THE OCCASIONAL ORBITER Monday, May 5, 2003 Vol.104 Hi, hello and welcome fellow Cowboys of the Space variety to the latest edition of your occasional reading. **** Cowboys Win one Lose to Smokies in Tournament **** The Space Cowboys came out victorious in the first round of the Sports of All Sorts Tuesday Night League Championship on April 22. They defeated the "thuggy thuggs" of the Skunk Buds sixty-seven (67) to sixty-four (64) in a thriller. Although the home team helod the advantage for the majority of the game, they could not pull away to a comfortable lead. In the closing minutes the 'boys were "clutch" fro mthe free throw line to put the game on ice. With the victory, they advanced to the semifinals to face the "thuggy thuggs" of the Smokies for the "ummteenth" time. they were confident, that with a solid team effort they would be able to knock off the wenty-seven (27) time defending champions. The Space Cowboys began the game shooting the ball better than they had been doing in their last few games. That "luke warm" shooting would not last long and the Smokies began to run on the 'boys. THe poor shooting in addition to the multiple turnovers by point guard Lance Schickling led to a nine point halftime deficit for the home team. This was not the first time they had been on the wrong end of the scoreboard against the Smokies. In their long history together the 'boys have never defeated them, with their closest performance ever coming ealier in this Winter Season in a six (6) point loss. One in which a reamarkable second half comeback came up short. The story would be somewaht the same this time around. The team, as a whole realized their situation with a little more than ten (10) minutes remaining in the game. It was beginning to turn into the play of a blowout although the score was not coinciding. Down by just thirteen (13) points, they 'boys were playing as if time was about to expire on a thirty (30) point loss. When someone finally pointed out that Mr. Lubbers had calculated the lead incorrect at twenty-seven (27) a spark was lit. Led by the three (3) point shooting of James Boyer and Rob Feldman, the home team battled back to make the game interesting. Even with the hitting of the clutch fre throws once again, and the double technical and ejection of the 'thuggs superstar, there was just not enough time left o nthe clock for the 'boys. The five consecutive free throws hit by Lance Schickling cut into the lead, but with fifteen 915) seconds remaining, the team was spent. The Space Cowboys were once again on the losing end of a hard fought seventy-five (75) to sixty-seven (67) game against the Smokies. Congratulations on a *record tying season. Get 'em next season! **** Boxscore April 22, 2003 **** Name No. Fgm Fga 3ptm 3pta Ftm Fta TP Feldman 2 3 9 0 3 2 4 8 N.Lubbers 23 5 8 4 7 4 4 18 Jeffries 24 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 Ash 30 4 7 4 7 3 6 15 Boyer 33 4 10 2 6 4 6 14 Schickling 34 2 7 0 1 4 4 8 Keene 44 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 Totals 121 19 67 10 25 17 24 67 43% 40% 71% Rebounds:20 (Feldman 7, Boyer 5, Jeffries 4, Schickling 4, Lubbers 3, Ash) Assists:17 (Feldman 5, Schickling 5, Boyer 2, Jeffries 2, Lubbers 2, Ash) Steals:4 (Feldman, Jeffries Keene, Lubbers) Attendance: 4 (Elsbernd, Keene, Moser, Sears) Special Thanks to Scorekeepers Jeff Elsbernd and Rory Moser **** Boxscore April 22, 2003 **** Name No. Fgm Fga 3ptm 3pta Ftm Fta TP Feldman 2 8 17 4 10 0 0 20 N.Lubbers 23 2 6 2 5 1 2 7 Jeffries 24 1 6 0 3 0 0 2 Ash 30 1 4 1 3 0 0 3 Boyer 33 5 8 4 7 0 0 14 Schickling 34 6 14 2 6 5 5 19 Keene 44 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 Totals 121 23 56 13 34 8 9 67 41% 38% 89% Rebounds:23 (Feldman 7, Lubbers 5, Keene 4, Jeffries 3 Boyer 2, Schickling 2) Assists:N/A Steals:3 (Jeffries 2, Feldman) Attendance: 5 (Batsche, Keene, Noll, O'Donnell, Warken) Special Thanks to Scorekeepers Christina Batsche and Larry Keene **** 2003 Summer Season Set to Begin **** The Space Cowboys will begin play in their 9th Season of Tuesday play this Tuesday, tomorrow, May 6, at Sports of All Sorts in Florence. The 'boys will begin their neverending quest for the ever elusive Sports of ALl Sorts Tuesday Night League Championship at 6 P.M. Easters Time. The team has not been informed of the opponent for the contest, but nonetheless will come out ready to fight for the title. So come on out to the "big arena by the highway" for the beginning of yet another unforgettable season of Space Cowboys basketball! Doors open at 5:32 with pregames festivities already underway. **** Farewell Friends **** With the beginning of the new season an era will be comoing to a close. One of the original Space Cowboys, along with another nearly original 'boy, will be hanging up their hightops. Michael Ash and Jeremy Jeffries have decided to leave the