Category: Team News

Turning Hendricks County Pro

This article originally appeared in the Sept. 15-30, 2018, edition of The Hendricks County ICON. Written by Chris Cornwall.

Tyrone Brown took a seat in the red and grey bleachers of historic Bosstick Gymnasium ready to talk about Hendricks County’s first professional basketball team. Brown is the owner and CEO of the Indiana Lyons, the team he launched earlier this year [2018] to compete in the American Basketball Association (ABA). The Lyons will call Bosstick — 49 North Wayne St., Danville — home.

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Indiana Lyons Celebrates 3 Years; ABA Celebrates 20 Years

The American Basketball Association (ABA) today announced that the league will resume play and begin its 2020-2021 regular season on Saturday, November 7.  This season marks the 20th of the ABA’s history and the third in the history of the Indiana Lyons.

“This has indeed been a difficult period for all sports leagues and businesses,” stated ABA CEO Joe Newman. “But things are turning around rapidly, and it appears to us that our venues, mostly colleges, will be ready to host games and other activities.  We will adhere strictly to all health guidelines and those established by the various venues in which we play with no exceptions. 

“This has been one heck of a year so far. First COVID-19, then the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd.  Now hangings in Palmdale, CA and Manhattan, NY. I really hope we can put these things behind us and move forward with love for our people.  The lives of so many have been disrupted.”

Photo by Antonio Toppin / TOPP Level Photography

The Indiana Lyons enter into our third season in the North Central Region, being a part of the most diversified professional sports league in history (African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians and women). It takes on a special meaning as we make strides towards resolving social issues and providing justice for all Americans. 

The Lyons posted a 14-8 season record in their inaugural season, qualifying for the ABA playoffs. Last season, the Lyons finished at 20-4 and ranked 8th in the nation out of more than 150 teams when COVID-19 cut the ABA postseason short.

The Lyons are active in the local community with their Kids Club, Books for Baskets, Bullies Are Cowards, and You Matter Stay In School Programs.

The sports world needs the ABA; fans in the North Central Region (Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Indiana) need the ABA with our exciting basketball at affordable prices. 

The ABA is more than words.  It personifies what our country should be: equality, opportunity, inclusion, brotherhood, diversity and treating people fairly with dignity and respect regardless of race. We all have a responsibility to our communities as team owners and community leaders.  All North Central Division teams as well as ABA teams across the country should stand strong and in unity to help bring people together.  

The ABA is the largest professional sports league in the U.S. with well over 150 teams competing, following the largest expansion ever to over 175 teams for 2020-2021 season. 

Let us all do our part to make an impact as a united group of owners and also make such an impact that it will help bring that equality and unity to our surrounding areas.  Let us be a voice in each community. 

Photo by Antonio Toppin / TOPP Level Photography

We all have local influence to evoke change.  Think of what we all can do as a leader in our community to help heal the pain that people have felt over the past few months.  We can share those ideas with people we are connected to, asking them to do the same.

Working together, great change can take place and together we can create a solution by overcoming the issues we now face. It is important for everyone to stand up and be a part of the change and not a part of the problem.

One person does not have the answer; however, together we can make steps moving in a positive direction. Community leaders need to be more involved with our local police.

The community needs to attend weekly and monthly city council meetings and community leaders need to have weekly meetings with police so we can move in the direction of policing our own communities.

Each city is a diverse city with all races; however, we do not see diversity in our politics or police departments. We see a huge economic and social gap that must change,

There is a lot of work to be done and change starts within each of us. We need you! Your community needs you! This country needs you! You are all loved, and that same love will heal the land!!!

The Lyons are planning around COVID-19 for our third season that begins in November. Please contact Beverly Jinkins at beverlyjinkins@indianalyons.com for information about promoting your organization or sponsorship.

WE ARE NOT JUST BASKETBALL, WE ARE ABOUT CHANGING LIVES

ABA Cancels Postseason, Ending Indiana Lyons Campaign

DANVILLE, IN – Amid public health concerns relating to COVID-19 (coronavirus), the American Basketball Association (ABA) announced that it has cancelled the remainder of the 2019-20 season which includes the Final Eight, the ABA Championship Game, and the ABA All-Star Game. Hendricks County’s ABA team, the Indiana Lyons, finish their second season with a 20-4 record, ranked #8 in the ABA out of over 150 teams.

“Thank you to all of our players, coaches, staff, sponsors, and amazing fans for their support this season,” said Lyons co-owner, CEO, and head coach, Tyrone Brown. “It was truly a special year. We could not have had such a successful season without all your support.”

Bosstick Gym, located within Danville Town Hall, provided the home team a distinct advantage this season. In the gym affectionately known as the Lyons Den, the Lyons sported a 15-1 record, including a win over the #3-ranked team in the ABA. Their only home loss was by a single point.

In the Lyons’ inaugural 2018-19 season, the team won its first-ever game, finished with a 14-9 record, and qualified for the ABA playoffs. A home loss in the first round ended their season.

