ROCKAWAY TWP A brand new minor league basketball team called the North Jersey Lakers has just been created as an extension of the Eastern Basketball Alliance (EBA) and is scheduled to debut on February 4 at Green Pond Bible Chapel. The EBA is a semi-pro league consisting of teams from the Mid-Atlantic States including Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Players provide high quality professional basketball from various domestic and international backgrounds other than the NBA. Originating prior to the NBA, the league was known as the Continental Basketball Association in 1978 and went on to become the EBA in 1997. The North Jersey Lakers have both a men’s and women’s team which are comprised of former college, pro and European stars. Some of the local NJ players include Jeff Houser from West Milford, Adam Bowman from Vernon and Mark Stanley from Oak Ridge. The new team will join the ranks of another EBA team based in NJ several years ago called the Morristown Revolution. Green Pond Bible Chapel of Rockaway Township welcomes the North Jersey Lakers to use their new gym facility for their home games during their inaugural season. The opening night games against the PA Schuylkill Firedogs are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. for the women’s game and 8 p.m. for the men’s game. Tickets will be available at the gym door at the rate of $5 for adults, $2 for students and children 12 and under are free. The next home games are scheduled for February 25 against the Philadelphia Power and March 11 against the Delaware Destroyers. Green Pond Bible Chapel is located a couple miles south of Route 23 on Green Pond Road in Rockaway Township. For more information call 973-697-0990 ext. 11.