SabreCats

With franchise player Joker Hartley, the SabreCats have always been a controversial team, but also always a succesful one. They were one of the first teams in the HBL along with the Warriors in 1997, ended in a three-way first place tie in 1998, and in the 1999 season won their first HBL Title! With Joker Hartley and Jay Hartley together, they dominated the HBL, going 10-3 in the regular season, and winning the Finals 2-1 over the upstart Titans. The SabreCats has always been a team that surprised everyone, from their success in 1998 to their amazing performance in 1999. Their strengths have always been team play and rebounding, and in 1999 they also had the league's toughest defense, humbling opposing scorers including greats Shooter Hartley and Domino Hendrickson. In 2000 the SabreCats extended their growing legacy with a second place finish and another trip the Finals, although this time they fell short. With Joker Hartley retired from the HBL, it is unclear if the SabreCats will ever again be a part of the HBL, but they will always be remembered as one of the first (and fiercest) HBL teams.

TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

Almost beat the Warriors in the first official HBL game in history, but lost 49-50 in a controversial game that they thought they won, due to a score-keeping discrepancy that was revealed after a look at the game tape...Started the 1998 HBL Season stronger than anyone, with a 2-0 first week and a 3-1 start overall...Barely lost a playoff game against the Lightning that would have earned them their 2nd chance at an HBL title...Dominated the 1999 HBL season, going 10-3...Lost their 3 games by 3, 2, and 1 points, two of those games were in overtime...Played in their second HBL Finals in 1999, against the Titans...Won their first-ever HBL Championship by winning 2 out of 3 against the Titans in the Finals...Had a strong 2000 season, including once again posting the best defensive points against average...Narrowly missed first place in the league in the 2000 season...Swept the Lightning in the 2000 playoffs...Made it to their second straight Finals against the Titans...

ROSTER BY YEAR

1997 -- Joker Hartley, Bill Carter

1998 -- Joker Hartley, Pure Sugar

1999 -- Joker Hartley, Jay Hartley

2000 -- Joker Hartley, Jay Hartley

TEAM RECORD BY YEAR

1997 -- 0-3 Regular Season and Overall

1998 -- 4-4 Regular Season and 0-1 Playoffs, 4-5 Overall

1999 -- 10-3 Regular Season and 2-1 Playoffs/Finals, 12-4 Overall

2000 -- 10-6 Regular Season and 2-2 Playoffs/Finals, 16-12 Overall

Totals -- 30-22 Regular Season and 4-4 Playoffs/Finals, 34-26 Overall

TEAM STATS

Year FG/Att. % 3P/Att. % FT/Att % PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG F 1997 68/241 .282 6/44 .136 --- --- 47.3 40.6* 8.6 4.0*0.3 6.6 16 1998 172/449 .383 2/31 .065 --- --- 43.3 29.4* 11.4 2.7 0.3 8.0 32 1999 286/679 .421*14/67 .209 30/65 .462 56.0*36.8* 10.8*3.0*0.8 5.1 NA 2000 305/826 .369 32/132 .243 41/121 .339 47.3 34.4* 7.3 3.0 0.8 5.5 57 Totals 831/2195 .379 54/274 .197 71/186 .382 49.1 34.6 9.4 3.1 0.6 6.0 NA

Key

PPG=Points Per Game RPG=Rebounds APG=Assists SPG=Steals
BPG=Blocks TOPG=Turnovers F=Fouls (not per game)
*=led league in category (team or individual)

HBL RECORDS OWNED OR SHARED BY THE SABRECATS

Offensive Rebounds, Game--(28), vs. Warriors, 1997 Game 2

Lowest Points Against, Game--(17), vs. Titans, 1999 Week 1

HBL CHAMPIONSHIPS WON

1999

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