The 2019-20 season resulted in a significant improvement on the court and a sense among players, staff, and fans that this could be a special year for the team. Instead, they had their season cut short by a pandemic.

“These are difficult times indeed,” stated ABA CEO Joe Newman. “But the health concerns of fans, players, coaches, personnel are far more important as all sports leagues, entertainment and other industries take these measures to fight the spread of the coronavirus.”

The Lyons saw a marked increase in game attendance this season, boasting its largest home crowd in franchise history during their final home game on Feb. 29. The team was looking to break that record on March 14 during their home playoff game – a contest that was postponed indefinitely and, ultimately, cancelled.

“It’s certainly frustrating,” said Eric Ivie, Communications Director for the Lyons. “We felt like we had a legitimate shot at making the Final Eight and bringing an ABA championship home to Hendricks County. Ultimately, though, we must keep everyone safe, so now we’ll set our sights on the 2020-21 season.”

The ABA season runs from October through April, and Ivie encourages fans to follow the Indiana Lyons on Facebook and visit www.IndianaLyons.com to keep up with the team during the offseason.

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Indiana Lyons Host ABA Playoff Game on March 14

*** 3/12/20: Due to public health concerns relating to COVID-19 (coronavirus), this game has been postponed until further notice.***

DANVILLE, IN – Hendricks County’s own professional basketball team, the Indiana Lyons, begin the American Basketball Association (ABA) playoffs on Saturday, March 14, by hosting the Chicago Steam. The game will be played at Bosstick Gym, located within Danville Town Hall at 49 N. Wayne Street in Danville. Doors open at 4 p.m with tipoff at 5 p.m.

The Indiana Lyons (20-4) just completed their second regular season in franchise history and are ranked #7 in the ABA out of more than 150 teams. Lyons players come from all over the country and have a wide variety of college and international basketball experience.

The Steam bring a 10-3 record to the playoffs. The Lyons and the Steam did not meet during the regular season.

In the Lyons’ inaugural 2018-19 season, the team won its first-ever game, finished with a 14-9 record, and qualified for the ABA playoffs – a single-elimination tournament. A home loss in the first round of the playoffs left a sour taste in their mouths, so they’ve cranked up their intensity and level of play this year.

“The Chicago Steam are a tough, physical team,” said head coach Tyrone Brown, an Avon businessman who owns the team with his wife, Deborah. “It’s going to be a battle. We’re going to need the stands full of loud Lyons fans because our guys feed off of that positive energy.”

The Indiana Lyons are a family-friendly organization that is heavily involved in the community. Players interact with fans before and after games, and every contest ends with a group photo of players and fans at center court.

ABA rules are designed to create exciting, fast-paced, high-scoring games. The most noticeable and unique aspect of ABA basketball is the 3D light – a flashing red light that is most often triggered by a team losing possession of the ball in their own backcourt. While the 3D light is flashing, the opposing team earns an extra point for any field goal made.

Today’s ABA is a resurrection of the original ABA that brought about many current NBA players and teams, including the Indiana Pacers. One of the cofounders of the original ABA and the Pacers is a cofounder of the modern-day ABA. Current ABA teams are located throughout the United States, Mexico, Australia, and Japan.

Tickets for Indiana Lyons games are just $10 per person at the door. Children and military veterans are $5. For more information, visit www.IndianaLyons.com or find us on Facebook.

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Q&A with Mike Pugh

Over the coming months, we’ll be interviewing players so that Indiana Lyons fans can get to know them a little better. To begin this series, we’re starting with Lyons shooting guard and co-captain, Mike Pugh. 

Q: You grew up in Mississippi and went to Mississippi Valley State University. How did you end up in Indiana?

Mike: I have two kids, and they moved to Indiana about five years ago. I’d been back and forth overseas, playing international basketball since college, so I just wanted to grow more with them — be in their lives more since I was going back and forth all the time. I’m glad to be here. I’ve been here about two years now, and I’m getting accustomed to it. I’m happy to be here to be a part of the Lyons and to keep playing ball in the States.

Q: What drew you to the Indiana Lyons?

Mike: Coach [Tyrone] Brown actually saw me two years ago in the YMCA in Avon, and he was trying to convince me to come to tryouts. At first, I wasn’t really going to try out, but I ended up going, and I was one of the first people to try out. When I walked through the door, Coach Brown gave me an ABA t-shirt. For me, it wasn’t about the t-shirt, but more about the professionalism of the team. So I went on to try out, and I’ve been a part of the organization ever since.

Photo by Antonio Toppin / TOPP Level Photography

Q: What does it mean to you to be co-captain of the team?

Mike: Being captain comes with a lot of responsibility. They wouldn’t just pick anybody to lead a team of this magnitude. I just try to walk it like I talk it and try to set a good example by just being me. I try to lead on and off the court. I try to pull the guys together to form a brotherhood that plays harder for each other on the court and takes care of each other off the court as well.

