Lake Erie Jackals

{{short description|American basketball team in Erie, Pennsylvania}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox Basketball club | color1 = #81868C | color2 =#000000 | color3 = #01509B | name = Lake Erie Jackals | current = | logo = Lake Erie Jackals logo.png | image_size = 225px | pixels = | division = | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2016||}} | league = Basketball Super League | history = '''Lake Erie Jackals''' 2025–present '''Jamestown Jackals''' 2016–2025 | arena = McComb Fieldhouse | city = Edinboro, Pennsylvania | colors = Blue, black, grey, white {{color box|#01509B}} {{color box|#000000}} {{color box|#81868C}} {{color box|#fff}} | owner = Kayla Crosby | president = | gm = | coach = Raheem Singleton | championships = | conf_champs = '''2''' (2018, 2022) | div_champs = '''2''' (2018, 2022) | titles = | dancers = | mascot = | website = {{URL|https://lakeeriejackals.com/|lakeeriejackals.com}} |h_pattern_b =_thinsidesonwhite|h_body=0235ce|h_shorts=0235ce|h_pattern_s=_blanksides |a_pattern_b =_thinblacksides|a_body=0235ce|a_shorts=0235ce|a_pattern_s=_blacksides }}

The '''Lake Erie Jackals''' are a professional basketball team based in the Erie, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area, and members of the Basketball Super League (BSL). Formerly located in Jamestown, New York, the team relocated to Erie for the 2025–26 season and play at the McComb Fieldhouse on the campus of PennWest Edinboro.<ref name="erienewsnow">{{cite news |title=Jamestown Jackals Set to Move to Erie |url=https://www.erienewsnow.com/sports/video/jamestown-jackals-set-to-move-to-erie/video_9123b593-18c9-5902-9575-c152d205e3c4.html |work=Erie News Now |date=October 2025 |access-date=October 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name="yourerie">{{cite news |title=Basketball Is Back in Erie: Jamestown Jackals Announce Move |url=https://www.yourerie.com/video/basketball-is-back-in-erie-jamestown-jackals-announce-move/11164005/ |work=YourErie |date=October 2025 |access-date=October 13, 2025}}</ref> The team uses "Lake Erie" as its regional identifier as a way to include both Erie County, Pennsylvania and Chautauqua County, New York.

==History==

The Jamestown Jackals were established in 2015 by entrepreneur and community leader Kayla Crosby under the nonprofit organization #IntegrityFirst, Inc. The team was founded with a dual mission: to compete at a high level of professional basketball while promoting positive character development, youth mentorship, and community engagement throughout western New York.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our History |url=https://jamestownjackals.com/our-history/ |website=Jamestown Jackals |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> Crosby’s leadership emphasized a holistic model of sport, blending athletic excellence with social impact.

The franchise began play in the Premier Basketball League (PBL) during the 2016 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jamestown Jackals set to begin second season in PBL |author=Andy Close |work=The Times Observer |date=January 7, 2017 |url=http://www.timesobserver.com/sports/local-sports/2017/01/jamestown-jackals-set-to-begin-second-season-in-pbl/ |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> The Jackals competed in the PBL for two seasons before the league folded following the 2017 campaign, leaving the organization temporarily without a competitive home.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jamestown Jackals |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamestown_Jackals |website=Wikipedia |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref>

In 2018, the team joined the North American Basketball League (NABL) as part of the league’s newly created Northeast Division.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jackals Open Season Tonight |work=The Post-Journal |date=January 19, 2018 |url=http://www.post-journal.com/sports/local-sports/2018/01/jackals-open-season-tonight/ |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> The Jackals quickly proved to be a dominant force, capturing the NABL Northeast Division Championship in their debut season. They advanced to the 2018 NABL Championship Game before ultimately falling to the Dallas Mustangs in the national final.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jackals Fall in NABL Championship Game |work=The Post-Journal |date=August 6, 2018 |url=http://www.post-journal.com/sports/local-sports/2018/08/jackals-fall-in-nabl-championship-game/ |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref>

