After setting down roots last year, Aberdeen’s semi-professional basketball team is looking to gain more fans and recognition.
Derek Campbell, who serves as the team’s assistant general manager/director of operations as well as being a player, noted the Aberdeen Attack are looking forward to their second season and wants the community to know and support the team.
“Our goal is to raise the profile of athletes here in town,” said Campbell, a member of the team, which is made up of former players from Northern State and Presentation in Aberdeen, and Trinity Bible in Ellendale, N.D.
Campbell said the team played two games last season, and won both. One was in Kansas City, Mo., and the other against the Wyoming Roughnecks played at the Washington Street Gym, where its home games will take place. The Attack was invited to play other games, but lacked the funding to do so.
This season, the Attack have seven games scheduled so far. The first will be Jan. 12 against the Colorado Cougars in Loveland. Campbell said the Cougars will travel to Aberdeen for a game in February.
“We are looking to add more games, but it is a funding issue,” Campbell said. “It costs us $600 to travel, so we become limited due to funds. One of our main goals is to seek sponsorship to represent the Hub City and get people to recognize what we are doing.”
Campbell said the Attack is currently made up of 11 players, with the potential to add to the roster.
“We have reached out to players we have met along the way, a few guys from Gillette, Wyo., and a guy from Utah, he travels from Spanish Fork,” Campbell said. “He had the desire to compete.”
Campbell said he has used social media trying to get the word out, as well as a note on the American Basketball Association website saying free agents were welcome to contact the Attack.
The idea for a semi-pro team in Aberdeen was born from a mutual love for basketball as Campbell and Marcus Robinson, who played at PC with Campbell, tried to hook up with the Missouri Thrill, a semi-pro team based in Kansas City. With some help from league officials, the two men decided to try to start a team in Aberdeen.
“We met an owner who showed us what to do,” Campbell said, who said he is also in contact with the Rocky Mountain Division coordinator for ideas on how to promote the Attack.
The team does not have its own website as of yet, Campbell said a site is “under construction.” For more information about the team, email hubcityballers@aol.com.
“We have had some success and are building on it,” Campbell said. “We know what we can do.”
