Central Basketball Association

BOWLING GREEN 91, ILLINOIS 82: (Russellville, Ky.) - The final game of the 2017 Central Basketball Association regular season provided much intrigue, as the winner of today's matchup would advance to the postseason tournament next weekend. Bowling Green was looking to clinch their fourth playoff berth in their five-year history, while Illinois was looking to play in front of their home crowd as the playoff tournament was being played on the Coal Miners' home court in Danville, Illinois next week. Yet, despite the high stakes to the matchup, the game itself was not as dramatic, as Bowling Green obtained a grip on the lead early in the contest and did not let go. The hosts took a six-point advantage from the first quarter, led by eight points at the midway intermission, held on to a seven-point lead through three quarters, and carried a double-digit stranglehold throughout the final frame, en route to clinching the final playoff berth and third-seed with their 91-82 victory. Bowling Green was led by Monte Burney with 28 points, while Deavis Johnson led Illinois with 21 points. 

Bowling Green (5-3) will square off against Fort Wayne (5-3) in the semifinals, which will serve as a rematch of the 2015 CBA Championship game, where Bowling Green defeated Fort Wayne at the buzzer, 97-95, in Fort Wayne, Ind. Both teams have been to the championship game twice in their team history (Bowling Green: 2013, 2015; Fort Wayne: 2015, 2016) with both teams serving as the last two league champions: Bowling Green in 2015 and Fort Wayne in 2016. 

In the other semifinal matchup, Indianapolis (6-2) will face Mississippi (4-4) in a rematch of the season opener, where Indianapolis held on for a 90-87 victory. Indianapolis will be advancing to their second consecutive semifinals in as many years in the league, while Mississippi will be in the playoffs for the first time since 2015, as they finished with a 1-7 record last year.

As for Illinois (4-4), they will join Baltimore (3-5) and Middle Tennessee (1-7) as the three teams who did not qualify for this year's postseason, and will look to rebound in 2018. 

2017 CBA Postseason Tournament

The playoffs this year will be held next weekend at Schlarman Academy at 2112 North Vermilion Street, in Danville, Illinois, which also serves as the home venue of the Illinois Coal Miners.

The semifinals will be played on Saturday, May 13th, with Fort Wayne and Bowling Green playing each other at 5:00 p.m. Central Time, followed by Indianapolis and Mississippi squaring off at 7:00 p.m. Central Time.

The winners of each of the aforementioned games will participate in the league championship game the next afternoon on Sunday, May 14th at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. 

Tickets for each day will be $5.00 and will be available for purchase at the door.