On August 29, 2018, Crosby announced that the Jackals would join The Basketball League (TBL) for the 2019 season, marking the organization’s elevation to a fully professional circuit.<ref>{{cite news |title=Moving On Up – Jackals To Join Minor League Professional Ranks This Season |work=The Post-Journal |date=August 29, 2018 |url=http://www.post-journal.com/sports/local-sports/2018/08/moving-on-up-2/ |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> Under Crosby’s continued leadership as owner and general manager, the franchise gained a reputation for its disciplined play, community service, and regional influence. Following the team’s first TBL season, Crosby was appointed the league’s Director of Team Development, where she helped expand the league’s national footprint and support emerging franchises.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kayla Crosby Named The Basketball League's Director Of Team Development |work=The Post-Journal |date=June 29, 2019 |url=https://www.post-journal.com/sports/local-sports/2019/06/kayla-crosby-named-the-basketball-leagues-director-of-team-development/ |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> During their tenure in TBL, the Jackals were widely recognized for their “Be The Change” initiative, which used basketball as a platform for mentoring youth and promoting social responsibility.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to the Team: A Beginner's Guide to the Jamestown Jackals |url=https://mychq.org/welcome-to-the-team-a-beginners-guide-to-the-jamestown-jackals/ |website=myCHQ.org |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref>

The 2024 season ended in controversy when referees called off a playoff game between the Jackals and the Raleigh Firebirds after a fan threatened a Jamestown player who was subsequently ejected. The unusual circumstances led to a forfeit victory awarded to Raleigh and an abrupt conclusion to Jamestown’s postseason run.<ref>{{cite news |last=Blakeslee |first=Christopher |title=Jamestown Jackals Season Ends With Forfeit Fiasco |website=The Post-Journal |date=May 31, 2024 |url=https://www.post-journal.com/news/top-stories/2024/05/jamestown-jackals-season-ends-with-forfeit-fiasco/ |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref>

In October 2024, the organization announced its departure from TBL and its acceptance into the Basketball Super League (BSL), a higher-tier professional league seeking to unify elite North American teams under a single competitive structure.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jackals Join Basketball Super League For Upcoming Season |website=The Post-Journal |date=October 3, 2024 |url=https://www.post-journal.com/sports/local-sports/2024/10/jackals-join-basketball-super-league-for-upcoming-season/ |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> During a December 2024 community banquet, Crosby reaffirmed the team’s long-term commitment to western New York while acknowledging the increased financial and logistical demands of joining the BSL.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jackals Join New League, Ask for Community Support |website=The Post-Journal |date=December 2, 2024 |url=https://www.post-journal.com/news/local-news/2024/12/jackals-join-new-league-ask-for-community-support/ |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> The Jackals earned their first BSL victory later that season with a 122–111 win over the Pontiac Pharaohs.<ref>{{cite web |title=History Made: The Jamestown Jackals Secure Their First Win in the Basketball Super League |url=https://m.facebook.com/JamestownJackals/photos/-history-made-the-jamestown-jackals-secure-their-first-win-in-the-basketball-sup/1198738832262303/ |website=Facebook |date=December 2024 |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref>

==Relocation to Pennsylvania==

In October 2025, the Jackals announced that the franchise would relocate to Erie for the 2025–26 season, marking a new era in the organization’s history.<ref name="erienewsnow">{{cite news |title=Jamestown Jackals Set to Move to Erie |url=https://www.erienewsnow.com/sports/video/jamestown-jackals-set-to-move-to-erie/video_9123b593-18c9-5902-9575-c152d205e3c4.html |work=Erie News Now |date=October 2025 |access-date=October 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name="yourerie">{{cite news |title=Basketball Is Back in Erie: Jamestown Jackals Announce Move |url=https://www.yourerie.com/video/basketball-is-back-in-erie-jamestown-jackals-announce-move/11164005/ |work=YourErie |date=October 2025 |access-date=October 13, 2025}}</ref> The Jackals are the first professional basketball in the Erie market since 2021, when the former Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League moved away.

