Elite Basketball League

The Elite Basketball League (EBL) is a semi-professional men's basketball league that began play in the fall of 2014.

Elite Basketball League (EBL)
SportBasketball
Founded2014
No. of teams16
CountryUnited States
ContinentFIBA Americas (Americas)
Most recent
champion(s)		Arkansas Elite (2016)
Most titlesLittle Rock Diamonds
Arkansas Elite (1)
Official websitewww.eblleague.com

History

There were 10 charter members competing in the first season, based around Arkansas. The EBL season begins in October and concludes with league playoffs in late April/early May. The first league championship (2014–15) was won by the Little Rock Diamonds,[1] who defeated regular season winner Arkadelphia Bulldogs. The game was played on the campus of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.

Season two began in October 2015 with nine teams, three (Arkansas Dream, Arkansas Golden Knights and Ridge City Rippers) new to the league. First season champion Little Rock Diamonds did not return along with Arkansas Premier and Spa City Outlaws. Arkadelphia Bulldogs left to help form a new league, the Elite International Basketball Association.

Bobby Johnson of Southwest Flight set a league-record by scoring 70 points in a game played on February 9, 2016 against the Golden Knights. Johnson bested the previous record of 61 points by Billy Berry of Arkansas Showstoppers.

Regular season winner Arkansas Elite went on to win the nine-team playoffs (best-of 3 series each round) to capture the 2016 championship. Elite defeated Southwest Flight in two-straight games.

Teams
Team City Arena First season in EBL
North Division
Delta Storm Jonesboro, Arkansas Arkansas Baptist College 2014
Jonesboro Shooters Inc. Joneboro, Arkansas Arkansas Baptist College 2016
Mountain Home Twin Lakers Mountain Home, Arkansas Mountain Home Junior High 2016
Nashville Nets Nashville, Tennessee TBD 2016
Ridge City Rippers Black Rock, Arkansas TBD 2015
Tennessee Hornets Nashville, Tennessee TBD 2016
Tennessee Sting Nashville, Tennessee TBD 2016
West Memphis Raining 3s West Memphis, Arkansas TBD 2016
South Division
Arkansas Dragons Hot Springs, Arkansas Gospel Light Baptist School 2014
Arkansas Elite Bryant, Arkansas Jack Stephens Center 2014
Conway Kings Conway, Arkansas Hendrix College 2016
Mid City Bears Little Rock, Arkansas TBD 2016
North Little Rock Knights Little Rock, Arkansas Rose City Community Center 2015
North Little Rock North Stars Little Rock, Arkansas Rose City Community Center 2016
South Arkansas Orange Storm Warren, Arkansas TBD 2016
Southwest Flight El Dorado, Arkansas Salvation Army Gymnasium 2014

Former teams
  • Arkadelphia Bulldogs (2014–15)
  • Arkansas Dream (2015)
  • Arkansas Legends (2014–15)
  • Arkansas Premier (2014–15)
  • Arkansas Showstoppers (2014–15)
  • Little Rock Diamonds (2014–15)
  • Spa City Outlaws (2014–15)

Champions
Season Champion Runner-up Result
2014–15 Little Rock Diamonds Arkadelphia Bulldogs 93-83
2015–16 Arkansas Elite Southwest Flight 2-0 (best-of 3)

References
  1. "Little Rock Diamonds Win EBL Title". Ludwig Media. 3 May 2015.
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