THE OCCASIONAL ORBITER

     Hi, hello and welcome fellow Cowboys of the Space variety to the 
friendly confines known as your occasional reading.

                **** Home Team Losses Second Straight ****

     The Space Cowboys lost their second consecutive game of the season, and 
second game overall Tuesday night to the Smokies "thuggy thuggs" sixty-seven 
(67) to fifty-six (56).
     The 'boys started the contest a little different than usual; they led 
for the majority of the open period.  Shots were falling and solid defense 
was being played as the home team held a one (1) point halftime lead at 
twenty-seven (27) to twenty-six (26).  A lead that would have been larger 
had the "thuggy thuggs" not figured out their weakness.  A little more than 
midway through the first period they switched from a two-three zone to a man 
to man defense, and this move drastically threw the 'boys off their game.  
This was not the first time the have seen this type of defense, but it was 
the best it has been played against them.
     Once again turnovers were very costly.  Kept to a minumum for the 
beginning of the game, they also dramatically increased once the zone  was 
abandoned.  The 'boys just seemed frazzled by the overwhelming play of the 
"thuggy thuggs", and it cost them.
     That is not to say that open shots were not to be had.  They were few 
and far between, but open shots were available, but were just not falling.  
The lack of production on the offensive end led to a lack of hustle and 
tenaciousness on the defensive end.  'Thugs were driving and scoring at will 
on the mentally and physically drained Space Cowboys.  There just seemed to 
be no fight left in them.
     But when all seemd to be lost and the team was surely headed for it's 
second straight defeat; a shot fell here, and there was a defense stop 
there, and just maybe this game is not over yet.  The 'boys pulled to within 
eight (8) points, with about two (2) minutes left.  A glimmer of hope 
remained and the bounce seemed back in their step.  But it would not last.  
In the end the "thuggy thuggs" prooved too much for the Space Cowboys to 
handle, as eight (8) points was the closest they would get.
     Not everything about this loss was negative though.  Guard Keith 
Lubbers is continuing to impress the Space Cowboys brass.  After scoring a 
career high eleven (11) points in last weeks loss, Mr. Lubbers did that one 
(1) better with a new high of twelve (12) points.  But not only did he score 
his twelve (12) points, he did it on spectaculous five (5) of seven (7) 
shooting.  Also with a solid performance in the loss was Dave Iles.  Mr. 
Iles contributed a career high as well with eight (8) points.  It just goes 
to show what this 'boy can do when he isn't afraid to shoot the ball.

              **** Box Score January 28th, 2002 ****

Name        No.   Fgm   Fga   3ptm   3pta   Ftm   Fta   TP
K.Lubbers   10     5     7      2      3     0     2    12
Iles        11     3     9      2      4     0     0     8
N.Lubbers   23     8    17      4      8     0     0    20
Jeffries    24     1     5      1      5     0     0     3
Ash         30     4    12      2      7     0     0    10
Keene       44     1     3      0      0     1     6     3

Totals     142    22    53     11     27     1     8    56

                     42%           41%         13%

Attendance: 3 (Batsche, Keene, Kidd)

Season Attendance: 21

Special Thanks to Scorekeeper Christina Batsche

                **** Next Game February 12th, 2002 ****

     The Space Cowboys will have a "bye" week next week.  This break came at 
a good time as the 'boys have lost two (2) straight and could use the time 
to regroup.  Look for them to come back to the "big arena by the highway" 
with a rekindled fire.
     The 'boys will next be in action on Tuesday February 12th at Sports of 
All Sorts in Florence at 11 P.M. They will be taking on the "thuggy thuggs" 
of Famous Dave's whom they defeated eight-four (84) to seventy-four (74) in 
the season opener.
     So enjoy the week off and then come back on out to Sports of All Sorts 
and see the Space Cowboys take on the "thuggy thuggs".  Doors will open at 
10:49 with pregame festivities beginning at approxamately 10:55.

                       **** Space Cowboys II ****

     The Space Cowboys part Duex lost once again this past Sunday to Loreal 
White.  This coming Sunday, February 2nd, these 'boys will be taking on 
Gates Rubber.  This could defintly be a good game.  Although Gates came out 
victorious when these two met in the season opener, they are undoubtably the 
worst team in the leauge.  Now that the home team has a better understanding 
of each other they should defintely pummel these guys. Also this could very 
well be "the game" for "standout" Tony Sargent, who claims he will post two 
(2) double digit scoring efforts before the season is out.  Two (2) games 
remain and his highest point total thus far is four (4).  We're pulling for 
ya Tony!
     So come on down to the Sports Complex at Town and Country in Wilder to 
see the goings on.  Tip-off is this Sunday the 2nd at 9 P.M.

                          **** News and Notes ****

    Injury Report: It appears that point guard Jeremy Jeffries once again 
"tweaked" his ailing knee in the 'boys loss Tuesday night.  Little is known 
of the extent of the injury, but Mr. Jeffries remianed on the bench for the 
majority of the second half....Michael Ash just barely kept his streak of 
consecutive games with double figures alive.  Mr. Ash connected on four (4) 
shots and put in ten (10) points, extending his streak to nine (9), dating 
back to the 30th of October, in the Fall Season.  He is well on his way 
toward the team record of thirteen (13) set by Nick Lubbers from the 3rd of 
April to the 31st of July.  Congratulations Michael!....Speaking of streaks, 
what's the number of consecutive missed games up to for Michael 
Brinkman??....Good with the Bad: Ben Keene, who was a stellar 75% from the 
free throw line coming into the game, left with his percentage dropping 
thirty-five points, as he connected on just one (1) of his six (6) attempts. 
  Hang in there "BMBK".

                  **** Buddy Lee Still At Large ****

     There still has been no word of the whereabouts of one Buddy Lee, the 
number (#) one (1) suspect in the case of the mysterious illness of Kevin 
Brinkman.  Mr. Lee was last seen at the Louisville Earth Cowboys training 
facilities on the campus of Bellarmine University.  He is percieved armed 
and dangerous.  If you come across this "madman" please do not try to be a 
hero; you "can't bust 'em."  Also, do not look him directly in the eye, for 
he is the undefeated champion of the world in starring contests.  It will 
take trained professionals to capture this phsyco.
     If you have any information that can be used in the search for or the 
exec...prosecution of Buddy Lee, please contact us here at 
occasionalorbiter@hotmail.com or call the new hotline at 
1-555-867-2727-946-BUDDYLEEMUSTDIE.

                **** Mr. Brinkman Status Unknown ****

     The status of Kevin Brinkman has yet to be publically released.  No 
information has been given out and will not be until the culprit is 
apprehended.  We here at the Occasional Orbiter on behalf of all the Space 
Cowboys and their loyal followers, and Michael Brinkman too, would like to 
wish the best to our fun loving "brother" in his time of need.  Be well 
Kevin, for you are special and Jesus loves you.





     That will be all for this edition of the Occasional Orbiter, but keep 
your eyes peeled for the next edition.  If you can't wait til then, email us 
any questions, comments or suggestions at occasionalorbiter@hotmail.com.  Or 
check us out on the web at http://www.geocities.com/spaceranch2001.




                          Editor-in-Chief

                         Nick "Stud" Lubbers

                Kevin Brinkman Forever, Buddy Lee Never