==Season-by-season record== ''Note: Statistics are correct as of the 2024–25 season.'' {| class="wikitable" |align="center" bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|'''League champions''' |align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd"|'''Conference champions''' |align="center" bgcolor="#D0E7FF"|'''Division champions''' |align="center" bgcolor="#96CDCD"|'''Playoff berth''' |} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" summary="Season (sortable), Conference, Finish (sortable), Division, Finish (sortable), Wins (sortable), Losses (sortable), Win% (sortable), GB (sortable), Playoffs, Awards and Head coach" |- !scope="col"| Season !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Conference !scope="col"| Finish !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Division !scope="col"| Finish !scope="col"| Wins !scope="col"| Losses !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Win% !scope="col" data-sort-type="number"|GB !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Playoffs !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Awards !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Head coach !scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref. |- |- | 2016 | — | — | Northeast | bgcolor="#96CDCD"| 2nd | 11 | 8 | {{Winning percentage|11|8}} | | Lost quarterfinal (716ers) 87–92 | | |<ref name="s939">{{cite web | title=Premier Basketball League 2016, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=April 25, 2016 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/PBL/basketball_2016.aspx | access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> |- | 2017 | — | bgcolor="#96CDCD"| 4th | — | — | 9 | 7 | {{Winning percentage|9|9}} | | Lost semifinal (Razorsharks) 91–98 | | Brandon Siskavich |<ref name="p473">{{cite web | title=Premier Basketball League 2017, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=April 24, 2017 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/PBL/basketball_2017.aspx | access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> |- | 2018 | bgcolor="#ddffdd"|'''Eastern''' | bgcolor="#96CDCD"|1st | bgcolor="#D0E7FF"|'''Northeast''' | bgcolor="#D0E7FF"|'''1st''' | 4 | 2 | {{Winning percentage|4|2}} | | bgcolor="#ddffdd"|'''Won''' conference championship (Titans) 118–107 Lost NABL championship (Mustangs) 105–112 | | Mark Anderson |<ref name="e916">{{cite web | title=North American Basketball League 2018, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=August 6, 2018 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/NABL/basketball_2018.aspx | access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> |- | 2019 | — | 6th | — | — | 14 | 13 | {{Winning percentage|14|13}} | | Did not qualify. | | Mark Anderson |<ref name="b753">{{cite web | title=The Basketball League 2019, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=May 30, 2019 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/TBL/basketball_2019.aspx | access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> |- | 2020 | — | 3rd | — | — | 8 | 3 | {{Winning percentage|8|3}} | | No playoffs held due to COVID-19 pandemic. | | Kayla Crosby |<ref name="l296">{{cite web | title=The Basketball League 2020, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=March 28, 2020 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/TBL/basketball_2020.aspx | access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> |- | 2021 | East | bgcolor="#96CDCD"| 2nd | — | — | 16 | 6 | {{Winning percentage|16|6}} | | '''Won''' quarterfinal series (Coyotes) 1–2 Lost semifinal series (Stallions) 1–2 | | Brandon Lesovsky |<ref name="m326">{{cite web | title=The Basketball League 2021, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=July 25, 2021 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/TBL/basketball_2021.aspx | access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> |- | 2022 | bgcolor="#ddffdd"|'''Midwest''' | bgcolor="#96CDCD"|1st | bgcolor="#D0E7FF"|'''Upper Midwest''' | bgcolor="#D0E7FF"|'''1st''' | 18 | 5 | {{Winning percentage|18|5}} | | Lost second round series (Glass City B.C) 0–2 | | Raheem Singleton |<ref name="g413">{{cite web | title=The Basketball League 2022, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=July 11, 2022 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/TBL/basketball_2022.aspx | access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> |- | 2023 | — | — | Upper Midwest | 4th | 11 | 13 | {{Winning percentage|11|13}} | 7 | Did not qualify. | | Raheem Singleton |<ref name="w900">{{cite web | title=The Basketball League 2023, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=June 28, 2023 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/TBL/basketball_2023.aspx | access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> |- | 2024 | — | — | Northeast | bgcolor="#96CDCD"| 4th | 13 | 10 | {{Winning percentage|13|10}} | 6.5 | Lost play-in (Firebirds) by forfeit | | Raheem Singleton |<ref name="p726">{{cite web | title=The Basketball League 2024, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=June 24, 2024 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/TBL/basketball_2024.aspx | access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> |- | 2024-25 | — | bgcolor="#96CDCD"| 4th | — | — | 15 | 10 | {{Winning percentage|15|10}} | | '''Won''' play-in (Lightning) 104–100 | | Raheem Singleton |<ref name="j072">{{cite web | title=2024-25 Basketball Super League Schedule | website=Basketball Super League Stats | url=https://stats-thebasketballleague.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/schedule?teamId=0fnx4wjdj0d9l7zw | access-date=April 2, 2025}}</ref> |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Portal|Basketball}} * {{Official website|https://jamestownjackals.com/}}

Category: 2016 establishments in New York (state) Category:Basketball Super League (North America) teams Category:Basketball teams established in 2016 Category:Basketball teams in New York (state) Category:Basketball teams in Pennsylvania Category:Sports in Jamestown, New York Category:Sports in Erie, Pennsylvania Category:Former The Basketball League teams