The Burning River Buckets are ready to bring home another championship, and you won’t want to miss a minute of the action
By Patricia Nugent
Promises made. Promises kept.
In 2021, General Manager George Phillips founded the pro Burning River Buckets and made a substantial promise to the people of Lake County—to bring a national American Basketball Association championship home.
The beloved team won the regional championship in 2022, and in April this year became national champions. George’s prediction for the coming season? You guessed it.
“We are ready to defend. Our plan is to go all the way and win another national championship,” he says. “The countdown has begun to our first home game on Saturday, November 11, where we will have a ceremony to bestow the National Championship rings on our players and coaches. We’re inviting fans and former players and coaches. Our philosophy is ‘once a Bucket, always a Bucket.’ This is a family as much as it is a team.”
He reports the ABA has restructured the season schedule with more playoff games in March and April 2024, so it’ll be similar to the NCAA’s Tournament. (Start your brackets…)
Returning and New Local Talent
Our Buckets team is stacked with exceptional players from all over Northeast Ohio, and there will be three new players joining last season’s returning squad.
“This is an extremely high level of talent,” says George. “Our new guys represent both home-grown players as well as a few who played basketball professionally overseas.”
The active roster includes Joe Klauer, Anthony Coleman, Sherman Dean III, Joey Vuyancih, Jordan Humphrey, Gabe Kynard, Michael Ryan, Michael Anderson, Kenneth Proby Jr. and Dylan Contento. Reserve players are Cole Krizancic, Justin Fritts and Eric Siefert.
“Fans can catch all the away games streamed on YouTube and we also purchased a Roku channel for us to present 24-hour programming,” he adds. “We’re in the development phase of planning the shows.”
Best Fan Experience
Sure, the level of thrilling basketball at home games will have fans on the edge of their seats, but George and his crew go the extra mile to provide a fan experience that’s second-to-none in the loads-of-fun department.
“At halftime we will welcome the Lake Erie College dance team and are also inviting local youth basketball teams to play an exhibition scrimmage and try to make a half-court shot,” says George. “It’ll all be overseen by our lovable mascot, Buster. He has become quite the star around town, going to local schools and charitable events.”
He points out that at $10 per ticket, there’s nowhere else in town for folks to enjoy a terrific night out than at a Buckets game.
Mark Your Calendar The Burning River Buckets schedule officially kicks off with an away game the first weekend in November. Here are the upcoming home games at the Mentor Athletic Complex. Go to BurningBuckets.com for the full schedule or to buy your tickets.
- Saturday, November 11, vs. the Columbus Wizards
- Saturday, November 25, vs. Detroit
- Saturday, December 2, vs. the Akron Aviators
- Saturday, December 30, vs. Detroit
- Saturday, January 13, vs. Detroit
- Saturday, February 3, vs. the Akron Aviators
- Saturday, February 24, vs. the Columbus Wizards
Tickets are on sale now for the 2023-2024 Burning River Buckets season. Cost is $10 per person, free for kids under 5 years of age, military and veterans. Season passes are also available for only $63 for all home games. Games take place at the Mentor Athletic Complex at 6477 Center Street. Sponsorship opportunities are available. The team partners with local charities, such as Dare to Care International and Canine Heroes Service Dogs. Visit BurningBuckets.com for the full schedule and more information, or follow them on Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram @burningbuckets.