memorial Auditorium.
Friday, February 22nd, 2008
The Vermont Frost Heaves won at
Halifax.
Sunday, February 17th, 2008
The Vermont
Frost Heaves made the final game of the Barre portion of their home regular
season a success on Sunday afternoon, whipping the Halifax Rainmen 123-78 before
a full house at the Barre Auditorium. Terrance Green led six Vermont players in
double figures with a 28 point day. Issa Konare added 16, Markus Austin and
Dokun Akingbade chipped in 12 each and Brett Gravitt and Ted Skuchas each
contributed ten. The Heaves blew the game open with a 35-21 third quarter run in
improving their record on the season to 26-4. Vermont travels to Halifax on
Friday night. They have three home games remaining, all scheduled Burlington's
Memorial Auditorium. But there will be more action coming in Barre. The Heaves
announced they will host the ABA's All Star Weekend on the weekend of March 21st
and 22nd at the Barre Aud.
Friday, February 15th, 2008
The Vermont Frost Heaves began the third quarter
with a 16-2 run to break open a close game and defeat the Montreal
Royal 108-95 in Montreal on Friday night.The Heaves led by only three,
51-48 at the half. But after Vermont’s run, which ended with a basket
by new Frost Heaves signee Ted Skuchas, the Royal never got closer
than five points the rest of the way.The Frost Heaves were led
by Dokun Akingbade’s 19 points, while Terrance Green added 15 and Issa
Konare 14. Before the game the Frost Heaves signed Skuchas, a 6’11”,
250-pound center who played four seasons for Vanderbilt. Skuchas
signed in the fall with Trier of the German first division, but broke
his hand before he could play in a game and had been rehabilitating
himself in his native Philadelphia. He scored 10 points in his ABA
debut. Now 25-4, the Heaves with host the Halifax Rainmen on Sunday
afternoon at the Barre Auditorium.
Saturday, February 9th, 2008
The Vermont Frost
Heaves came roaring out of the gate, scoring a team single quarter record 45
points in the first twelve minutes on Saturday afternoon and going on to a
133-103 win over the Boston Blizzard at the Barre Auditorium. The Heaves placed
eight players in double figures led by Terrance Green and Dokun Akingbade with
18 points a piece. Antonio Burks added 16, Brett Gavitt chipped in 15, Markus
Austin and Issa Konare each contributed 14, Dwayne Lee finished with 12 and
former UVM Catamount Erik Nelson had 10. Now 24-4 on the season the Heaves will
travel to Montreal on Friday night.
Thursday, February 7th, 2008
Antonio Burks
nailed six three pointers on route to a 23 point night, leading the Vermont
Frost Heaves past the Halifax Rainmen 127-105 on Thursday night at the Barre
Auditorium. Vermont placed five other players in double figures, with former
Burlington Seahorse and St. Michael's Purple Knight B.J. Robertson draining 16,
Brett Gavitt and Dwayne Lee each knocking down 14, former UVM Catamount Erik
Nelson chipping in 13, and Markus Austin chipping in 11. Now 23-4 on the season
the Heaves will host the Boston Blizzard on Saturday in Barre.
Saturday, February 2nd, 2008
The Vermont Frost
Heaves may get another shot at the Manchester Millrats. The question is, will
they want one? The Heaves dropped their fourth game of the season on Saturday
night, and all four losses have been to the Millrats. In Manchester, New
Hampshire the Rats won the regular season series with Vermont four games to two
with a 98-95 decision on Saturday night. Vermont trailed by a dozen at the half,
battled back several times in the second half, but came up three points short.
Issa Konare scored 23 points to lead the Vermont attack. Dokun Akingbade added
17, Antonio Burks chipped in 13 and former UVM Catamount Erik Nelson contributed
11, but Vermont slips to 22-4. The two teams could well meet again in March in
the ABA playoffs. Vermont will next host Nova Scotia on Thursday night at the
Barre Auditorium.