team. This will end a run for the team that has gone up and down. We have been at the side of these two "pudgeballs" for their highs and for their lows, and now it is time to say goodbye. The two 'boys will be trying to pursue a career in softball, as the Space Cowboys franchise enters its third season at FOPA. With the desasterous results thus far, the two decided they needed to dedicate a little more time and effort to the program to help it flourish as the basketball franchise has. The hope of those close to the organization is that upon the completion of the Softball Cowboys season, the two will rejoin the club. No talks have been held in that reguard and for the time being they will go their separate ways. We can only wish you better luck than one Michael Jordan had in the quest to change to another proffesional sport. Good luck and we hope to ahve you back! On another note of deserting the Space Cowboys, the name James Boyer has been crossed off the roster after he had re-signed to a one season contract. Mr. Boyer, who claims job interference, will not be participating in his fourth (4th) season as a Space Cowboy. Mr. Boyer also enjoyed success after his dreadful zero (0) for seven (7) debut as an emergency replacement. His presence will most definitely be missed. We also wish you luck "jimmy b." and hope one day to see that fist pump coming with you in an arange jersey. So long old buddies! **** Roster Reconstruction **** With the loss of three (3) mainstays in the Cowboy lineup so drastic work had to be done just to keep the team functional. Although the roster still has not been finalized, through a spokesman the team beleives it has done an exceptional job in the free agent market, as well as in the draft to keep the team competetive. The two (2) players that have been given the best chance to be on the floor come tomorrow are both former Holy Cross High School standouts, and once again Mr. Lance Schickling can be thanked for coming to the team's rescue. Joshua Beiting and Nicholas Bibbins are tentativly scheduled to make their Space Cowboy debuts tomorrow night at the "big arena by the highway". Mr. Beiting has been a favorite of team managment for some time now, and they have nearly come to a deal that would put him in Cowboy orange. As for Mr. Bibbins, his availability was discovered by somewhat of a fluke, but the opportunity to land a "real" point guard could not be passed up. With the addition of these 'boys to the already potent lineup of Robert Feldman, Benjamin Keene, Nicholas Lubbers and Lance Schickling, the 'boys are placed as one of the favorites in the league. Add in the possibility of the return of one Kevin Brinkman from the Louisville affiliate Earth Cowboys and the team has never looked better. We would like to reiterate though, that the roster has not been finalized and it may not be known until game time, who will be ready to go tomorrow night. But if all goes well, this will be a team to watch come time for the S.O.A.S.T.N.L.C. **** News and Notes **** *After doing a little digging, if was brought to our attention that the seven wins of the 2003 Winter season were not in fact a record. The Space Cowboys posted an identical seven win, three loss season in the 2001 Winter Season. This was overlooked due to the absence of full statistics from that season. But in reviewing the second edition of the Occasional Orbiter, it was stated clearly that the season was completed with said record....After making just four of his twelve previous attempts from the free throw line, Lance Schickling connected on all nine of his attempts in the tournament....Michael Ash's fifteen points in the first round was the best post season performance of his career, in fact it is the only double digit scoring he has had in the postseason....Ben Keene made his first free throw since September 17, 2003, making both of his attempts to give the 'boys a two to nothing lead to start the game....With their eight and four record including the postseason the Space Cowboys ahve pulled their all-time record to an even 43-43. Once again we will mention that before the aquisition of Mr. Schickling the 'boys were just 21-31 and since they have completed three straight winning season with an overall record of 22-12 (2001 Winter season of 7-3 not included). That will be all for this edition of the Occasional Orbiter. Don't forget to come out to the "big arena by the highway" tomorrow night at 6 to see exactly who will be taking the floor and making their Space Cowboys debut. If you any questions, comments or suggestions email us here at occasionalorbiter@hotmail.com. Also don't forget to check us out on the web at http://www.geocities.com/spaceranch2001, and the Space Cowboys softball squad at http://www.geocities.com/softballcowboys. Editor-in-Chief Nick "Stud" Lubbers Juan Castro 2003 Home Run Derby Champion!!