Western New York Thundersnow
{{Short description|Basketball team in New York, 2015–2017}}
{{PBL team
| logo = File:Logo_of_the_defunct_Western_New_York_Thundersnow_basketball_team.jpeg
| pixels =
| short_name = WNY Thundersnow
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2015||}}
| folded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2017||}}
| league = PBL
2015–2016
ABA
2016–2017
| division = Northeast
| history =
| arena = Niagara-Wheatfield High School
2015–2016
Niagara Catholic High School
2016–2017
| city = Niagara Falls, New York
| colors = Violet, white
{{color box|#44089e}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| owner = Donald Felice
| gm = Terrell Holland
2015–2016
| coach = Steve Mackey
2015–2016
Terrell Holland
2016
Donald Felice
2016
Jody Crymes
2016–2017
| captain =
| record = 8–23 ({{Winning percentage|8|23}})
| championships =
| titles =
| playoff_berths =
| cheerleaders =
| dancers =
| mascot =
| website =
}}
The Western New York Thundersnow were a basketball team based in Niagara Falls, New York. The team was a member of the Premier Basketball League for the 2015–16 season, and the American Basketball Association for the 2016–17 season.
History
=2015–16: Franchise acquisition and inaugural season=
Donald Felice acquired a Premier Basketball League (PBL) franchise for Niagara County, New York in July 2015.{{cite web | title=Pro Basketball: Niagara County getting PBL franchise | website=The Daily News | date=July 9, 2015 | url=https://www.thedailynewsonline.com/sports/pro-basketball-niagara-county-getting-pbl-franchise/article_46da1c41-9a13-5412-b9a9-6e2940cb717e.html | access-date=January 14, 2024}} It was the third PBL franchise in the region's history, following the Buffalo Stampede and Buffalo 716ers.
Felice had worked two seasons in the PBL as general manager for Tawan Slaughter's Buffalo 716ers before leaving to form his own team.{{cite web | title=Thundersnow give up 70 second half points in inaugural game | website=Niagara Gazette | date=January 10, 2016 | url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/thundersnow-give-up-70-second-half-points-in-inaugural-game/article_53bb867c-25d6-570a-b964-54ce1e1a299f.html | access-date=January 14, 2024}}
The inaugural Thundersnow game at Niagara-Wheatfield High School saw them lose to Tawan Slaughter's other PBL team, the Chautauqua Hurricane, by a score of 118–119.
Following a second home loss to the Buffalo 716ers that left the team at 0–2, Donald Felice fired head coach Steve Mackey.{{cite web | last=Meiler | first=Mike | title=Thundersnow, coach part ways for a week | website=Niagara Gazette | date=January 15, 2016 | url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/thundersnow-coach-part-ways-for-a-week/article_25642654-e104-5fa1-8d69-2e01fbe86cf4.html | access-date=January 14, 2024}} Felice then promoted general manager Terrell Holland to head coach, but he was also fired after several games.{{cite web | last=Bronstein | first=Jonah | title=Crymes taking over as coach of Thundersnow | website=Niagara Gazette | date=September 21, 2016 | url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/local_sports/crymes-taking-over-as-coach-of-thundersnow/article_69378269-1434-523f-9cfe-34017d6d4f02.html | access-date=January 14, 2024}}
Despite having no prior experience in coaching, Donald Felice took over head coaching duties himself for the remainder of the season.
The team finished with a 1–14 record and failed to make the playoffs.{{cite web | title=Premier Basketball League 2016, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=April 25, 2016 | url=https://basketball.usbasket.com/PBL/basketball_2016.aspx | access-date=January 14, 2024}}
=2016–17: Move to ABA and final season=
It was announced in July 2016 that the team had left the Premier Basketball League and would join the American Basketball Association (ABA) for the 2016–17 season.{{cite web | title=Thundersnow out of PBL | website=Niagara Gazette | date=July 24, 2016 | url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/local_sports/thundersnow-out-of-pbl/article_e254a7b1-d59b-58b2-9754-59c8bfddeef6.html | access-date=January 14, 2024}} It was the third ABA franchise in the region's history, following the Buffalo Sharks and Buffalo Blue Hawks.