Thursday, January 31st, 2008
The Vermont
Frost Heaves got 23 points from Terrance Green, 19 from Issa Konare and 16 from
Antonio Burks on Thursday night, beating the Montreal Royale 115-87 at
Burlington's Memorial Auditorium. The win was their ninth straight and was their
sixteenth without a loss all time in Burlington. Now 22-3 overall they will meet
the Manchester Millrats in New Hampshire on Saturday.
Thursday, January 24th, 2008
In New Jersey
the Vermont Frost Heaves took control in the second quarter and rolled over the
New Jersey Express on Thursday night 127-104. Brett Gravitt scored 20 points,
Terrance Green added 18 and Dwayne Lee tossed in 17 to lead the Heaves to their
21st win of the season. Now 21-3 they are off until they host Montreal next
Thursday night at Burlington's Memorial Auditorium.
Sunday, January 20th, 2008
In Quebec City the
Vermont Frost Heaves got 17 points from former Burlington High and St. Michael's
star B.J. Robertson and 16 more from Terrance Green, topping the Quebec City
Kebekwa on Sunday afternoon 94-74. Vermont led by just four at the half before
gradually building their margin over the final twenty four minutes. With the win
the Heaves are now 20-3 on the season as they head to New Jersey for a meeting
with the Express on Thursday night.
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008
Vermont Frost
Heaves guard Dwayne Lee has been suspended for one game and Coach Will Voigt has
been fined for their actions in the fight filled game with the Manchester
Millrats on Saturday. Two Millrats players were also suspended, one for ten
games and the other for three and both have now left the team. Lee was involved
in a fight with one of the Millrats, while Voigt came off the Vermont bench
after an altercation between the Manchester coach and a Vermont player.
Sunday, January 13th, 2008
A very
impressive win on Sunday afternoon for the Vermont Frost Heaves. Playing their
fourth game in five nights and coming 24 hours after a win over their
arch-rivals that ended prematurely after as series of fights, Vermont put five
players in double figures and beat the Montreal Royale 108-74 at Burlington's
Memorial Auditorium. Vermont broke open a relatively close game late in the
first half. Antonio Burks led the way with 18 points. Dokun Akingbade added 16,
Dwayne Lee had 15, Issa Konare added 14 and 10 rebounds, and Markus Austin
chipped in 11 as Vermont improved to 19-3. They now get a much needed week off
before traveling to Quebec City next Sunday.
Saturday, January 12th, 2008
The intensity
of the rivalry between the Vermont Frost Heaves and the Manchester Millrats has
been growing with each game between the two clubs season and it boiled over on
Saturday afternoon at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium. To paraphrase an old
and unfair line usually applied to another sport, a season high 1,100 Burlington
fans went to a fight on Saturday afternoon and a basketball game broke out. In a
game marred by at least three violent incidents which let the officials to stop
it with just under a minute remaining, the Heaves went on a 16-2 run in the
fourth quarter to come from behind and beat the Millrats 109-99. Dokun Akingbade
led Vermont with 22 points as they improved their overall record to 18-3. It was
their second win in five tries against the Millrats. Coming off the wild
afternoon Vermont will need to quickly re-focus, as they host Montreal Sunday
afternoon at Memorial Auditorium.
Thursday, January 10th, 2008
The Vermont
Frost Heaves completed a sweep of their two game series in Nova Scotia on
Thursday night, beating the Halifax Rainmen 107-99. The Heaves made a living
from the three point line, hitting on 15 of 30 from beyond the arc in the win.
Terrance Green led Vermont with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Dokun Akingbade added
18 as Vermont placed six players in double figures in improving their record to
17-3. They will host their newest arch-rival, the Manchester Millrats on
Saturday afternoon at Burlington's Memorial Auditorium.
Wednesday, January 9th, 2008
The Vermont
Frost Heaves opened a two game road trip to Nova Scotia on Wednesday night,
beating the Halifax Rainmen 103-89. Dokun Akingbade led seven Vermont players in
double figures, scoring 21 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. Now 16-3, the
Heaves will meet the Rainmen again on Thursday night in Halifax.
Saturday, January 5th, 2008
The Vermont Frost
Heaves are 15-3 at the mid-way point of the 2007-2008 ABA season.
