Burning River Buckets: A freshly minted basketball team has slam-dunked its way into Lake County
By Mimi Vanderhaven
Hoops fans can rise to their feet for all the buzzer-beating, tip-off leading, high-stakes stealing action of professional basketball, coming soon to Lake County.
The Burning River Buckets—a new expansion team of the American Basketball Association—will kick off its 2021-2022 20-game season on Saturday, November 6. All games will be contested at Lakeland Community College for now, with hopes of purchasing a freestanding arena over the next few years.
Head Coach is former Notre Dame College player and coach Patrick Koenig.
“We are excited about the upcoming season,” he says. “The northcentral region of the ABA is the benchmark for professional competition and provides a fan-friendly environment. We are dedicated to bringing an ABA championship to Lake County.”
A Mega-Talented Roster
When the rubber meets the wood, fans will be cheering on a few players they might remember wearing different uniforms. Coach Koenig has signed some red-hot talent to the inaugural roster, including Justin Fritts, who played for Wheeling University (former Mr. Ohio Basketball); Cole Krizancic, who played for Ashland University, both from Mentor High School; and Willoughby South grad and Edinboro University standout Anthony Coleman, just to name a few.
They will play other ABA teams from all over the Midwest, as well as the three other teams in Ohio, from Akron, Columbus and Cincinnati. All players are under contract.
“Many high school and college players dream of one day playing professional basketball,” says Coach Koenig. “It feels terrific to be able to turn their dream into a reality. Our guys already have formed a tight chemistry on the court.”
Promoting a Fan- and Fam-Friendly Experience
Buckets games will appeal to both serious devotees of the game looking to watch highly competitive play, as well as families seeking a memorable yet affordable night out.
Each game, a different local restaurant will take over the concessions and offer their best take on game food.
And there will be plenty of courtside antics, with giveaways, T-shirt throws into the crowd and special entertainment at halftime ranging from musical acts to dance troupes. It’ll all be overseen by the lovable rascal, Buster the mascot.
(Spoiler alert: Mimi has discovered from the Buckets’ Mascot Development Department that the fans can expect an additional mascot, Betty, to join Buster next year. And the year after that, little Buster Jr. will be scampering onto the scene to entertain fans young and old.)
Community outreach is also a big part of the equation here, with partnerships currently being formed with local schools for players to help out with reading programs.
And for those who put the “fan” in fantastic, there’s some serious logo-ware in all your favorite brands like Nike and The North Face, for men, ladies and children.
Hometown heroes plus fan- and family-friendly fun? Looks like a slam dunk.
Tickets are on sale now for the 2021-2022 schedule of the Burning River Buckets. The cost is $10 per person, free for kids under five years of age. Games take place at Lakeland College in Kirtland. Away games can be streamed online. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Visit BurningBuckets.com for the full schedule and more information, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @burningbuckets.