Scandal Rocks North Greenville Baptist Association Basketball League

by Lead CGBCNN Lead Writer Randy Pifer

Updated at 9:30 PM on 9/19/13

Playing with only five players at tip off, CGBC came to play and punched Double Springs Baptist Church in the nose.  The lead ballooned to as many as nine in the later stages of the first half.  A late arriving Michael Moon gave The Reformers only six available players for the game.  "We were shorthanded tonight, but we sucked it up and played with our own eligible players" said Donny Mathis.  A formal protest has been lodged against Double Springs for playing two ineligible players during the game.  "There is never a reason to play ineligible players in a game" said former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel who was not in attendance at the game tonight.

Despite the scandal, CGBC played their best game of the year.  Josh Harbert played like a man possessed and dominated both sides of the court.  Jeremy Wetherton played aggressively throughout the game, but struggled with his shot during critical stretches.  Stephen Donovan scored a career high fourteen points and Randy Pifer chipped in seven on 3-4 shooting.  Mathis's slump continued on the offensive side of the ball and Moon looked lethargic during some stretches of the game.

CGBC's lead slipped away and they trailed 40-30 at halftime.  The deficit hoovered around fifteen points for the remainder of the game with the final score settling at 81-66.  With the inevitable suspensions coming down, it is not unreasonable to expect that this loss will be overturned and CGBC's record will be changed to 1-5.  The Fightin' Reformers await the arbitrators ruling at the beginning of next week.  Next game is 7:15 at Double Springs against St. Andrews.  CGBC will try to break their losing streak against a team they have lost to twice this season. All fans are encouraged to attend.

Fightin' Reformers Fall to 0-5

by Lead CGBCNN Writer Randy Pifer
Updated at 8:19 pm on 9/19/13

In an outcome that shocked no one, the Reformers drop another game to St. Andrews 81-48.  "CGBC has become the Cleveland Browns of the North Greenville Baptist Association Basketball League" said a disgruntled Randy Pifer.  "We may have to change our name in the near future" said Donny Mathis.  The game started out much differently than the previous four losses as CGBC jumped out to a sizable lead but stamina issues reared their ugly head as their lead melted away.  By halftime, The Reformers trailed by eleven and their slim chances of capturing their first win fell by the wayside.

In the first half they were spurred on by newcomers Jeremy Wetherton and Jason Stuckey and the Reformers showed signs of life, but it was not enough against a hot shooting St Andrews team.  CGBC falls to 0-5 on the season and 0-2 against St. Andrews.  "I love to play the game, but its tough to get dominated this bad" said Wetherton who led the team in scoring in his first start for the Reformers.

With six games left in the season, CGBC must dig deep if it is to win even one game this year.  If Wetherton, Stuckey, Michael Moon, Josh Harbert, and Matt Garren all show up to the same game, the sky is the limit for where this team could go.  However, the patchwork Reformer keep trudging along losing game after game as the fan base starts to question their commitment.

CGBC Continues Slide: Drop a 42-75 Decision to Double Springs

by CGBCNN Lead Writer Randy Pifer
Updated 11:45 PM 9/12/13

Despite Randy Pifer's heroics, CGBC was not able to get off the schneid as they fall to 0-4 in a season that does not feel like it will ever end.  Pifer and Donny Mathis both hit season highs in points, but had no help from anywhere else and as a team shot a paltry 26%.  "We have no ability to score and have very few committed members on this team" a frustrated Mathis exclaimed.  "This was one of the most demoralizing games I have ever been apart of" said Stephen Donovan.  "We have players out there who don't understand team defense, can't shoot, rebound or pass the ball, but other than that they are pretty good players" he quipped.

The locker room is understandably somber in the wake of the losing streak, but help is on the way.  Jeremy Wetherton is expected to be making his debut on Tuesday night.  His offensive prowess is what the team has been sorely lacking to start this season.  If Matt Garren and Josh Harbert are both back from their undisclosed absences, CGBC turns from a "laughing stock" into just a "giggle vine".  Mathis, in true Mathis form, resorted to his softball tactics by yelling at his teammates as a way of encouraging them.  This worked flawlessly in softball when he yelled at Pifer during a game.  Pifer responded like a champion and played like an all-star for the rest of the game.  This did not have the same effect on the basketball court as numerous players cowered in the corner and were afraid of incurring his wrath.  "You just have to know how to take him" said Pifer.  "I have spent a lot of time with him, and know it is just his way of motivating us" he added.