The Heaves bolted to a 22-2
lead, extended the margin to 63-31 at halftime,
then held off a Quebec City rally to defeat the
Kebekwa 103-88 on Saturday night up in Quebec.
Antonio Burks led the Frost Heaves with 27 points,
including seven three-pointers, three of them in
the final minutes after the hosts had pulled to
within 12 points. Terrance Green and Markus Austin
each added 16 points for Vermont, while Dokun
Akingbade contributed 12 and Dwayne Lee 11.
Vermont will make a midweek trip to Halifax to
play the Rainmen on Wednesday and Thursday, in
games that will take the place of two road dates
lost when the Strong Island Sound suspended
operations last month. The Frost Heaves return
home for a 4:05 p.m. matinee with the Manchester
Millrats next Saturday at Burlington’s Memorial
Auditorium.
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Thursday, January 3rd, 2008
The Vermont
Frost Heaves began the 2008 portion of their schedule in dynamic fashion on
Thursday night, blasting past the New Jersey Express 129-73 at the Barre
Auditorium. Taking the floor for the first time since suffering their third loss
of the season in Manchester, New Hampshire on Sunday, the Heaves took out their
frustrations on the visiting Express, blowing out to an early lead and rolling
to the win. Vermont placed nine players in double figures, led by Terrance Green
who scored 21 points. Issa Konare, John Bryant and Antonio Burks each added 19,
former Burlington Seahorse and St. Michael's Purple Knight B.J. Robertson
chipped in 13, Dokun Akingbade contributed 12 and Markus Austin followed with
11. Now 14-3 on the season the Heaves are in action next on Saturday afternoon
in Quebec City.
Sunday, December 30th, 2007
The Vermont
Frost Heaves will head into 2008 with a solid 13-3 record. The only problem is
that all three of those loses have been at the hands of the same divisional
rival. On Sunday
afternoon in Manchester, New Hampshire the Manchester Millrats beat Vermont for
the third time in four meetings, this time by the score of 108-95.
After Manchester opened a nine-point halftime lead, Vermont pulled to within
three points early in the third quarter. But the Millrats embarked on a 14-0 run
and the Frost Heaves never got any closer than six points the rest of the way.
Issa Konare led Vermont with 27 points and
12 rebounds, while Terrance Green added 19 points and nine
rebounds. Other double-figure scorers for the Frost Heaves
included Dokun Akingbade with 15 and Markus Austin with 14.
Vermont will host the New Jersey Express on Thursday night at the
Barre Auditorium.
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Saturday, December 29th, 2007
There is nothing quite like
the wide open ABA. For evidence try the game
Saturday at the Barre Auditorium ... the Vermont
Frost Heaves 149-- the Boston Blizzard 119.
Vermont came away with the win thanks to nine
players in double digits, including two with a
double-double. Dokun Akingbade scored 24 to go
along with 14 rebounds; Issa Konare brought home
20 points and 13 rebounds; while Chris Cayole
(19); Dwayne Lee (15); John Bryant (13); Terrance
Green (11); Antonio Burks (10) and B.J. Robertson
(10) all made their mark in the scoring column. In
addition to having nine players in double figures,
the Frost Heaves also out-rebounded the Blizzard
82-38. The Boston Blizzard were led by Marcos
Echevarria, who had 40 points and six assists, and
Charles Easterling, who added 39 points and 20
boards. Vermont is 13-2 and will next face their
new arch-rivals the Manchester Millrats Sunday
afternoon in Manchester, New Hampshire.
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Saturday, December 22nd, 2007
Issa Konare had a huge day with 38 points and 14 rebounds
as the Vermont Frost Heaves blew open a close game with a second half explosion,
whipping the Quebec City Kebekwa on Saturday afternoon at the Burlington
Memorial Auditorium 104-82. After being held to a 48-48 tie at the half, Vermont
took charge of the game in the later stages of the third quarter and blew it
wide open in the fourth to improve their record to 12-2 on the season.
Friday, December 21st, 2007
The Vermont
Frost Heaves broke open a close game with a 24-8 third quarter run on Friday
night, beating the Montreal Royale in Quebec 90-69. Dokun Akingbade led the
Heaves with 18 points as they ran their record to 11-2. They will host Quebec
City on Saturday afternoon at Burlington's Memorial Auditorium.
