By Mark Rountree Sports Editor



Former Oklahoma Storm guards Doug Gottlieb, Aubrey Reese, Tim Kisner and Quannas White have recorded memorable assists during their time in Enid.

But the Storm got the biggest assist in its six-year history on Tuesday.

More than a dozen local investors have agreed to purchase shares in the United States Basketball League franchise, which was owned by the league last year.

"This group saved the Storm,'' said Storm head coach Bryan Gates. "If it weren't for these people, there wouldn't be an Oklahoma Storm."'

About 50 fans and investors crammed into the E Club Room at Mark Price Arena to hear the announcement that will keep the Storm in business.

"We're here, and we're going to be here for a long time,'' said Gates, who was flanked at the podium by Storm investors Tony Contway and Randy Wagner.

"We're in this for the long haul,'' said Contway, who rang his famous cowbell several times during the press conference.

"Let's get the ball rolling,'' said Wagner.

The ownership group consists of Dr. Edward Barns; Dennis and Tammy Beard; Jay Boyer; Kenny and Robbi Butler; Contway and his wife, Lori; Jim and Peggy Harris; Seth Jenkins; Dale and Leslie Murphy; L.D. and Carolyn Rapp; Verlin and Sue Smith; Wagner and his wife, Carolyn; Brad and Keith Waken; Dusty Wood and Bill and Jerry Zaloudek. Gates also is one of the 15 shareholders.

The Storm will play all 15 home games at Mark Price Arena. The team office will be in the building as well. The Storm played at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center last year.

The basketball floor at Mark Price Arena is being replaced. It is expected to be completed before the Enid Plainsmen and Pacers open their home season Dec. 2 against Midwest City..

"I love it here (at Mark Price Arena),'' said Contway. "It's downtown. It's much more intimate. When the crowd gets into here, it's a lot different than (the Expo Center)."'

"I am very excited about the Storm coming back to Mark Price Arena,'' said Lindy Chambers, the director of Main Street Enid. "There is such a great history of basketball there. It's a perfect fit for the Storm."'

Gates said as of Tuesday, the organization already has sold 125 season tickets for the team's seventh season in the USBL.

Gates will return as head coach, but the general manager's position remains open. Gates said the general manager will be a year-around position.

Gates said nearly all of last year's players have agreed to return. Last year, Oklahoma won the Midwest Division and reached the semifinals of the Postseason Festival in Salina, Kan.

Reserved tickets are on sale for next season, which begins in April.

The team's office number is 23-STORM.



Where are they now?

2005 Oklahoma Storm roster



? Quannas White -- playing in Germany; will return to the Storm as starting point guard.

? Jamel Rich -- looking to play in Germany or Turkey.

? Ebi Ere -- playing in Belgium; played for Portland last summer in Las Vegas Summer League; Storm hopes to have Ere back in May.

? Joe Adkins -- playing in Uruguay; leads team in scoring; had 31 points in recent game; will return to Storm.

? Terrance Crawford -- playing with Adkins in Uruguay; had 28 points in recent game; will return to Storm if he doesn't sign with a team in Venezuela.

? Eric Coley -- will play with Rochester in ABA beginning in November; the USBL Defensive Player of the Year will return to Storm.

? Daniel Bobik -- has signed to play in Germany; will return to the Storm next year.

? Mike Mackell -- recovering from knee surgery, looking at teams in Israel and Turkey.

? Johnny Tyson -- signed with team in Chile; will return to the Storm.

? Mario Woodson -- playing in Norway; will return to the Storm.