Buffalo 716ers
 | |
| Founded | 2012 |
|---|---|
| League |
PBL 2013 - 2014, 2016 - Present ABA 2015 |
| Team history |
Buffalo 716ers 2012-present |
| Based in | Buffalo, New York |
| Arena | Burt Flickinger Center |
| Colors | Red & Black |
| Owner(s) | Tawan Slaughter |
| Head coach | Tawan Slaughter |
| Championships | 0 |
| Division titles | 0 |
| Dancers | 716ers Girls |
| Website | http://www.buffalo716ers.net/ |
The Buffalo 716ers are a basketball team based in Buffalo, New York, currently playing in the PBL.[1] The 716ers were originally granted an expansion team with the American Basketball Association.,[2] before joining the IBA.[3]
The team takes its name from area code 716, the telephone area code for Buffalo and much of the rest of western New York. Home games were originally played at Tapestry Charter School. The team now plays home games at the Burt Flickinger Center in downtown Buffalo. The team owner, and head coach, is Tawan Slaughter, a native of the Buffalo area.
The 716ers are the fourth minor league franchise to play in Buffalo, after the Buffalo Rapids (later known as the Silverbacks and Sharks), which played from 2005 to 2007, the Buffalo Stampede, which played from 2008 - 2011, and the Buffalo Warriors.
History
2012
In October 2012 the team held open tryouts allowing members of the public to workout and earn a spot on the team roster.[4]
2013
During the summer of 2013 the 716ers played in the NBA sanctioned Los Angeles Summer Pro League[5] from July 23–29, 2013.
2014
The inaugural 2014 season began in January 2014. The Buffalo 716ers finished their inaugural season with the PBL with a six-game winning streak, leading to a 9-7 regular season record.[6] The 2014 season was played at the Thunder Dome at Tapestry Charter School in Buffalo, NY.
The season did not start out promising, with the 716ers standing at 1-7 at the midway point. Those seven losses were the only ones the 716ers would see that season.
Going into the 2015 season the 716ers announced they are holding open tryouts on Saturday, September 13, 2014.
2015
The 716ers started the 2015 season with a 4-7 record. On February 14, 2015, the team's starting point guard, Amir Billups, was tragically killed in a multi-car pile up in Morrow County, Ohio, at the age of 24. (Amir Billups is a second cousin of NBA star Chauncey Billups.) A week later, the team dedicated their next game to Billups, beating the Philadelphia Flight at home by a score of 143-114. The following day, they also beat the Erie Hurricane and improved their record to 6-7.
Notable players
Charles Vanderpool
References
- ↑ http://thepbl.com/2013/11/breaking-pbl-adds-two-teams-in-northeast/
- ↑ http://abalive.com/aba-featured-news/buffalo-716ers-added-to-next-seasons-expansion-teams/
- ↑ http://ibaball.net/index.php/8-home-page/40-buffalo-716ers-join-the-iba
- ↑ http://buffalo.sportsvite.com/bulletins/teams/buffalo-716ers-pro-basketball-team-tryouts
- ↑ http://www.buffalo.com/sports/blog/buffalo-716ers-accept-invite-to-summer-pro-league-interview/
- ↑ http://thepbl.com/Page.asp?n=105676&org=thepbl.com
External links
- Official Buffalo 716ers Website
- Buffalo 716ers Granted ABA Expansion Team for 2013
- Buffalo 716ers Announced As New ABA Team
- Los Angeles Summer Pro League
- Buffalo 716ers join the PBL
| East Division | Buffalo 716ers | Erie Hurricane | Fayetteville Shipmen | Lynchburg Titans | Pee Dee Vipers | Rochester Razorsharks | West Virginia Angels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest Division | Bloomington Flex | Chicago Tide | Indianapolis Diesels | Lake Michigan Admirals | Louisiana Soul | Lima Express | |
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