Wednesday, July 13, 2005 - The International Basketball Association, or the IBA, announced today that today's exhibition game between the Hershey Squirts and the Tombstone Marshals will be the last.

The IBA has canceled its season and will dismantle itself following today's "season finale." The league has become defunct because co-owner Mike Gearhart will be relocating his employment to Phoenix for another company, and will no longer be available for games.

Gearhart's last day with his current employer will be Friday, July 15. However, today was his last day coming to Tucson. The IBA selected the worst team from the Bartram Conference and the Gearhart Conference, the Tombstone Marshals and the Hershey Squirts, for today's final game.

Both teams had yet to win a game. By today's end, only one team, the Hershey Squirts of the Gearhart Conference, in the dying league was winless. Only one team, the Seattle Misters of the Bartram Conference, was undefeated. As there will be no playoff series, the Misters are the champions by default.

Due to low attendance, and even lower ticket sales, there was no ceremony for the Misters, other than being mentioned on this website. All major networks declined the invitation to run the season finale of the IBA. Tickets were on sale at the Nassau West Arena box office for today's final game.

Bartram was asked if he would seek another partner for this league to replace Gearhart and said, "well, it's really not something I have considered. Mike and I started this thing (the IBA) quite by accident, and I really don't see the possibility of doing this with someone else."

The IBA was unable to attract any "big name" players or sponsors. The list of sponsors for the IBA includes the Spread Eagle Saloon in the kbartram.com Arena, TooToughToDie.com, and Nassau West Airlines, and of course, the Nassau West Arena in Tucson. Bartram was trying to convince the Phoenix Suns to be a major league (NBA) sponsor, but failed to do so.

While it's always sad to see a new venture fail, Bartram said, "I have no regrets. All good things must come to an end. I hoped this would last a bit longer than it did, but it didn't. I am not planning to quit playing basketball, it's been good for me. I see a big vein in my right shoulder and biceps I've never seen before. I like it, it's been a great ride."

Shortly after 4 PM the first game of what unexpectedly became a double-header commenced. The Tombstone Marshals handily defeated the Hershey Squirts, with no need for a shoot-out. The game had an attendance of two, plus the players themselves.

However, at game's end, the Nassau West Jackalopes and the Casa Grande Buttless Chaps, the two original teams in the IBA, requested a final match against each other. The Nassau West Gaming Commission, while trying to finish up the season on paper, agreed and that game was played.

In the second contest, it was the Buttless Chaps again victorious over the Jackalopes, ending their records at 4-1 (.800) for the Chaps, and 1-4 (.200) for the 'Lopes. At the end of the day, after all the spectators had left the building, Bartram and Gearhart shook hands, and Gearhart returned to Phoenix for the last time from the Nassau West Arena in Tucson.

The infant International Basketball Association's time in existence was short, but sweet. It was, indeed, a great ride.