An inaugural Augusta Groove season that started in front of more than 2,000 fans in January withered into a season finale with fewer than 200 in the stands at the tip of Sunday's 122-97 loss to the Battle Creek Knights.
The Groove entered the year as the first minor league basketball team to call Augusta home since the Augusta Drive failed a month into their 1995 season. The Groove made it all the way through their 20-game schedule, but not without some bumps along the way.
"It's been good overall, but there have been some ups and downs," Groove co-owner and coach Gary Perry said.
He said the biggest challenge was finding sponsors in a down economy. The Groove landed four sponsors throughout the season, according to Perry, but hit a rocky spot midway through when players came forward saying they hadn't been fully paid. The team is still facing legal action with Quality Inn and Suites over unpaid hotel bills.
"It was just our first year, and we expect to do better next year," Perry said. "I'd give us a C-minus for this year."
Kenny Curtis, who grabbed a game-high seven rebounds in Sunday's loss, said the first season wasn't perfect, but he enjoyed the experience. The former Richmond Academy star said he especially enjoyed their 10 home games in his old high school gym.
"It's been an experience," he said. "But I was a little disappointed in how we didn't have as many fans as we should have."
Curtis said playing at the same time as local high school and college teams hurt the team's chances at building a bigger fan base.
The Groove finished the season 10-10. Former Augusta State guard Demetrius Howard led the home team with 24 points Sunday, but it wasn't enough to beat the Premier Basketball League's best team.
The Knights (16-2) shot 54 percent from the field and led the entire second half for their third consecutive win.
Jason Arbett and Kenny Langhorne each scored 24 points for Battle Creek. Groove guard Cory Sims finished with 16 points and nine assists.
Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com
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WOW 200 fans, I didnt think they would get that many at their last game. I will give them credit because they did finish the season unlike some teams around here. But thats the only kind credit they will get around here. PAY your bills and now cash up front home boy.
It's far less than expected professional fare, playing games at
Richmond Academy. The players may be of reasonable talent,
but they obviously lost the leading scorer because of payroll
problems. This is probably a politically incorrect thing to say, but
unless they see fit to play a few white players, its hard to see
a wide range of fans coming out to pay $10 or more for what is
being offered now. Yes, I give them credit for finishing the season, unlike GOAL's Lynx.
you souldve kept aj millien and maybe you wouldve had a chance at winning games, keeping 2,000+ fans...disappointing
Say goodbye to the augusta groove.....gary perry is a sorry excuse for a basketball coach and an even worse excuse for an "owner" haha.....and they wont be here next year...he needs to pay the hotels that he owes and more importantly he needs to pay his players!!...what a crook.....and this should sum up gary perry in a nut shell....i think it was austin rhodes who said.....he is "boys" with Champ Walker.