Quad City Thunder

The Quad City Thunder was a Continental Basketball Association (CBA) franchise that was based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. They played in the CBA from the 1987Ã¢ÂÂ88 season until the CBA folded in 2001. The Thunder were successful on the court, capturing CBA championships in the 1993Ã¢ÂÂ94 and 1997Ã¢ÂÂ98 seasons, and runner-up in the 1990Ã¢ÂÂ91 season. The Thunder played in Moline, Illinois, first at Wharton Field House before moving to the new MARK of the Quad Cities in 1993.

History

The Thunder first began play at the Wharton Field House in Moline, Illinois, (former home of the NBA's Tri-Cities Blackhawks) in the 1987Ã¢ÂÂ88 season, with 6,047 fans attending the first home game. The Thunder were the first professional basketball franchise in the Quad Cities since the Tri-Cities Blackhawks moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1953. Initially a great success in the CBA, the Thunder struggled with attendance towards the end of their existence, especially with competition from their co-tenants at the Mark, the Quad City Mallards hockey team. The Thunder folded when the CBA ceased operations following the 2000Ã¢ÂÂ01 season.

Championship seasons

1993Ã¢ÂÂ1994

The 1993Ã¢ÂÂ1994 team went 34Ã¢ÂÂ22 under Dan Panaggio. They swept through the playoffs. They first defeated the Rochester Renegades in overtime of a playoff play-in in Bismarck, N.D. They then defeated the Grand Rapids Hoops 4Ã¢ÂÂ1 in best-of-seven second round; Defeated the La Crosse Catbirds 4Ã¢ÂÂ0 in conference finals.

Finally, the Thunder defeated the Omaha Racers 4Ã¢ÂÂ1, winning last three on road to claim franchiseÃ¢ÂÂs first league title. The Thunder won the opener in double overtime after Tate George tied the game with last-second buckets at both the end of regulation and of the first overtime. The Thunder then lost the second game in triple overtime, but won three straight in Omaha, the last in overtime.

Chris Childs averaged 17.4 points and 8.5 assists in the playoffs, was the Finals MVP and went on to the National Basketball Association. Other key players were Harold Ellis 21.4ppg, Tate George 16.4, Bobby Martin 13.6, Barry Mitchell 13.0, Matt Fish 7.1RPG, Ashraf Amaya 6.9, and Cedric Henderson 6.1.

1997Ã¢ÂÂ1998

The 1997Ã¢ÂÂ98 Thunder finished 38Ã¢ÂÂ18 under Dan Panaggio. In the playoffs they swept the La Crosse Catbirds in three games and defeated the Rockford Lightning in five games.

In the CBA Finals, they won a deciding seventh at home over the Sioux Falls Skyforce to capture their second CBA Championship. Key players were: Jimmy King 16.4ppg, Jeff McInnis 14.9ppg, Alvin Sims 13.6ppg, Doug Smith 12.8ppg, Willie Burton 11.6, Byron Houston 8.7Rpg, and Barry Sumpter. King won league MVP, McInnis was Newcomer of the Year, Sims became the ThunderÃ¢ÂÂs first Rookie of the Year and Dan Panaggio won his second Coach of the Year award.

Misc Notes

The Thunder and their fans enjoyed a spirited rivalry with the Rockford Lightning.

The Thunder's mascot was Thor, the Norse god of thunder.

Hall of Fame player George Gervin played for the Thunder during the 1989Ã¢ÂÂ90 season in a brief comeback attempt. His tenure highlighted by the December 13, 1989 matchup against his brother Derrick Gervin and his Santa Barbara team. In that game, George scored 43 points and Derrick 39 in a Thunder record 172-122 victory.

In 1992, history was made when, for the first time in the 45-year history of U.S. professional basketball, a father and son opposed one another as head coaches. Former Thunder Coach Mauro Panaggio went head to head against son Dan Panaggio when Mauro's Rockford Lightning played Dan's Quad City Thunder.

From 2002-04 five former Thunder players/coaches/staffers were with the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers simultaneously. Jeff McInnis (player), Maurice Cheeks (Head Coach), Dan Panaggio (assistant coach), Dave Cohen (Director of Sales) and Joe Bivona (Director of Game Operations).