Reno Bighorns compete at USBC Open Championships
March 18, 2010
RENO, Nev. - The Reno Bighorns basketball team may be preparing for a pair of games this weekend, but head coach Jay Humphries and four of his players were able to take some time away from the hardwood to compete at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Thursday.
The players have bowled at the National Bowling Stadium for team-building activities before, but never have experienced the pressure of USBC Open Championships competition. And even though they've played basketball in front of tens of thousands of fans, the environment at the world's largest participatory sporting event provided a unique experience for the newcomers.
"Being affiliated with basketball all of our lives, it's nice to be able to come out and do something a little different and do a sport that we might not be that good at, but is a lot of fun," Humphries said. "This is the first time I've really been able to experience a tournament, per say, where you have to bowl your three games, you have the rules and regulations, the march out and the national anthem. Most of my bowling is at the family fun center on the weekends, so this was great."
Humphries leads the Bighorns on the court and set the pace on the lanes with a 506 series Thursday. Forward Rod Benson rolled a 190 game, the highest game he's ever bowled, on the way to a 429 series and was followed by forward Mo Charlo (394) and guard D.J. Strawberry (350). Guard Desmon Farmer, the team's leading scorer on the court with 23.8 points per game this season, added a 343 series to close out the 2,022 team effort.
"It's fun to come in here and see there's a great competition going on across the street," Benson said. "It was really overwhelming when we stepped in the doors and saw the whole Stadium and everything, and it was a pretty cool experience."
The Bighorns organization is part of the National Basketball Association's Development League, the official minor league of the NBA. The 16-team league was founded in 2001 and added the Reno franchise for the 2008-09 season. The Bighorns are affiliated with the NBA's Orlando Magic and Sacramento Kings.
With only nine games remaining in the 50-game regular season, the Bighorns own a 20-21 record and are battling for one of eight playoff spots.
The Bighorns play their home games at the Reno Events Center, which is right across the street from the National Bowling Stadium and played host to the televised finals of the 2009 USBC Queens and the 2009 Bowling's Clash of Champions.
This weekend, the Bighorns will take on the West Conference-leading Rio Grande Valley Vipers (30-12). Tipoff at the Reno Events Center will be at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
"It was good to be able to have some fun," said Strawberry, who is the son of former Major League Baseball player, Darryl Strawberry. "We are wrapped up in basketball all the time, and especially now because we are trying to make the playoffs, so it was nice to have some fun."
Basketball and bowling have gone hand in hand since Chris Paul of the NBA's New Orleans Hornets became a USBC spokesperson in 2007.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado and Silver Legacy Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.
The players have bowled at the National Bowling Stadium for team-building activities before, but never have experienced the pressure of USBC Open Championships competition. And even though they've played basketball in front of tens of thousands of fans, the environment at the world's largest participatory sporting event provided a unique experience for the newcomers.
"Being affiliated with basketball all of our lives, it's nice to be able to come out and do something a little different and do a sport that we might not be that good at, but is a lot of fun," Humphries said. "This is the first time I've really been able to experience a tournament, per say, where you have to bowl your three games, you have the rules and regulations, the march out and the national anthem. Most of my bowling is at the family fun center on the weekends, so this was great."
Humphries leads the Bighorns on the court and set the pace on the lanes with a 506 series Thursday. Forward Rod Benson rolled a 190 game, the highest game he's ever bowled, on the way to a 429 series and was followed by forward Mo Charlo (394) and guard D.J. Strawberry (350). Guard Desmon Farmer, the team's leading scorer on the court with 23.8 points per game this season, added a 343 series to close out the 2,022 team effort.
"It's fun to come in here and see there's a great competition going on across the street," Benson said. "It was really overwhelming when we stepped in the doors and saw the whole Stadium and everything, and it was a pretty cool experience."
The Bighorns organization is part of the National Basketball Association's Development League, the official minor league of the NBA. The 16-team league was founded in 2001 and added the Reno franchise for the 2008-09 season. The Bighorns are affiliated with the NBA's Orlando Magic and Sacramento Kings.
With only nine games remaining in the 50-game regular season, the Bighorns own a 20-21 record and are battling for one of eight playoff spots.
The Bighorns play their home games at the Reno Events Center, which is right across the street from the National Bowling Stadium and played host to the televised finals of the 2009 USBC Queens and the 2009 Bowling's Clash of Champions.
This weekend, the Bighorns will take on the West Conference-leading Rio Grande Valley Vipers (30-12). Tipoff at the Reno Events Center will be at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
"It was good to be able to have some fun," said Strawberry, who is the son of former Major League Baseball player, Darryl Strawberry. "We are wrapped up in basketball all the time, and especially now because we are trying to make the playoffs, so it was nice to have some fun."
Basketball and bowling have gone hand in hand since Chris Paul of the NBA's New Orleans Hornets became a USBC spokesperson in 2007.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado and Silver Legacy Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.