FIRST YEAR, FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP.
The Dakota Wizards finished their inaugural season with the Jay Ramsdell CBA-Championship Trophy.

In their first season in the CBA the Dakota Wizards defeated the Rockford Lightning 116-109 to become the 2002 champions.   7,201 CBA fans took in the one game CBA championship in a packed Rockford Metro-Centre.

The Wizards and Lightning went toe-to-toe in the first ever "winner take all" CBA Championship game.

CBA officials had the one game championship in fear of a blow out in the championship round. 

"League officials anticipated the talent level being superior in one conference, and wanted to safeguard against a mismatch in the 2002-CBA Championship". CBA Director Of Operations Scott Johnson said.

The contest was played at a high level of competition.  The two teams were tied at the end of the first quarter 33-33, and squared up at 59-59 with the teams heading into intermission.  The game also featured 21 ties, and 21 lead changes.

Miles Simon the Wizards' with 24 points, and 9 assists, followed by Chris Porter's 21, and Courtney James' 15 points and 9 rebounds.

NBA representatives in attendance Saturday night voted Simon Playoff Most Valuable Player.  Dickey Simpkins was the leading vote getter for the Lightning squad, while Porter ranked second behind Simon with the Wizards.

The Lightning offense rode the coat-tails of Dickey Simpkins, who pumped in 32 points, and grabbed 16 rebounds in the championship game.   The front-court -forward averaged a team high 18.8 points, and 10.8 rebounds during the playoffs. Versile Shaw and Ray Weathers each posted 18 points in the final game.

This was the first time Rockford had played for the CBA title since 1989.  That run came to an end when the Tulsa Fast Breakers swept them in the Finals 4-0.

In their only other Finals appearance in 1987, they were defeated 4-1 by the Rapid City Thrillers.

This marked just the second time in the last 11 seasons that the regular season champs in each conference met for the title.

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