Published: November 09, 2006 02:54 pm      

PRO BASKETBALL: Despite opening loss, ‘super fan’ likes direction of Silverbacks

More than 1,200 fans take Creditors Interchange free ticket offer to watch Buffalo lose to Detroit, 109-100.

BUFFALO — A self-described “super fan” of the Buffalo Silverbacks, Patrick Horning sat courtside Wednesday night, and, for the most part, liked what he saw on the Buffalo State College Sports Arena floor.

Horning, a 34-year-old Williamsville resident, was dissatisfied with how the Silverbacks finished their American Basketball Association season opener. Buffalo (0-1) lead the Detroit Panthers (1-0) for most of the evening, but lost, 109-100, after a mistake-filled fourth quarter.

Sporting a Buffalo Rapids jersey — which now qualifies as a throwback — and a matching Buffalo Braves hat, Horning was among 1,232 who attended the game free of charge.

“I enjoyed myself. This was way better than last year,” Horning said in reference to the franchise’s inaugural game at Erie Community College’s Burt Flickinger Center, where some fans spent more time on line to pass security than in their seats.

The Rapids were soon evicted from ECC and struggled to find a permanent venue, playing most games in the Park School gymnasium. New ownership took over midway through last season, and since that campaign ended, just about everything about the team changed — except the city they call home.

“This group is much more organized,” Horning said. “But I wonder if they will pay the price for past problems.”

The Silverbacks weren’t as organized on the court, especially in the deciding moments.

“We made a lot of mental errors down the stretch,” said guard/assistant coach Modie Cox. The former Lasalle star had 12 points.

Head coach Trevor Ruffin made his professional debut. An NBA veteran and one of Buffalo’s all-time greatest prep players, Ruffin took over the team last week when Rich Jacob abruptly resigned to focus on his teaching career at Medaille College.

“I wish we could have gotten the W, but this was a big moment,” Ruffin said.

Guard Antoine Sims led Buffalo with 33 points and five steals. Forward Jonny Tyson scored 11. Forward Kevin Ross and guard Marlin Johnson shared the rebound lead with six each. Johnson also had five steals.

A majority of the crowd stayed until the end of the game, cheering on Buffalo’s near comeback in the final minutes. Basketball was the main attraction, but the Silverbacks pulled out all the stops in trying to entertain what will likely be their biggest crowd of the season.

The entire game was played to a hip-hop soundtrack, and the public address announcer provided color commentary throughout. Attractive women known as the WBLK Divas assumed the place of cheerleaders, engaging the crowd and recruiting child fans onto the court for contests and dancing during timeouts.

“For an opener, this was a great event,” Johnson said. “This is a first class organization. … I feel like we didn’t give them a first class effort tonight.”

The Silverbacks’ next home game is Nov. 24 against defending ABA champion Rochester. All home games are at 8:05 p.m. at Buffalo State.

Horning said he’ll be there, be he wonders how many fans will show up if they have to pay. Creditors Interchange made it free to attend the opener by purchasing every ticket “in appreciation for (Buffalo) Mayor (Byron) Brown’s speedy resolution to the devastation in October.”

“The question is who will this team draw,” said Horning, an avid follower of minor league sports. “Do I think there’s an audience? Yes. But a lot of people didn’t know there was a game tonight.”

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Former Syracuse captain Kueth Duany did not play due to an ankle sprain. Canisius College graduate Andy Bush sat with a strained Achilles. Williamsville North graduate Sean Murphy dressed but did not enter the game.

Contact Jonah Bronstein at bronsteinj@gnnewspaper.com