Monday, December 17th, 2007
As they completed the first third of the 2007-2008 ABA
season the Vermont Frost Heaves needed to make a statement, and they did that
emphatically on Monday night at Burlington's Memorial Auditorium. Facing the
team that had handed them their only two loses of the season, the Heaves
exploded past the Manchester Millrats 133-107. Antonio Burks led seven Vermont
players in double figures with 24 points. Issa Konare, former UVM Catamount Erik
Nelson and Burlington High and St. Michael's grad B.J. Robertson each tossed in
17, Dwuan Wright added 13, Dwayne Lee chipped in 11 and Terrance Greene
contributed 10 as Vermont improved their record to 10-2. Anthony Anderson scored
30 in the loss for the 12-2 Millrats. The Heaves will play next in Montreal on
Friday.
Saturday, December 15th, 2007
Center Dokun Akingbade
helped the Vermont Frost Heaves overcome a slow
start to defeat the Boston Blizzard in Roxbury,
Massachusetts on Saturday night 107-74 . Akingbade
scored 25 points to lead seven Frost Heaves in
double figures. Former Burlington Seahorse and St.
Michael's Purple Knight B.J. Robertson added 15,
including a dozen in the third quarter, while Issa
Konare and John Bryant chipped in ten each. Every
Vermont player to dress for the game found his way
into the scorebook. Because of a winter weather
warning for northern New England, Sunday’s game
between the Frost Heaves and the Manchester
Millrats, scheduled for Burlington’s Memorial
Auditorium, has been pushed to Monday night at
7:05 p.m. All tickets for Sunday will be honored
on Monday, when the Frost Heaves encourage fans to
feel like a kid again: Anyone dressed as Jack
Frost—or who presents a valid high school or
college I.D.—can purchase a walk-up ticket at the
kids’ price.
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Friday, December 14th, 2007
With a major nor’easter
forecast to wallop New England all day Sunday, and
Vermont in Boston to face another kind of
blizzard—the Boston Blizzard—on Saturday night,
the Frost Heaves and Manchester Millrats have
moved their game, originally set for Sunday
afternoon, to Monday night, Dec. 17. Tip-off will
take place at 7:05 p.m. at Burlington’s Memorial
Auditorium.
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Wednesday, December 12th, 2007
Dokun Akingbade slammed home two offensive
rebounds on consecutive possessions in the final
two minutes to boost the Vermont Frost Heaves to a
105-103 victory over the Halifax Rainmen at the
Metro Centre in Halifax onWednesday night.
Consecutive three-pointers from Terrance Green and
Antonio Burks midway through the fourth quarter
gave Vermont the lead it wouldn’t relinquish, and
Erik Nelson sank two free throws with 24 seconds
to play to give the Frost Heaves their winning
margin. Five Vermont players scored in double
figures, led by Issa Konare (19 points), Green and
Burks (18 each, including four three-pointers
each), Dwuan Rice (13) and Markus Austin (12). The
Frost Heaves’ bench poured in 61 points on the
evening as the defending ABA Champs built their
record to 8-2. Vermont will visit the Boston
Blizzard on Saturday before returning home on
Sunday for a 4:05 p.m. date in Burlington’s
Memorial Auditorium with the Manchester Millrats,
the No. 1 team in the ABA Power Rankings and the
team that has tagged Vermont with both of its
defeats this season.
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Saturday, December 8th, 2007
For the first time
in their brief history the Vermont Frost Heaves found themselves in need of a
losing streak stopping win on Saturday afternoon, and they got the job done,
roaring past the Quebec City Kebekwa 118-94 at the Barre Auditorium. Antonio
Burks hit seven three point field goals on the way to a 27 point afternoon to
lead the Heaves' attack. Issa Konare added 16 points, Brett Gavitt had 15,
Markus Austin contributed 14, newcomer Dwuan Rice popped in 13 and John Bryant
also put up double figures with 12. Former UVM star Erik Nelson pulled down 13
rebounds and Dwayne Lee dished out ten assists as the Heaves snapped a two game
losing streak and improved to 7-2 on the season. They will play next in Halifax,
Nova Scotia on Wednesday night.