Gary Davis returned from his injury, and played aggressively, but struggled with his shot.  He was able to get to the line, but shot a disturbing one for six from the line.  John Miller also struggled from the field and spent the last few minutes on the bench trying to figure out how to turn this season around.  Will Brown shot a horrific 0-7 from three point range and only managed three cherry-picked layups to finish with six points.

The GM has been tossing around the idea of cancelling Fan Appreciation Night.  The lack of fan attendance combined with the poor play of the team is creating a perfect storm.  The team seems to be in sleep mode and just wading through the rest of the season.  "As of right now, it is still on.  We hope to turn this season around" the GM said as he refused to answer any further questions.  Jordan Lazar assumed the role of statatician and did an excellent job.  "She may have been the MVP of the game" said League President Wayne Fowler.

9/12 Boxscore

CGBC Fantasy Football 2013: The Chase for the Belt

CGBC's Fantasy Football league is off to a great start.  Twelve teams are fighting for the coveted CGBC Fantasy Football Championship Belt.  Defending champion, Randy Pifer and newcomer EJ Lundy, managing their team "14 in a Row" appears to have the inside track on yet another championship after their dominating performance in week one over the "Jive Turkeys" managed by Thomas Richardson.  "Rocky Top" managed by Tom Davis had the biggest offensive output of the week behind Peyton Manning's seven touchdown performance, but doesn't figure to challenge for the belt.

Matt Rogers, Ty Thompson, Donny Mathis and Corey Davis also walked away with wins in week one. Paul Lazar struggled in his fantasy football debut managing less than 70 points.  Amber Mathis, Rickey Davis, Gary Davis and Ben Elting also had disappointing starts to their seasons and look to turn their fortunes around in week two.

Below are the current standings and this weeks match ups:

CGBC Scores Season High 48 Points: Loses by 50

by CGBCNN Reporter Randy Pifer
Updated at 10:45 pm on 9/10/13

The Fightin' Reformers jumped out to a quick two nothing lead when Stephen Donovan skillfully sliced amongst the trees for a layup. That was the last time they led.  The Warriors, who played last year as Evangelistic Temple, ran away from CGBC and handed them their worst defeat in franchise history.  CGBC's record against this time falls to 0-3.  In 2012 Evangelistic Temple manhandled The Reformers in their season opener and then edged them on Fan Appreciation Night.  This team is completely different, however.  Gone are hall-of-famers Jon Goforth, Ben Skaug, Benji Hutson and Aaron Cline.  All that remains is a team that is searching for its identity, and talent.

Without their three best players, Josh Harbert, Michael Moon, and Matt Garren, it was really no contest from the tip.  "What a disappointment this season is turning out to be" said Lane Hatcher, who has yet to return to his former high school glory.  Iron-man Donny Mathis, fighting through pain, was able to get some open shots, but time after time was denied by the cruel rim.  Thomas Richardson's gritty play was rewarded with the play of the game when he chased down their point guard and rejected his layup attempt in LeBron James fashion.  That is not an accurate description of what happened at all, but since their is no video evidence you will have to believe what this reporter is writing as truth.  Ah, the Power of the Press!

Right before halftime, Richardson was involved in the most gruesome injury in CGBC history.  The blood that poured from his body was gut wrenching.  "It reminded me of the Kevin Ware's injury" said John Miller as the rest of the team took a knee as the halftime whistle blew.  As Richardson's shoe was removed, his toenail came with it.  A torn toenail was the diagnosis and his status is in doubt for the rest of the season.

The statistician was so embarrassed during the game that they decided to not keep stats and could only guess to the amount of points scored by any player.  "Does it really matter?" they asked.  Will Brown, making his first start of the year was able to get some shots to fall in the second half, but it was much too little too late.  "Miller led the team in scoring for the first time this season, we think" said GM Randy Pifer.

There are more games in the season, but like the old saying goes "if a tree falls in the woods does it make any sound?"  So too, "if CGBC loses with no one there to witness, did it really happen?"  Fan support has been pitiful and the team is playing accordingly.  Fan attendance total in three games is five.  FIVE!  Paul and Jordan Lazar, and Rachel, Levi and Samantha Hatcher.  If the CGBCNN is able to personally name every fan that has attended a game there is a problem.  The GM is encouraging all fans to come out and support the team as there are unfortunately seven games left in the season!

