Central Basketball Association

FORT WAYNE 111, BOWLING GREEN 100: (Danville, Ill.) - Antonio Cannon scored 14 of his team-high 27 points in the opening quarter Saturday as Fort Wayne advanced into the championship game of the Central Basketball Association Tournament for the third consecutive year.

The defending champions topped Bowling Green, 111-100, in a semifinal game at Schlarman High School. Saturday’s meeting was the first of the season for the two squads.

“Defensively, we did a great job the first half with ball pressure, forcing them into plays they didn’t want to make,” Fort Wayne coach Roderick Wilmont said.

Bowling Green (5-4) was limited to 11 first-half baskets, the same number Fort Wayne made in the opening period while racing into a 30-19 cushion they never lost.

Wadner Joseph had 20 points, Greg Foster scored 13 — to go with a game-high 12 assists — and Danville native Mikel Brigham had 10 points for Fort Wayne (6-3).

Cannon, Joseph and Antonio Wilson have been part of all the Fort Wayne teams that are the first in the CBA’s five-year history to appear in three championship games.

“I owe it to the guys,” Wilmont said. “They allow me to coach them and they respond well. Cannon is a veteran who played exceptionally well and Foster is the piece we were missing early (in the season). He understands
the game so well."

Bowling Green, which won the 2015 tournament, received a game-high 30 points from Fred Sturdivant. He hit 14 of his points in the final quarter. The 6 foot-7 Sturdivant pulled down a game-high 17 rebounds. Teammate Damarius Smith had 17 points.

Fort Wayne advances into today’s 2 p.m. championship game at Schlarman.

INDIANAPOLIS 96, MISSISSIPPI 73: (Danville, Ill.) - Top-seeded Indianapolis secured a berth in the championship game of the fifth annual Central Basketball Association Tournament by virtue of Saturday night’s 96-73 semifinal conquest of the Mississippi Eagles.

Indianapolis (7-2) never trailed in a game at Schlarman High School that was tied once, at 2-2, while sweeping the season series from Mississippi. Indianapolis coach Phillip Washington said his team faced a tough challenge. “They are probably the best defensive team in the league,” Washington said. “We stayed poised, got the lead and held the lead.” A 15-point halftime lead wasn’t taken for granted.

“Just last week, we were down 20 (at halftime) and won,” Washington said. Indianapolis had four double-digit scorers,led by Ja’Rob McCallum with 18 points. Joe Retic had 15 points, Brandon Evans had 14 and Chrishawn Hopkins had 13.

The victory sets up a rematch between teams who played last week, when Indianapolis rallied for the win that clinched the No. 1 seed. Indianapolis face Fort Wayne in today’s 2 p.m. title game at Schlarman.

“It’s going to be a Bulls vs. Lakers-type game, very epic,” Washington said. “It’s the Battle of Indiana. It’ll be a great up and down game.” Anthony Jones led Mississippi (4-5) with 33 points. Teammate Marico Stinson was the team’s other double-figure scorer, producing 15 points.

The 2017 CBA Championship game will be broadcasted live Sunday afternoon on the league's YouTube and Facebook pages.