MILFORD, Conn., Feb. 2, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The United States Basketball League, Inc. (OTCBB:USBL) released their schedule for the nineteenth season of play. The season will begin on Friday, April 16th and will conclude its regular season on Sunday June 20th. Eleven teams will makeup the USBL this season, and will again be comprised in two divisions, Eastern and Midwest. The divisional breakdown is as follows:
EAST MIDWEST
Adirondack Wildcats Cedar Rapids River Raiders
Brevard Blue Ducks Dodge City Legend
Brooklyn Kings Kansas Cagerz
Florence Flyers Oklahoma Storm
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs St. Louis Skyhawks
Westchester Wildfire
The 2004 Season will open on April 16th with three games. The Oklahoma Storm travel to Cedar Rapids to take on the River Raiders in their first contest ever. The St. Louis Skyhawks return after a one-year hiatus and take on the visiting Kansas Cagerz, and the Brevard Blue Ducks take on the Adirondack Wildcats. The Florence Flyers make their debut to the USBL when they take on the perennial power Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs on April 17th. Eastern divisional rivals Westchester and Brooklyn square off in Brooklyn on April 20th and the 2003 USBL Champion Dodge City Legend open up their defense of the title when they take on the Oklahoma Storm on April 18th in Dodge City.
Games of note this season include a rematch of last season's championship contest between Dodge City and Pennsylvania on May 2nd in Pennsylvania and June 9th in Dodge City. The Cagerz take on their instate rival Legend for the first time on April 16th. John Starks returns to Cedar Rapids for the first time since his days as a player in the CBA when he faces the River Raiders on May 6th. The ValleyDawgs coach Darryl Dawkins returns to his home state of Florida to face the Blue Ducks on May 5th.
USBL Founder and Commissioner Daniel T. Meisenheimer III feels that, "This season will be the best ever in USBL history. We have two expansion teams and a team returning after a year away that are well staffed and ready to make an impact in their inaugural season. I know the rest of the teams are anxious for the season to start and are all looking at capturing the USBL Title."
The 12th annual Post Season Festival will be held June 25, 26, and 27 at a site to be determined. For more information on the USBL and its 2004 schedule, please visit the USBL web site at www.usbl.com.