Jody Crymes was hired as the team's new head coach, and the team moved to its home games to Niagara Catholic High School.
The team finished with a 7–9 record and failed to make the playoffs.{{cite web | title=American Basketball Association 2017, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=April 2, 2017 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/ABA/basketball_2017.aspx | access-date=January 14, 2024}}
Jermaine Sharpe was named to the 2017 ABA All-Star Team after leading the team in rebounding.{{cite web | title=Live Stats by 805stats.com | website=805stats.com | url=https://aba.805stats.com/team.php?id=686 | access-date=January 14, 2024}} Jonny Marsh led the team in both scoring and assists.
Tryouts for a third season were advertised in September 2017, but the team folded soon after.{{cite web | title=Local sports registrations for Sept. 11 | website=Lockport Union-Sun & Journal | date=September 10, 2017 | url=https://www.lockportjournal.com/sports/local_sports/local-sports-registrations-for-sept-11/article_5f428bd9-ff86-5f17-bbb5-ce645468cc5e.html | access-date=January 14, 2024}}
Season-by-season record
| class="wikitable"
|align="center" bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|League champions |align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd"|Conference champions |align="center" bgcolor="#D0E7FF"|Division champions |align="center" bgcolor="#96CDCD"|Playoff berth |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" summary="Season (sortable), Conference, Finish (sortable), Division, Finish (sortable), Wins (sortable), Losses (sortable), Win% (sortable), GB (sortable), Playoffs, Awards and Head coach" |
| scope="col"| Season
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Conference !scope="col"| Finish !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Division !scope="col"| Finish !scope="col"| Wins !scope="col"| Losses !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Win% !scope="col" data-sort-type="number"|GB !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Playoffs !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Awards !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Head coach !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref. |
|---|
| 2015-16
| — | — | Northeast | 7th | 1 | 14 | {{Winning percentage|1|14}} | — | Did not qualify. | | Steve Mackey |
| 2016-17
| — | — | Northeast | 6th | 7 | 9 | {{Winning percentage|7|9}} | — | Did not qualify. | Jermaine Sharpe (All-Star) | Jody Crymes |
Game log
=2015–2016=
==Regular season==
{{NBA game log start|Brooklyn Nets|end_year=2016|record=Total: 1–14 (Home: 5–3; Road: 2–7)}}
{{NBA game log section|Brooklyn Nets|January|first=yes|show=no
| home_wins = 1
| home_losses = 2
| road_wins = 0
| road_losses = 3
}}
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 1
| January 9
| L 118–119
| Boris Calhoun Jr. (27)
|
|
| Niagara-Wheatfield High School
| 0–1
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 2
| January 10
| Buffalo
| L 90–106
| Maurice Greene (16)
|
|
| Niagara-Wheatfield High School
| 0–2
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 3
| January 15
| @ Jamestown
| L 99–120
|
|
|
| 0–3
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 4
| January 16
| @ Buffalo
| L 83–109
|
|
|
| 0–4
|- style="background:#cfc"
| 5
| January 23
| W 136–134
| Boris Calhoun Jr. (33)
|
|
| Niagara Catholic High School
| 1–4
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 6
| January 31
| @ Providence
| L 107–123
|
|
|
| 1–5
{{NBA game log section|Brooklyn Nets|February|first=no|show=no
| home_wins = 0
| home_losses = 1
| road_wins = 0
| road_losses = 2
}}
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 7
| February 13
| L 89–131
|
|
|
| Niagara Catholic High School
| 1–6
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 8
| February 20
| @ Jamestown
| L 101–113
|
|
|
| 1–7
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 9
| February 25
| @ Rochester
| L 93–128
|
|
|
| 1–8
{{NBA game log section|Brooklyn Nets|March|first=no|show=no
| home_wins = 0
| home_losses = 2
| road_wins = 0
| road_losses = 3
}}