Thursday, December 6th, 2007
Don't look now, but there is a new kid on the block and
he means business.
The Vermont Frost Heaves suffered their
second loss of the season tonight, their second in a row to the
same team, the expansion Manchester Millrats, falling 115-109 at
the Barre Auditorium. And making it even tougher for the Heaves
and their fans, Manchester stormed back from a 27-point late in
the first quarter deficit to grab the win.Vermont had four players
in double digits with Terrance Green bringing home 33 points, four
assists and eight steals. Former Burlington High and St. Michael's
star B.J. Robertsonadded 19, Issa Konare and Antonio Burks also
scored in double figures. John Bryant took down 12 boards in the
effort. The Frost Heaves are now 6-2. The Millrats improved to
9-1.
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Sunday, December 2nd, 2007
The Vermont Frost Heaves saw late leads in regulation
and overtime slip away on Sunday afternoon in Manchester, New Hampshire, losing
their first game of the season in OT to the Manchester Millrats 110-108. Vermont
led by eight with 1:30 to play only to see the home team rally to tie .. then
after the Heaves took a three point lead in the extra session the expansion
Millrats roared back to steal the win. Terrance Green ripped the twine to the
tune of nine three point field goals on the afternoon, leading Vermont with 34
points, but the Heaves slipped to 6-1 on the season. They get a re-match with
the Millrats on Thursday night at the Barre Auditorium.
Thursday, November 29th, 2007
Another win for the Vermont Frost Heaves, but they
really had to work for this one. The Heaves fell behind 28-10 in the first
quarter before rallying to beat the Westchester Phantoms at the Barre Auditorium
102-93. Vermont got it back to four 49-45 at the half before Terrance Green's
three pointer at the end of the third quarter put them ahead for good. Issa
Konare led Vermont with 29 points and also pulled down 15 rebounds as the Heaves
improved to 6-0 on the season. They will play next in Manchester, New Hampshire
on Sunday.
Sunday, November 25th, 2007
The Vermont Frost Heaves have begun the American Basketball
Association season with five straight wins. In Corning, New York on Sunday
afternoon the Heaves topped the Corning Bulldogs 91-86. A balanced day on the
score sheet for the Heaves as Dokun Akingbade led the way with 14 points, Brett
Gravitt added 13, Terrance Green chipped in 12 and Markus Austin, Rashaun Banjo
and Issa Konare each contributed 10. The Heaves return home to host Westchester
on Thursday night at the Barre Auditorium.
Sunday, November 18th, 2007
The Vermont Frost Heaves are off to a 4-0 start in
defense of their ABA Championship. The Heaves had their Burlington home opener
on Sunday afternoon, and they rolled to an easy 130-84 win over the expansion
Halifax Rainmen. Issa Konare continued his redhot start, exploding for 32 points
to lead the winning effort. He added 12 rebounds and four steals. Dokun
Akingbade contributed 18 points and 12 boards while Dwayne Lee chipped in 17
points, six steals and eight assists. Vermont travels next to Corning, New York
for a game against the Corning Bulldogs next Sunday.
Friday, November 16th, 2007
A gut-check win on Friday night for the Vermont Frost Heaves.
Playing their second game in two nights, and out on the road to boot, the Heaves
fought off the Kebekwa in Quebec City 95-91. Issa Konare scored 18 points,
Terrence Hill added 16 and Antonio Burks chipped in 15 for the 3-0 Heaves who
will open the Burlington portion of their schedule on Sunday afternoon at
Memorial Auditorium
Thursday, November 15th, 2007
The
Vermont Frost Heaves pulled past the Montreal
Royal Thursday night in their home opener at the
Barre Auditorium. The final score was 115-105 as
the Frost Heaves put a second win on their record.
Terrance Green led the Frost Heaves with 20 points
and 4 rebounds. Close behind him was Erik Nelson
who scored 18 and took down 12 boards. Vermont had four other players scoring double
digits. Vermont host Halifax in their Burlington
home opener on Sunday at Memorial Auditorium.
