Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BUTTE, Mont. (AP) -- The Utah Eagles of the Continental Basketball Association are folding after playing their final game here Wednesday night against the Butte Daredevils.
The CBA announced Tuesday that the Eagles will cease operations, effective Thursday.
The CBA schedule will remain, with outstanding Utah games being played by the remaining seven franchises. The updated schedule and the results of the dispersal draft will be announced Thursday.
"This is an unfortunate turn of events for the Utah Eagles and the CBA as a whole," said Joe Clark, CEO of the Apex Sportstainment group that owns the Eagles, along with three other CBA teams, including Butte and Great Falls.
"We came into this situation only seven days before the start of the season, when the previous owner had family obligations that forced him to return the franchise to the league, with the thought of finding a buyer at a later date," Clark said.
"That date has come, and we have not been able to find a buyer, and it leaves us no other choice but to cease operations in Utah," he said.
"We still maintain the rights to the Utah franchise, and we will be moving the franchise to a new location for the 2007-08 season. This announcement will be upcoming in the near future."
A dispersal draft for the Eagles' remaining players was held Tuesday, and their best player -- 6-foot-8 forward John Millsap -- was drafted by Butte. He is averaging 19 points per game.
Great Falls acquired the rights to former Weber State star Harold Arceneaux, who is averaging 18.4 ppg. If coach Steve Aggers signs Arceneaux, the 6-4 guard could be in an Explorers' uniform for their next home game Jan. 30.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-01-24-07 1808MST