Q: Where do you live now?

Mike: I live right outside of Avon in a nice quiet neighborhood. It’s pretty cool and laid back. I like it.

Q: Do you have a significant other in your life?

Mike: I’m single right now. I’ve been focusing on my kids and playing ball. Now if a nice young lady comes by, then that’s fine, but right now, I’m focusing on basketball, trying to win an ABA championship starting with this game on Saturday [March 7, 2020] against the Chicago Fury. We want to start by bringing the North Central Region championship to our fans, and from there on, we’ll just take it one game at a time in the ABA playoffs.

Photo by Antonio Toppin / TOPP Level Photography

Q: What do you think the key is to beating the Chicago Fury this weekend?

Mike: The key is to keep our composure. Don’t play their game. Just play our game. We’re one of the best teams in the nation, hands down, and I’ve said that through the course of the season. We’ve really grown together as a team and built chemistry, and we’re peaking at the right time. So to beat the Fury, we just have to stay physical, play our game, our tempo, and just control the game. If we do that, we’ll come out on top.

Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Mike: It’s all about preparation for me. It’s starts on Sunday. For the whole week, I have to prepare myself, prepare my mind, make sure I get my workouts in, and get my proper rest. The day before a game, I really like to take my son out to eat because that’s something that we do. Then if he has a basketball game, I like to watch him play before I play that weekend. His team just won a championship, so his season is over now, but it’s kind of a superstition for me — if I don’t take my son out to eat, I don’t play right.

Photo by Antonio Toppin / TOPP Level Photography

Q: Who’s the funniest guy on the team?

Mike: Ah, man, that’s a hard question! We’ve got several of those. I would have to say Jermaine [Harris]. He’s just a funny guy, period. Cam [Gerald Campbell] is pretty silly. Scootee [Darryl Walker], too. Everyone on the team’s got a personality, so we’re all pretty down-to-earth and pretty silly.

Q: Who talks the most trash on the court?

Mike: That’s gotta be me. Cam and Lleon [Tillman], too, depending on the magnitude of the game. 

Q: In a race from one end of the court to the other, who comes in first, second, and third?

Vince Hill, immediately: Mike comes in first.

Mike: Yeah, for sure. I’d come in first. Cam would probably come in second [Vince agrees]. Vince or Scootee would probably be third. 

Vince: Hey, you forgot about Jordan [Hidleburg].

Mike: Oh yeah! I forgot about Jordan! Yeah, nah, he ain’t beating me! He might come in #1 at some point when I get tired, but not until then.

To view Mike Pugh’s player page, click here.

Lyons Wrap Up 2019-20 Home Schedule on Feb. 29

DANVILLE, IN – Hendricks County’s own professional basketball team, the Indiana Lyons, wrap up their 2019-20 home schedule on Saturday, Feb. 29, at 5 p.m. against the Louisville Diesel. The game will be played at Bosstick Gym, located within Danville Town Hall at 49 N. Wayne Street in Danville. Doors open at 4 p.m.

The Indiana Lyons (19-3) are nearing the end of their second season, and it has been a successful one on the court. The team is ranked #3 in the American Basketball Association (ABA) out of more than 150 teams with three games left to play before the ABA playoffs.

Owned by Avon businessman Tyrone Brown and his wife, Deborah, the Lyons are a family-friendly organization that are heavily involved in the community. Players interact with fans before and after games, and every contest ends with a group photo of players and fans at center court.

In the Lyons’ inaugural 2018-19 season, the team won its first-ever game, finished with a 14-9 record, and qualified for the ABA playoffs. A home loss in the first round of the playoffs left a sour taste in their mouths, so they’ve cranked up their intensity and level of play this year.

Lyons players come from all over the country and have a wide variety of college and international basketball experience. Team co-captain Mike Pugh is from Mississippi, center Jermaine Harris is from Georgia, co-captain Mike Carter is from Chicago, and forward Kendric Lee is from Arkansas. Many of the players are from Indiana, including Lleon Tillman (Evansville), Gerald Campbell (Gary), and Darryl Walker (Indianapolis). Danville native Levi Marshall, who played high school basketball at Bethesda Christian and now works for the Danville Fire Department, is also a member of the team.

ABA rules are designed to create exciting, fast-paced, high-scoring games. The most noticeable and unique aspect of ABA basketball is the 3D light – a flashing red light that is most often triggered by a team losing possession of the ball in their own backcourt. While the 3D light is flashing, the opposing team earns an extra point for any field goal made.

Today’s ABA is a resurrection of the original ABA that brought about many current NBA players and teams, including the Indiana Pacers. One of the cofounders of the original ABA and the Pacers is a cofounder of the modern-day ABA. Current ABA teams are located throughout the United States, Mexico, Australia, and Japan.

Tickets for Indiana Lyons games are just $10 per person at the door. Children and military veterans are $5.

To stay up-to-date on the Indiana Lyons, be sure to follow us on Facebook!