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 10
| March 5
| New England
| L
|
|
|
| Kiernan Recreation Center
| 1–9
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 11
| March 6
| @ Chautauqua
| L 106–120
|
|
|
| 1–10
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 12
| March 12
| @ Buffalo
| L 96–106
|
|
|
| 1–11
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 13
| March 19
| L
|
|
|
| Kiernan Recreation Center
| 1–12
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 14
| March 20
| @ Jamestown
| L 94–129
|
|
|
| 1–13
{{NBA game log section|Brooklyn Nets|April|first=no|show=no
| home_wins = 0
| home_losses = 0
| road_wins = 0
| road_losses = 1
}}
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 15
| April 10
| @ Rochester
| L 78–128
|
|
|
| 1–14
{{NBA game log end}}
=2016–2017=
==Regular season==
{{NBA game log start|Brooklyn Nets|end_year=2017|record=Total: 7–9 (Home: 3–6; Road: 4–3)}}
{{NBA game log section|Brooklyn Nets|November|first=yes|show=no
| home_wins = 0
| home_losses = 0
| road_wins = 1
| road_losses = 0
}}
|- style="background:#cfc"
| 1
| November 27
| @ Elmira
| W 115–112
|
|
|
| Family Fitness Center
| 1–0
{{NBA game log section|Brooklyn Nets|December|first=no|show=no
| home_wins = 2
| home_losses = 0
| road_wins = 1
| road_losses = 0
}}
|- style="background:#cfc"
| 2
| December 3
| @ Buffalo
| W 110–101
|
|
|
| Bishop Timon – St. Jude High School
| 2–0
|- style="background:#cfc"
| 3
| December 4
| Elmira
| W 129–126
|
|
|
| Niagara Catholic High School
| 3–0
|- style="background:#cfc"
| 4
| December 11
| Buffalo
| W 126–107
|
|
|
| Niagara Catholic High School
| 4–0
{{NBA game log section|Brooklyn Nets|January|first=no|show=no
| home_wins = 1
| home_losses = 3
| road_wins = 0
| road_losses = 2
}}
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 5
| January 7
| @ Atlantic Coast
| L 119–128
|
|
|
| GymRatz Performance
| 4–1
|- style="background:#cfc"
| 6
| January 8
| Rochester
| W 116–114
|
|
|
| Niagara Catholic High School
| 5–1
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 7
| January 15
| Cleveland
| L 109–113
|
|
|
| Niagara Catholic High School
| 5–2
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 8
| January 22
| Elmira
| L 105–107
|
|
|
| Niagara Catholic High School
| 5–3
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 9
| January 28
| @ Rochester
| L 129–135
| Isaiah Jefferson (37)
|
|
| Thomas P. Ryan, Jr. Community Center
| 5–4
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 10
| January 29
| L 107–135
| Jonny Marsh (32)
| Jermaine Sharpe (10)
|
| Niagara Catholic High School
| 5–5
{{NBA game log section|Brooklyn Nets|February|first=no|show=no
| home_wins = 0
| home_losses = 3
| road_wins = 1
| road_losses = 1
}}
|- style="background:#cfc"
| 11
| February 2
| @ Elmira
| W 141–131 (OT)
| Anthony Greene (37)
| Anthony Greene (12)
| Anthony Greene (10)
| Family Fitness Center
| 6–5
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 12
| February 4
| @ Jersey
| L 117–144
|
|
|
| YMCA of Wayne
| 6–6
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 13
| February 18
| Rochester
| L 112–113
|
|
|
| Niagara Catholic High School
| 6–7
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 14
| February 19
| Atlantic Coast
| L 113–120
| Jermaine Sharpe (26)
| Chuck Brundidge (19)
|
| Niagara Catholic High School
| 6–8
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 15
| February 25
| Elmira
| L 97–143
|
|
|
| Niagara Catholic High School
| 6–9
{{NBA game log section|Brooklyn Nets|March|first=no|show=no
| home_wins = 0
| home_losses = 0
| road_wins = 1
| road_losses = 0
}}
|- style="background:#cfc"
| 16
| March 4
| @ Rochester
| W
|
|
|
| Thomas P. Ryan, Jr. Community Center
| 7–9
{{NBA game log end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal bar|Basketball||New York (state)}}
Category:2015 establishments in New York (state)
Category:2017 disestablishments in New York (state)
Category:Basketball teams established in 2015
Category:Basketball teams disestablished in 2017
Category:Basketball teams in New York (state)
Category:Defunct American Basketball Association (2000–present) teams