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You’ve probably heard of minor league baseball, but what few people know is that a similar level exists in the sport of basketball.
Springfield is now the home to a minor-league basketball team.
KSMU’s Ryan Farmer reports.
 

The Springfield Thrill will start its inaugural season this year as it joins four other teams to make up the United Basketball League.
The league itself is only in its second season, but it’s been looking to expand to Springfield from the start.
The head coach and manager of the new team is Springfield’s own: coach Sean Williamson, the head basketball coach at Glendale High School.
Coach Williamson says that though semi-pro basketball leagues are somewhat rare, they’re used as a stepping stone for players wanting to play at a professional level.
 

The other four teams in the United Basketball League are located in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas.

Williamson says another reason for the close proximity of teams is due to the smaller budgets the teams have to work with for marketing resources, in comparison to professional basketball teams.
The inaugural season for the Springfield Thrill will tip-off tomorrow, Saturday, April 18th at 1p.m. with the Springfield Shootout, an all league tournament.
The tournament will take place at Glendale High School, the new home to the Springfield Thrill.
 

For KSMU News, I’m Ryan Farmer.
 

LINKS:

ublhoops.com

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