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Friday, November 9th
The Vermont Frost Heaves began defense of their ABA
championship on Friday night, topping the Montreal Royale in Quebec 96-82. Issa
Konare led a balanced Vermont attack with 16 points while former Vermont
Catamount Erik Nelson added 15. Vermont will open their home season next
Thursday night against Montreal at the Barre Auditorium.
Issa Konare, the 6’8” forward whose rebounding and
defense helped propel the Vermont Frost Heaves to an ABA title a year ago, has
signed with the team for the 2007-8 season. Last season Konare was among the
Frost Heaves’ leaders in rebounds, and he blocked more shots, 33, than anyone on
the team. Over the summer he took part in the African Championships for Senegal,
which he has represented in international competition for a decade. A native of
Dakar, Senegal, Konare spent four seasons at Division I High Point College in
North Carolina, where he was named Big South Defensive Player of the Year as a
senior. He led the league in blocked shots in 2005-06, rejecting 2.4 shots per
game and four or more shots on seven different occasions. Konare now lives in
Richmond with his wife and their young daughter. To make room on the roster for
Konare, the Frost Heaves released forward Jamaal Wise.Vermont opens its season
Friday night at Montreal. Once again, the Frost Heaves will split their 18 home
games evenly between Barre and Burlington, with their Barre opener scheduled for
Thursday night, Nov. 15, and Burlington debut set for Sunday afternoon, Nov. 18.
The Vermont Frost Heaves opened their training camp Monday
and announced that 6’4” guard Kenny Tate will help the team defend their ABA
Championship. A native of Chester, Pa., Tate was the NCAA Division II Player of
the Year at Edinboro (Pa.) University in 2002, when he averaged 18.6 points and
10.5 rebounds and shot 49.3% from the field. Since embarking on a pro career he
has played in Cyprus, Iceland, Spain and Saudi Arabia, with stateside stopovers
in Sioux Falls (the CBA Skyforce), Tacoma (the ABA Navigators and IBL Thunder)
and Portland (the IBL Chinooks). A former IBL All-Star and IBL All-Star Game MVP
who has a rugged and versatile game, Tate counted among his teammates on the
Chinooks another Frost Heaves signee for 2007-08, guard Terrance Green.
Dwayne Lee, the 6’ point guard who piloted St. Joseph’s
during its recent successful seasons, will join the Vermont Frost Heaves as they
defend their ABA title.
A native of Jersey City, N.J., Lee played for legendary high school coach Bob
Hurley at St. Anthony’s High School, which he led to two straight New Jersey
Tournament of Champions titles and Top 10 national rankings in the USA Today
high school poll. From there he went on to St. Joseph’s, where he played on the
epic team that negotiated the regular season without a loss and reached the
Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
At St. Joseph’s he played three seasons with John Bryant and two with Tyrone
Barley, who were both members of the Frost Heaves’ 2006-07 ABA Champions. Among
the many honors accorded Lee during his tenure on Hawk Hill were the William F.
Maher Award for loyalty; the Big Five’s Most Improved Player Award; and a spot
on the Atlantic 10’s All-Defensive Team. A 33.3% three-point shooter for his
career, Lee dished out 371 assists as a Hawk, good for 11th on the school’s
all-time list.
In his one professional season, Lee played for Nuernberg of the German first
division, and logged 20 games for Olimpia Ljubljana, the legendary Slovenian
club.
Incidently the Frost Heaves and
the fledgling Manchester (N.H.) Millrats will meet in a preseason game at
Hartford High School in White River Junction on Saturday, October 27, at 4 p.m.
The Frost Heaves have several Upper Valley connections, including head coach
Will Voigt, a former soccer coach at Thetford (Vt.) Academy; and strength and
conditioning coach Scott Caulfield, a movement specialist at the River Valley
Club in Lebanon, N.H.
Admission will be $5 for adults and $3 for kids 14 and under, and all tickets
will be sold at the door. The Hartford High School gym is at 37 Highland Avenue
in White River Junction, Vt.
Representatives of the Frost Heaves and the Millrats will participate in a press
conference at the River Valley Club, behind Centerra on Route 120 in Lebanon, at
2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18.
