CourtKings to hold court in Charles City

Midwest Basketball League champions to play exhibition game in Comets’ new gym

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — The Cedar Valley CourtKings are indeed the reigning “kings” of the Midwest Basketball League.

Who knows? They may one day be considered the MBL’s first dynasty.

Late last summer in the conclusion of the inaugural MBL season, the CourtKings avenged two earlier regular-season losses when they defeated the Minnesota Rangers, 108-98, for the league championship.

Now comes season two. And for the CourtKings, that road is going to start March 26 in the new competition gym within the new Charles City Middle School.

“It will be their first game since they won the (MBL) championship,” Gary Rima said of CourtKings’ forthcoming exhibition game against the Wisconsin Game Changers.

“It should be a good time,” Rima said.

Rima is a Charles City resident who co-owns the CourtKings with wife, Marla. He is also the play-by-play voice for Northern Iowa and the radio talk show host of “On Press Row.”

Marla is Charles City’s cheerleading coordinator, and she also leads The Kings Ladies — the CourtKings’ cheer/dance team which consists of several former Comet cheerleaders who will be performing during the exhibition game.

Among those returning to the CourtKings this season are former UNI stars Anthony James and Marvin Singleton, who were MBL All-Stars last season.

James was named the MBL Finals MVP after scoring 30 points in the championship win over the Rangers, and averaging 27 points per game during the playoffs.

Singleton is due to rejoin the CourtKings after the conclusion of the NBL-Canada League where he plays overseas for the London Lightning.

Also returning are sharp-shooting guards Lamar Wall and Aundre Hicks, and North Carolina native Wakefield Ellison, who came to the CourtKings after they lost starting point guard and team leader Rashad Carrington, who died in an automobile accident early last season.

New additions include Tay Parker out of Cedar Rapids, who played at Iowa Lakes and in the Prime Time basketball league; 6-foot-7 Raheem Tyner, who just finished his college playing days for the Manitoba Bulls in Winnipeg, Canada; BJ Walker, a 6-foot-9 center out of Cincinnati who looks to be an inside impact player for the CourtKings this season; Terry Carter, an athletic 6-foot-4 guard; left-handed sharp-shooter Dylan Hale, who played at North Dakota State before finishing his college career as an All-American at Dakota State; and Concordia graduate guard David Stanley.

In addition to Singleton, the CourtKings are due to get two other international players once their respective seasons are over.

Andre Norris, another returning MBL All-Star, is currently in Spain playing for CB Clavijo.

Raijon Kelly, who is playing professionally in Lithuania, will be a CourtKing when he returns to the States.

“There could also be one or two other new players signed before the exhibition games in Charles City or the season opener,” Rima said.

Tip-off for the CourtKings/Game Changers exhibition game in Charles City is 3 p.m. Admission is $5. Kids ages 10-and-under get in free.

The Cedar Valley CourtKings play their home games at the Cedar Valley SportsPlex, 300 Jefferson St., Waterloo.

The CourtKings’ MBL season-opener is April 8 versus the Milwaukee Storm on the road. The CourtKings’ home-opener is the following night (April 9) versus the Minnesota Broncos with the tip-off at 7:30 p.m.

Midwest Basketball League Exhibition Game

CEDAR VALLEY COURTKINGS vs. WISCONSIN GAME CHANGERS

March 26, 3 p.m.

At Charles City Middle School Competition Gym, 1200 1st Avenue

Admission: $5 — Kids ages 10-and-under get in free

For more information on the Cedar Valley CourtKings, go to cvcourtkings.com or call 319-404-5941.