Central Basketball Association

Chattanooga (6-1) 116, Springfield (1-6) 89: (Springfield, Ill.) - This game was never in question, as the Rail Runners jumped to an 11-0 run to start the game. Following the first quarter, where Chattanooga led the Sentinels by 20, the Rail Runners consistently led by 20-plus points throughout the game, with their greatest lead being 34, before cruising to an easy 27-point victory. Alex Wells (36 points) and Dontay Hampton (28 points) led Chattanooga, while Joshua Minner (22 points) and Alex Mumphard (19 points) were the top point scorers for Springfield. 

Memphis (4-3) 105, Mississippi (4-3) 80: (Memphis, Tenn.) - One week ago, the Eagles stunned the Soul Kings with a winning basket at home with one second left in the game. This afternoon, Memphis made sure the game would not come down to the wire. The Soul Kings led wire-to-wire and dominated both ends of the floor to earn an easy 25-point victory. Bobby Jones (21 points) and Lewis McCaster, Jr. (18 points) spearheaded the Memphis attack, while Sampson Carter (19 points) and Russell Malone (16 points) guided Mississippi, as they struggled to score after Mardracus Wade (11 points) fouled out early in the fourth quarter. 

Middle Tennessee (4-3) 104, Bowling Green (4-3) 98: (Nashville, Tenn.) - In a back-and-forth battle, where both teams exchanged leads over two dozen times during the course of the game, this game was decided in the final minute. Down 97-95, the Hornets hit a three-pointer to take the lead at 98-97. However, just as the Storm did two weeks ago at home versus Fort Wayne, they finished the game with a 7-0 run to stun Bowling Green. The victory by the Storm ends a two-game losing streak for them. The Hornets finished the season 1-3 on the road, and have lost two of their last three games. Middle Tennessee was led by Myles Thrash (32 points) and Kyle Teichmann (19 points), while Bowling Green was led by Teraes Clemmons (34 points) and Kalen Kimberland (21 points).

With the victory by Chattanooga, coupled by losses by both Mississippi and Bowling Green, the Rail Runners are the 2015 CBA Regular Season Champions, and will enter the post-season as the top seed for the second consecutive season. Based on today's results, five teams are now tied for second place in the league, making next week's games critical for seeding purposes. Although head-to-head tie-breaker is the first deciding point, it appears that point-differential would be the most likely factor to determine the individual seeds, absent a situation where a tie-breaking team had beaten each of the other teams it was tied with. 

If The Playoffs Started Today:

Based on season point differential statistics, the following would the post-season matchups if the season ended today. 

1. Chattanooga v. 8. Peoria

2. Memphis v. 7. Springfield

3. Middle Tennessee v. 6. Mississippi

4. Fort Wayne v. 5. Bowling Green

Next week's final four games of the regular season are critical, as the following is the schedule for the last weekend of the regular season.

Chattanooga (6-1) v. Mississippi (4-3), Saturday, May 9 (6:00 p.m. CT)

Peoria (1-6) v. Bowling Green (4-3), Saturday, May 9 (6:00 p.m. CT)

Springfield (1-6) v. Fort Wayne (4-3), Sunday, May 10 (3:00 p.m. CT)

Middle Tennessee (4-3) v. Memphis (4-3), Sunday, May 10 (4:00 p.m. CT)

(Photo By: Zachary Dalzell / CBA Photos)