The Frost Heaves will split their 18 home games evenly between Barre and
Burlington, with their Barre opener scheduled for Thursday night, Nov. 15, and
Burlington debut set for Sunday afternoon, Nov. 18. Season tickets may be
purchased online at vermontfrostheaves.com or by calling 802-860-0082.
For more information, email
info@vermontfrostheaves.com
After five years of steady development at George
Washington, Dokun Akingbade, a 6’9” center, has signed to play with the Vermont
Frost Heaves this season. Akingbade began playing organized basketball as a
sophomore at Bladensburg (Md.) High School, and by his senior season averaged 13
points, 12 rebounds and two blocks per game. He walked on with the Colonials and
after two seasons earned a scholarship. He spent a redshirt year in advance of
his senior season, then blossomed last winter, averaging 7.3 points and 5.6
rebounds in 32 games and shooting 54.7% from the floor as George Washington won
an Atlantic 10 Tournament title. Six times last season he posted double-doubles,
and in the A-10 Tournament he delivered a 15-point, seven-offensive-rebound
performance against Rhode Island. A native of Nigeria, Akingbade served as
student government president at Bladensburg High, where he carried a 4.17
grade-point average. He majored in Criminal Justice in college.
Erik Nelson, the 6’6” post player who etched his name all over the University of Vermont’s record book during his career as a Catamount, has signed to play with the ABA Champion Vermont Frost Heaves this season. Nelson returns to the Green Mountain State after nine years in the Dutch first division. The 1998 UVM graduate consistently appeared among the league leaders in rebounds and blocks, and in each of the past two seasons, with Eiffel Towers Den Bosch, he won Dutch championships. Nelson ranks among UVM’s all-time leaders in scoring (17th), rebounding (5th), blocked shots (2nd) and field-goal percentage (3rd), shooting 55.0% for his career. He was twice chosen as the Catamounts’ MVP, and as a senior served as captain and earned first team All-America East honors.
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Jamaal Wise, a 6’6”, 260-pound power forward who starred at the University of Rhode Island, will help the Vermont Frost Heaves defend their ABA title this season. During an outstanding career at Paint Branch High School in Silver Spring, Md., Wise won a Class 3A title as a junior and was named that state’s Mr. Basketball as a senior, At Rhode Island he and the Frost Heaves’ John Bryant hooked up for some memorable frontcourt battles in the Atlantic 10. Wise checked in with 10.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during his senior season, then took his lunchbucket style overseas, where last spring he led UCC Demons of Cork to the finals of the Irish Superleague. Over the past summer Wise further distinguished himself in the Greater Springfield (Mass.) Pro-Am, and caught the eye of Vermont coach Will Voigt at last month’s Chinese Basketball Association Draft Camp in Oregon.
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Mike Peeples, a 6’7” wingman whose steady development over four seasons at Fairleigh Dickinson earned him a tryout with the NBA’s Washington Wizards last spring, has signed to play for the Vermont Frost Heaves this season. During his career at Detroit’s Benedictine High School, Peeples was a three-time all-city and two-time all-state selection. He led his team to three Catholic League titles and ranked as the No. 2 rebounder in the state of Michigan as a senior. By his junior season at Fairleigh Dickinson he had worked his way into the starting lineup, and as a senior posted averages of 11.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
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Rashaun Banjo, a 6’7” forward who spent four seasons under the tutelage of Vermonter Bob Tipson at Quinnipiac University, has signed to play for the Vermont Frost Heaves this season. Banjo, who wound up 16th on Quinnipiac’s all-time scoring list before his graduation in 2004, has since rounded out his game during a professional career that has taken him to Luxembourg, Germany, Portugal, Turkey and, most recently, Deportes Castro of the Chilean first division. After a fine schoolboy career at Lawrence Woodmere Academy, where he won a New York State Class C title, Banjo signed with Quinnipiac to play for head coach Joe DeSantis and his assistant, Tipson, the longtime coach at Champlain College and member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. Over each of his seasons at the Northeast Conference school, Banjo steadily increased his point production until, as a senior, he averaged 17.5 per game. That figure, plus his 7.6 rebounds a game, earned him recognition as an All-NEC second team pick.
