League action tips off this weekend

Milan Pepper

A new minor league gets underway this weekend. The inaugural season of the new Mid-South Basketball League begins Saturday with four of the seven teams beginning play.

The Kentucky Flash have the honor of hosting the first-ever regular season game Saturday afternoon. They host the St. Louis Trotters in LaGrange at 6 PM. This game will follow a scheduled exhibition game between the Bluegrass Bulls and Louisville Diesel scheduled for 4 PM.

Other action includes the Smoky Mountain Black Bears facing the Kentucky Warriors Sunday at the Christenberry Recreational Center in Knoxville. Start time is scheduled for 10 AM. The Warriors are based in Richmond, Kentucky. The Black Bears will later take on Louisville Diesel that evening. Both games are exhibition.

Both Kentucky and St. Louis have history competing in other leagues. The Flash began in 2017 competing in the MBL and then UBA. Operated by Milan Pepper (6'2''-G-80, college: Harris-Stowe St.) the Trotters date back to 2012 competing in the IBA. St. Louis captured the IBA title in 2015 and again in 2017.