2023 Champs!

By Mimi Vanderhaven

Two years. Two regional titles. One national championship.

Founded in 2021 by GM George Phillips, our beloved Burning River Buckets, Lake County’s pro team in the American Basketball Association, won the regional championship in 2022, and became national 2023 co-champions two weeks ago.

“We made a big promise to the people of Lake County and we kept that promise,” says George. “We are a team from top to bottom! The road to the playoffs was spectacular. At the regional championships in Pittsburgh, we were seeded number two and squared off against the number one seeded team, which is the defending national champion, the Steel City Yellow Jackets. It was an incredible 143-124 win. The next day we played our fellow Ohio team and friendly rival, the Kings from Cincinnati, for the win and the crown.”

In the Buckets’ second season, the number of spectators has grown. A special treat for the super supportive fan base is to cheer for faces familiar to Northeast Ohio, former players from Eastlake North and Willoughby South HS, Mentor HS and Lake Erie College.

“Several of our players knew each other by playing against each other in high school or college, so it’s nice to have them on the same team,” George adds. “They’ve really gelled. The feedback we get from other teams is how respectful we are on and off the court.”

George would like to personally thank Ace Pippen, owner of the Steel City Yellow Jackets, and Arianna Rosemond for hosting the North Central Region’s Final Four.

“Though the season might be in the books, we start over quickly,” he says. “This year we have plans in the works for a few one- or two-day summer camps for area kids to meet the team and hone their skills.”

Congrats to our Burning River Buckets on their dream season.

Burning River Bucket games take place at the Mentor Athletic Complex. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Mimi Magazine is a proud sponsor. Visit BurningBuckets.comfor more information on the roster and summer camps.