Black Hills Posse
Encyclopedia
The Black Hills Posse was a professional basketball
club based in Rapid City
, South Dakota
that competed in the International Basketball Association
beginning in the 1995-1996 season. The team was founded by George Daniel
, an attorney from Pennsylvania. The Posse were created for Rapid City as a response to the departure of the Rapid City Thrillers
of the Continental Basketball Association
. They were the 1996-1997 International Basketball Association champions with an all-time winning record of 85 and 37.
In 1998 the Black Hills Posse were sold to John Tuschman (former owner of the original Rapid City Thrillers
of the Continental Basketball Association
). Tuschman tried to spark the old spirit the Thrillers had from the late 80's and early 90's, by renaming the Posse to the Thrillers and bringing back the original "flaming basketball" logo. Unfortunately, Tuschman was unsuccessful and the new Thrillers folded after the end of the 1998-99 season. The IBA continued for one more season in Rapid City, as the Black Hills Gold
played in the 1999-00 season for one year. Rapid City has been without professional basketball ever since.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
club based in Rapid City
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
that competed in the International Basketball Association
International Basketball Association
The International Basketball Association was founded by Alexandria, Minnesota entrepreneur Thomas Anderson in 1995. Anderson traveled the Upper Midwest searching for franchise owners for a couple of years before the league began play with five teams in the 1995-1996 season...
beginning in the 1995-1996 season. The team was founded by George Daniel
George Daniel
George Daniel is the Commissioner of the National Lacrosse League. He was appointed to the position effective January 10, 2009, succeeding Jim Jennings.-Career:...
, an attorney from Pennsylvania. The Posse were created for Rapid City as a response to the departure of the Rapid City Thrillers
Rapid City Thrillers
The Rapid City Thrillers were a professional basketball club based in Rapid City, South Dakota that competed in the Continental Basketball Association beginning in the 1987 season. They were reincarnated in 1998 as an International Basketball Association franchise...
of the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
. They were the 1996-1997 International Basketball Association champions with an all-time winning record of 85 and 37.
In 1998 the Black Hills Posse were sold to John Tuschman (former owner of the original Rapid City Thrillers
Rapid City Thrillers
The Rapid City Thrillers were a professional basketball club based in Rapid City, South Dakota that competed in the Continental Basketball Association beginning in the 1987 season. They were reincarnated in 1998 as an International Basketball Association franchise...
of the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
). Tuschman tried to spark the old spirit the Thrillers had from the late 80's and early 90's, by renaming the Posse to the Thrillers and bringing back the original "flaming basketball" logo. Unfortunately, Tuschman was unsuccessful and the new Thrillers folded after the end of the 1998-99 season. The IBA continued for one more season in Rapid City, as the Black Hills Gold
Black Hills Gold
The Black Hills Gold was an American professional basketball club based in Rapid City, South Dakota that competed in the International Basketball Association only during the 1999-2000 season....
played in the 1999-00 season for one year. Rapid City has been without professional basketball ever since.
Year-by-year
| Year | League | W | L | Pct. | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995/96 | IBA | 20 | 4 | .833 | 1st | Finals |
| 1996/97 | IBA | 26 | 4 | .867 | 1st | Champions |
| 1997/98 | IBA | 23 | 11 | .676 | 1st, West | Finals |
| 1998/99 | IBA | 16 | 18 | .471 | 3rd, West | Division Semifinals |
Some notable players
- Isaac Burton
- Dennis Edwards (basketball)
- Damon JonesDamon JonesDamon Darron Jones is an American professional basketball player. A 6'3" point guard–shooting guard, he played college basketball for three years with the University of Houston Cougars before declaring early for the 1997 NBA Draft, but he went undrafted.-High school career:Jones played for...
- G.J. Hunter
- Lonnie Cooper