Buffalo 716ers
Founded2013 (2013)
Folded2016 (2016)
LeaguePBL
DivisionEast
2013–2015
Northeast
2015–2016
Based inBuffalo, New York
ArenaTapestry Charter School
2013–2015
Burt Flickinger Center
2015–2016
ColorsRed, black, white
     
OwnerTawan Slaughter
Head coachTawan Slaughter
CaptainAmir Billups
2013–2015
Devon Dawson
2013–2016
Overall record25–24 (.510)
Playoff berths1 (2016)
Dancers716ers Girls
2013–2015
Lady 716ers
2015–2016
MascotBlaze

The Buffalo 716ers were a basketball team based in Buffalo, New York. The team competed in the Premier Basketball League (PBL) for three seasons between 2013 and 2016 before suspending operations.

History

2012–2013: Franchise acquisition

Tawan Slaughter partnered with Franklin Jackson to purchase an American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise for the city in November 2012 at a cost of $5,000.[1] However, Jackson left the partnership soon after to form the ABA's Buffalo Blue Hawks.[1]

Slaughter paid $3,500 in May 2013 for entry into the Premier Basketball League (PBL).[1] This was the second PBL franchise in city history, following the Buffalo Stampede.

In preparation for her team's first season, Slaughter had them participate in the July 2013 Summer Pro League in Los Angeles.[2] The leading scorer at that showcase was Amir Billups, former Fredonia Blue Devils player and second cousin of Chauncey Billups.[3]

In November 2013, it was announced that Slaughter was launching the Buffalo 716ers for the 2013–14 PBL season.[4] The team takes its name from the 716 area code, widely known as the area code for Buffalo and much of Western New York.[5] Slaughter simultaneously launched a second PBL team, the Erie Hurricane in Erie, Pennsylvania.[4]

2013–2014: Inaugural season

The team's inaugural season began with a 92–108 road loss to the Rochester RazorSharks at Blue Cross Arena on December 31, 2013.[6]

Home games were played at Tapestry Charter School, which the team referred to as The Thunderdome due to its raucous crowds.[7]

Glenroy Carr was named to the 2014 All-PBL Team for his performance during the season.[8] Carr led the team in rebounding, with Kelvin Agee leading in both scoring and assists.[9]

Tawan Slaughter coached her team to an 8–7 record in the East Division, but the club failed to qualify for the playoffs.[8]

2014–2015: Second season and playoff controversy

Team co-captain Amir Billups was killed in a February 2015 car accident.[10] The team retired his jersey prior to their 143–114 home win over the Philadelphia Flight on February 21, 2015.[11]

For the second consecutive year, Glenroy Carr was named to the All-PBL Team for his performance during the 2014–15 season.[12]

After the team finished with a 7–10 record in the East Division, it was originally announced that the club had made the playoffs.[12] However, PBL owners changed the playoff structure after top seed Bloomington Flex was expelled from the league, ending Buffalo's season.[13]

In protest of the league's actions, Tawan Slaughter made plans for her team to join the American Basketball Association for the 2015–16 ABA season.[13] Just prior to the season starting, Slaughter changed course, and the 716ers returned to the Premier Basketball League.[14] The ABA consequently brought suit against the team, claiming Slaughter was in breach of contract.[15]

2015–2016: Final season

Former Buffalo Braves star Ernie DiGregorio was hired as Director of Operations for the 2015–16 PBL season, and to help market tickets for the team's new home venue of Burt Flickinger Center.[16] DiGregorio replaced outgoing general manager Donald Felice, who had left to found the Western New York Thundersnow.[17]

Tawan Slaughter moved the Erie Hurricane to Dunkirk, New York and renamed them to Chautauqua Hurricane for the 2015–16 PBL season.[18]

In their final season, the 716ers finished with an 9–6 record in the Northeast Division and qualified for the playoffs.[19] They were eliminated in the semifinal round by the Rochester RazorSharks.[20]

Tawan Slaughter folded the team after the 2015–16 season and sold the Chautauqua Hurricane to new ownership.[21]

Season-by-season record

League champions Conference champions Division champions Playoff berth
Season Conference Finish Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards Head coach Ref.
2013–14 — — East 3rd 8 7 .533 — Did not qualify. Glenroy Carr (All-PBL) Tawan Slaughter [8]
2014–15 — — East 3rd 7 10 .412 — Did not qualify. Glenroy Carr (All-PBL) Tawan Slaughter [12]
2015–16 — — Northeast 3rd 9 6 .600 — Won quarterfinal (Jackals) 92–87
Lost semifinal (RazorSharks) 88–125		 Tawan Slaughter [19]

