Shreveport begins TBL title defense with home opener

ON TOP: The Shreveport Mavericks defeated Albany in last year’s TBL finals to claim the championship. (Photo by LEE HILLER, Journal Sports)

JOURNAL SPORTS

The Shreveport Mavericks begin defense of their 2022 The Basketball League Championship tonight by hosting the Potawatomi Fire in the 2023 season opener at the Centenary Gold Dome with tipoff set for 7:05 p.m.

The Mavericks defeated the Fire 2-1 in a best-of-3 series in the second round of last year’s TBL playoffs before defeating the Enid Outlaws (2-1) for the Central Conference Championship. Shreveport went on to win the West Region finals by downing Southern California (2-0) and the overall TBL title by downing Albany, New York, 2-1.

Shreveport returns five players from last year’s title run. TBL Finals championship series MVP point guard P.J. Meyers and the SMavs’ leading scorer, swing forward Paul Parks (23 points per game), head the list. Other key components to last year’s championship back this time around are swing forwards Josh Montgomery and Tavin Cummings and center Bilal Richardson.

Newcomers are point guard Michael Lenoir, swing guards Tim Quarterman and Jeff Boyd; power forwards Jay Hedgeman, Winfred Ross-Holmes and Jarrell Taylor; and rounding out the 12-man roster is center Chris Davenport.

Quarterman played collegiately at LSU and had short stints in the NBA with Portland and Houston. He has played in the G League and overseas. Boyd is a former standout for LSUS and Hedgeman faced the Mavericks while playing for the Houston Push of the TBL.

Shreveport will host Enid on Friday at the Gold Dome at 7:05 p.m.

2023 Shreveport Mavericks Roster 

POS – Player (Height, Weight)

PG – PJ Meyers (5-9, 180)

PG – Michael Lenoir (5-9, 180)

SG – Tim Quarterman (6-6,180)

SG – Jeff Boyd (6-5,170)

SF – Paul Parks (6-4,200)

SF – Josh Montgomery (6-5,215)

SF – Tavin Cummings (6-6,205)

PF – Jay Hedgeman (6-9, 225)

PF – Winford Ross-Holmes (6-8,220)

PF – Jarrell Taylor (6-4, 220)

C – Chris Davenport (6-9,225)

C – Bilal Richardson (6-9,265)

Positions: PG – point guard; SG – swing guard; SF – swing forward; PF – power forward; C – center.