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The Vermont Frost Heaves will continue to use local talent as they seek to defend their ABA championship. The Heaves will add a pair of Vermonters to their roster later today. Look for former Rice and St. Mike's star Chris Cayole and Randolph High grad David Hannah to be added to the squad. They will join former Burlington High and St. Mike's star B.J. Robertson, who will return for his second season with the club.
Terrance Green, a 6’3” guard who was an All-WAC performer at the University of Nevada before leading the Guangdong Tigers to a Chinese Basketball Association championship, has signed to play for the Vermont Frost Heaves this season. Green started in each of his four seasons in Reno, leading the Wolfpack in scoring for three years as a shooting guard before moving over to the point for his senior season. He holds school records for most career free throws and three-pointers made and ranks fourth on Nevada’s all-time scoring list. Green, 26, played for the Portland Chinooks of the IBL in 2005, averaging 22.4 points in 17 games. He then headed to China, where he spent two seasons in Guangdong, averaging 15 points per game. A native of Portland, Ore., Green is the nephew of former Los Angeles Laker and Oregon State standout A.C. Green.
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Antoine Hyman, the unselfish 6-10 center who helped propel the Vermont Frost Heaves to an ABA championship in the team's first year, will return to the Green Mountain State for the 2007-08 season. Hyman, 31, is a native of Buffalo and 1997 graduate of Keuka College in New York State, where he blocked 4.3 shots per game to set the all-time NCAA Division III record. During a lengthy professional career he has played in France, Finland, Latvia, Japan, Turkey and Portugal, as well as in such stateside pro leagues as the NBA Summer League, CBA, USBL and IBL. He joined the Frost Heaves for the February stretch run that resulted in an ABA title, contributing rebounding (7.6 per game), blocked shots (1.3) and timely scoring (6.4 points per game on 60% shooting from the field), and ratcheting up his production during the playoffs. In addition, Hyman has been a mainstay in the community. He spent the summer directing the Frost Heaves' Have-A-Ball Kids Camps in Montpelier, Waterbury and South Burlington, and this fall will headline Frost Heaves Basketball Academy clinics on frontcourt play on Oct. 6 in Barre and Oct. 7 in South Burlington. For more information on those fall clinics, call the Frost Heaves' office at 802-860-0082.
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Markus Austin, the
6’6” wing player
whose feisty spirit
and opportunistic
scoring helped
deliver an ABA
championship to
Vermont in the
team’s first year,
will return to the
Frost Heaves for the
forthcoming season.
Austin played in 35
games for Vermont a
year ago, averaging
7.3 points and 3.2
rebounds per game.
He was a critical
part of the Frost
Heaves’ pressure
defense, which was
tops in the league.
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Antonio Burks, the 6’5”
forward whose consistent three-point stroke and
steady leadership helped deliver an ABA
championship to Vermont in the team’s first year,
will return to the Frost Heaves for the
forthcoming season. Burks shot 39.4% from
three-point territory last season and ranked
second on the team in scoring with 15.2 points per
game. Along with teammate Aaron Cook, he
represented the Frost Heaves on the East All-Stars
at the ABA All-Star Game in Halifax. Burks was a
U.S. Basketball Writers Association District 8
All-America at Division I Stephen F. Austin, and
spent a season playing for Frost Heaves coach Will
Voigt with the Ulriken Eagles of Norway’s top
division. Burks joins post man John Bryant and
guard B.J. Robertson as returnees from the team’s
championship season. Vermont has also signed 6’4”
guard Brett Gravitt, a former star at South
Alabama and MVP and Defensive Player of the Year
in Norway’s first division
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The Vermont Frost Heaves will defend their title with Burlington native B.J.Robertson, the 6’2” guard who helped the Heaves win an American Basketball Association championship in the team’s first season. Robertson, the all-time leading scorer in Burlington High School history, is a former co-captain at St. Michael’s College, from which he graduated this summer. Robertson joins post man John Bryant as returnees from the team’s championship season. Vermont has also signed 6’4” guard Brett Gravitt, a former star at South Alabama and MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in Norway’s top division.
