The Battle Creek Flight are a team in the Independent Basketball Association (IBA) located in

Battle Creek, Michigan Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, Michigan, Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo River, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek River, Battle Creek rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle C ...

. They previously played in the Premier Basketball League (PBL) and in the

International Basketball League The International Basketball League (IBL) was a semi-professional men's basketball league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States. In 2010 the Albany Legends became the first team in the Northeastern United States to join. The ...

. The team was known as the Battle Creek Knights prior to the 2013–14 season.

2005 season

The Knights lived up to their nickname of "The IBL's Power Team", by beating opponents by an average of 128–114. The Knights were led in scoring by Mike Williams, at 22.4 ppg. The Knights were undefeated in the regular season, and won the championship game, beating the Dayton Jets 124–121, for a final record of 21–0. In addition to being the IBL's power team on the court, the Knights also led the league in attendance. Playing at

Kellogg Arena Kellogg Arena is a 6,200-seat multi-purpose arena located in Battle Creek, Michigan. History Kellogg Arena was built in 1980. It seats 4,675 for basketball games, 4,859 for ice shows, 4,433 for the circus, 1,500 for theatrical shows and conce ...

, crowds of 2,500+ were not uncommon, and the team drew 1,854 to the championship and All-Star game, which they hosted. Three Knights made the all-star team; Bobby Madison, Jamal Gooding, and Mike Williams.

2006 season

The 2006 Knights were a victim of the IBL's expansion. The team finished 11–10, respectable, yet a far cry from being undefeated. The team lost their only playoff game 144–139 to the

Holland Blast The Holland Dream was a semi-professional basketball team in the Independent Basketball Association based in Holland, Michigan. The team began as the Holland Blast, and changed its name when the team entered the IBA. The team was last owned by To ...

, an expansion team. Again, three all-stars were named,

Logan Vander Velden Logan Vander Velden (born April 3, 1971) is an American former professional basketball player. He was a member of the 1995–96 Los Angeles Clippers team for 15 games. Born in Valders, Wisconsin, Vander Velden attended high school in his home tow ...

, Mike Williams, and Jay Youngblood. Youngblood was also in the top 25 scorers, averaging 22.0 ppg (he also played part of the season with the

Cuyahoga Falls Cougars The Akron Cougars are a professional men's minor league basketball team, members of the upstart Universal Basketball League, based in Akron, Ohio. 2006 Season The Cougars formed in 2005 as the Cuyahoga Falls Cougars (playing at Cuyahoga Falls H ...

. After the season, coach Williams resigned and was replaced by former Knight

2007 season

With Vander Velden at the helm, the Knights began to regain their winning ways, and locked into the 5th seed for the IBL playoffs, where they were eliminated by the defending champion Elkhart Express in the East final.

2008 season

The Knights started off with a 1–4 record, but rebounded to eventually end the regular season with a record of 9–11. The Knights opened the playoffs with a win against the Elgin Racers 116–100, only to fall to the Elkhart Express in the Eastern Conference finals 130–147. During the off season, the Knights announced a switch to the winter playing Premier Basketball League (PBL).

2009 season

In their first year in the PBL, the Knights reeled off 12 straight wins before falling on the road to the

Wilmington Sea Dawgs The Wilmington Sea Dawgs are a professional basketball team and founding member of the Tobacco Road Basketball League. The team is based in Wilmington, North Carolina, and began play in 2006 as a member of the American Basketball Association. T ...

. They would lose only one other game and finish with a regular season record of 18–2, taking first place in the PBL's Central Division. However, after controversy in the PBL championship series against the Rochester Razorsharks, the Knights left the PBL, first announcing they were taking a year off, but later changing that to playing in the IBL for 2010.

Current roster

Head Coach: Terry Sare

2009 season schedule

Season results

2005 – IBL Champions

All-Stars

2005

* Jamel Gooding * Bobby Madison * Mike Williams

2006

* Jamel Gooding * Logan Vander Velden * Jay Youngblood

2007

* Isaac Jefferson * Nick Zachery

2008

* Bobby Madison

References

External links

Battle Creek Flight profile at USbasket
{{IBA teams Independent Basketball Association teams Former Premier Basketball League teams Sports in Battle Creek, Michigan Basketball teams in Michigan Basketball teams established in 2004 2004 establishments in Michigan