Game log

2013–2014

Regular season

2013–14 game log
Total: 8–7 (Home: 2–4; Road: 6–3)
December: 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 December 31 @ Rochester L 92–108 Glenroy Carr (23) Glenroy Carr (12) Devon Dawson (6) Blue Cross Arena 0–1
January: 1–1 (home: 0–1; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
2 January 11 Erie W 123–76 Tapestry Charter School 1–1
3 January 18 Ohio Lima L 107–116 Glenroy Carr (17) Christopher Coleman (6) Kelvin Agee (2) Tapestry Charter School 1–2
February: 1–4 (home: 0–3; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
4 February 1 Rochester L 104–132 Kelvin Agee (29) Christopher Coleman (8) Joshua Parker (5) Tapestry Charter School 1–3
5 February 8 Carolina L 80–110 Tapestry Charter School 1–4
6 February 15 @ Rochester L 86–95 Blue Cross Arena 1–5
7 February 17 Rochester L 95–116 Ajay Ruttledge (24) Travonta Gatewood (8) Ajay Ruttledge (3) Tapestry Charter School 1–6
8 February 22 @ Chicago W 118–112 Ajay Ruttledge (38) Marcus Hall (12) Terrell Williams (7) Roesner Field House 2–6
March: 6–1 (home: 2–0; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
9 March 1 @ Erie L 108–115 Kelvin Agee (26) Marcus Hall (22) Marcus Hall (6) East High School 2–7
10 March 7 @ Chicago W 108–90 Roesner Field House 3–7
11 March 8 @ Chicago W 97–83 Roesner Field House 4–7
12 March 9 Erie W 98–87 Glenroy Carr (20) Glenroy Carr (11) Joshua Parker (7) Tapestry Charter School 5–7
13 March 15 @ Erie W 126–109 Travonta Gatewood (26) Glenroy Carr (12) Devon Dawson (11) East High School 6–7
15 March 21 @ Erie W 127–90 Kelvin Agee (25) Terrell Williams (14) Kelvin Agee (3) East High School 7–7
16 March 23 Erie W 123–76 Devon Dawson (25) Glenroy Carr (14) Devon Dawson (11) Tapestry Charter School 8–7

2014–2015

Regular season

2014–15 game log
Total: 7–10 (Home: 5–3; Road: 2–7)
December: 2–2 (home: 2–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 December 6 Lynchburg W 127–82 Glenroy Carr (21) Antonio Speed (18) Robert McKiver (6) Tapestry Charter School 1–0
2 December 13 Erie W 112–108 Robert McKiver (33) Antonio Speed (10) Austin Cooley (6)
Kelvin Agee (6)		 Tapestry Charter School 2–0
3 December 14 @ Erie L 117–122 Robert McKiver (26) Antonio Speed (16) Robert McKiver (11) East High School 2–1
4 December 21 @ Rochester L 95–108 Robert McKiver (24) Antonio Speed (6)
Kelvin Agee (6)		 Robert McKiver (4) Blue Cross Arena 2–2
January: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
5 January 3 Lynchburg W 141–80 Johnny Marsh (20) Glenroy Carr (14) Kelvin Agee (5)
Robert McKiver (5)		 Tapestry Charter School 3–2
6 January 4 @ Rochester L 86–106 Antonio Speed (26) Antonio Speed (15) Jerrold Brooks (5) Blue Cross Arena 3–3
7 January 11 @ Rochester L 90–105 Jeffrey Stubbs (17)
Robert McKiver (17)		 Travonta Gatewood (10) Austin Cooley (4) Blue Cross Arena 3–4
8 January 17 Carolina L 92–108 Antonio Speed (18) Tapestry Charter School 3–5
9 January 31 Rochester L 93–108 Devon Dawson (21) Antonio Speed (14) Antonio Speed (2)
Dwayne Gland (2)		 Tapestry Charter School 3–6
February: 4–2 (home: 2–0; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
10 February 7 Erie W 115–114 Tapestry Charter School 4–6
11 February 8 @ Erie L 116–122 East High School 4–7
12 February 21 Philadelphia W 140–114 Boris Calhoun (27) Glenroy Carr (6) Boris Calhoun (1)
Emil Clayton (1)		 Tapestry Charter School 5–7
13 February 22 @ Erie W 135–125 Brandon Caruthers (28) Brandon Caruthers (6) Devon Dawson (4) East High School 6–7
14 February 26 @ Carolina L 105–108 Florence Civic Center 6–8
15 February 28 @ Lynchburg W 119–108 Boris Calhoun (48) Jamal Webb (7) Jamal Webb (3) Lynchburg City Armory 7–8
March: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
16 March 1 @ Carolina L 100–115 Glenroy Carr (28) Glenroy Carr (8) Emil Clayton (3) Florence Civic Center 7–9
17 March 7 Rochester L 97–134 Devon Dawson (22)
Glenroy Carr (22)		 Devon Dawson (14) Devon Dawson (5) Park School of Buffalo 7–10