Season Totals

9/5 Boxscore

CGBC Drops Second Game in a Row

The second season for the CGBC Fightin' Reformers is off to an inauspicious start.  The return of Josh Harbert and Michael Moon was not enough to hold off a strong St. Andrews Presbyterian squad as your Reformers dropped a closer-than-it-looks 38-73 decision.  The shorthanded CGBC team had to call on some stars from yesteryear to help, and in the early going seemed to be working.  Moon was a solid eight for sixteen from the field for a team leading sixteen points and grabbed eight rebounds but it was not even close to being enough.  Harbert added eleven points and thirteen rebounds but shot the ball very poorly, as did the rest of the team.

The bench was very thin for the Thursday 6:30 pm tip.  With only seven active players, CGBC has playing from behind the eight ball from the beginning.  They were able to keep it close until fatigue started to set in halfway through the second half and St. Andrews pulled away.  Early MVP front-runner Matt Garren was unable to play due to a prior engagement and they were without starting center Gary Davis who was placed on the day-to-day list earlier in the day with a sore back.  Starting forward Lane Hatcher also missed to game for undisclosed reasons.  Justin McDaniel, Thomas Richardson and Brian Henderson also were unavailable for the game.

For the second game in a row, The Fightin' Reformer role players were unable to make anything happen as Donny Mathis, Stephen Donovan, Randy Pifer, Jeremiah Summers and John Miller shot a combined 6 for 39 and were ineffective on both ends of the court.  "We need to work on the Mikan drill because we are all-stars at making cuts, but very much below average at finishing" said Donovan as he missed yet another wide open layup.  "We really miss a guy like Hall-of-Famer Jon Goforth" said Pifer.  "We have no true scorer who can get his shot anytime he wants" he added.

"We knew it would be a rebuilding year, but I don't think any of us were prepared for this" said Mathis as he was entering the locker room.  "This is a player's only meeting" he said as he closed the door.  The CGBCNN tried to get a comment from GM Pifer, but his visible disappointment was enough to scare this reporter off from trying to get a statement.  The next Reformer game will be Tuesday night at 8:15 at Double Springs Baptist.

9/3 Boxscore

2013 CGBC Fightin' Reformers Basketball Schedule

Fightin' Reformers Fall to Pebble Creek

by CGBCNN Staffer Randy Pifer

The Fightin' Reformers were unable to get much offense going as they lost to a much quicker and more athletic Pebble Creek team. Pebble Creek dominated every aspect of the game, and exposed CGBC's weakness at every position. The Reformers lone bright spot, Matt Garren, was able to get inside on numerous plays and led the team with twelve points. John Miller chipped in nine. "We are in a rebuilding year that is evident" said Thomas Richardson who, along with Brian Henderson, displayed ample hustle and gritty determination but were unable to make much of a difference in the final score. "We may not have the talent we had last year, but the comments coming from the bench are much funnier this year" said Justin McDaniel.


Starting center, Gary Davis, was able to make some things happen down low by grabbing numerous big rebounds, but was unable to convert many put backs as the Reformers left too many points on the floor. He finished with four point. Donny Mathis and Stephen Donovan added three points each. Lane Hatcher, who had not touched a basketball in fifteen years, was rusty and ineffective in his return to the court.
With nine games left in the season, CGBC needs to find some offense and quick. The only returning starter from last years team, Randy Pifer, was unable to make anything happen. He went one of five shooting with three points in his season debut. "I need to be more aggressive and look for my shot. If I am not shooting twenty times a game we can't win" he exclaimed.

The schedule for the rest of the year was released and the GM's office will release it to the public in the coming day. Fan Appreciation Night has been tentatively scheduled for October 1st at 7:15 PM at Double Springs Baptist Church. The GM's office released the following statement: "We hope you will make plans now to attend Fan Appreciation Night! We are making early plans to make this the most memorable Fan Appreciation Night in CGBC History."

The Reformers take the court for the second game of the year on Thursday night at 6:30 PM at Double Springs Baptist Church. Come out and support the Fightin' Reformers as they try to right the ship!