2015–2016

Regular season

2015–16 game log
Total: 9–6 (Home: 5–3; Road: 2–7)
January: 4–0 (home: 3–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 January 9 New England W 86–81 Burt Flickinger Center 1–0
2 January 10 @ Western New York W 106–90 Niagara-Wheatfield High School 2–0
3 January 16 Western New York W 109–83 Burt Flickinger Center 3–0
4 January 23 Chautauqua W 109–93 Burt Flickinger Center 4–0
February: 2–3 (home: 1–0; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
5 February 5 @ Jamestown W 112–110 Jamestown Community College 5–0
6 February 6 @ Rochester L 91–104 Blue Cross Arena 5–1
7 February 20 Chautauqua W 119–109 Casey Sheehan (13) Casey Sheehan (5) Burt Flickinger Center 6–1
8 February 21 @ Jamestown L 107–111 (OT) Jamestown Community College 6–2
9 February 28 @ Providence L 77–60 Johnson & Wales University 6–3
March: 2–2 (home: 1–1; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
10 March 5 Rochester L 88–96 Devon Dawson (22) Devon Dawson (5) Burt Flickinger Center 6–4
11 March 12 Western New York W 106–96 Travonta Gatewood (20) Chris Brand (8)
Travonta Gatewood (8)		 Devon Dawson (5) Burt Flickinger Center 7–4
12 March 13 @ Providence W 123–111 Johnson & Wales University 8–4
13 March 20 @ Chautauqua L 107–114 Brocton High School 8–5
April: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
14 April 2 Chautauqua W 107–90 Christian Central Academy 9–5
15 April 3 @ Jamestown L 101–109 Jamestown Community College 9–6

Playoffs

2016 playoff game log
Total: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1)
Quarterfinals: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 9 Jamestown W 92–87 Christian Central Academy 1–0
Semifinals: 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 17 @ Rochester L 88–125 Blue Cross Arena 0–1

References

  1. 1 2 3 McKissic, Rodney (May 10, 2023). "Hoops team owner Slaughter makes nothing but net gains". Buffalo News. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Buffalo 716ers accept invite to Summer Pro League - INTERVIEW". February 14, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-02-23. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
  3. ↑ Bronstein, Jonah (August 24, 2013). "Former Starpoint star hopes success at L.A. Summer Pro League leads to NBA". Buffalo News. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "PREMIER BASKETBALL LEAGUE ADDS TEAMS IN NORTHEAST". All Sports WNY. November 26, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Former SUNY Fredonia player, Billups, killed". The Bradford Era. February 16, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  6. ↑ Vito, Chris (January 1, 2014). "RazorSharks top Buffalo in opener". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Buffalo 716ers Schedule". RealGM. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 "Premier Basketball League 2014, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards". usbasket. April 16, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Buffalo 716ers Stats". RealGM. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  10. ↑ Athletics, Fredonia State University (February 15, 2015). "Fredonia State University Athletics". Fredonia State University Athletics. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  11. ↑ "716ers honor Billips, win". Buffalo News. February 22, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 "Premier Basketball League 2015, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards". usbasket. May 25, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  13. 1 2 Sevenonesixers, Buffalo (July 20, 2015). "716ers Join the American Basketball Association". buffalo-716ers. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  14. ↑ "716ers switch leagues". Buffalo News. November 26, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Basketball League Says Defections To Rival Flouted Contract". Law360. February 8, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  16. ↑ McNamara, Kevin (October 1, 2015). "Ernie DiGregorio back in basketball with Buffalo 716'ers". The Providence Journal. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Thundersnow give up 70 second half points in inaugural game". Niagara Gazette. January 10, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  18. ↑ Gazette, Jamestown (September 8, 2015). "Chautauqua Hurricane Professional Basketball Team". Jamestown Gazette. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  19. 1 2 "Premier Basketball League 2016, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards". usbasket. April 25, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  20. ↑ "RazorSharks win to advance to PBL Finals". Democrat and Chronicle. April 17, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Chautauqua Hurricane optimistic for upcoming PBL season". Observer Today. January 2, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
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