Sports : Former UNI star Ali Farokhmanesh leads Vinton Merchants in Prime Time League

      Millions of Americans remember Ali Farokhmanesh as the UNI player whose 3-point shots led his team to victory over top-seeded Kansas in the NCAA tournament.

      But now, Ali is a player on a team that bears the name of Vinton.

      Kent Stufflebeam of Vinton, a long-time Iowa basketball fan, has been following the Primte Time League for several years.

      He said a few years ago, he became interested in sponsoring a team, and finding out how much it would cost.

      "The league was started 23 years ago by (former Iowa Coach) Tom Davis," said Stufflebeam.

      For three years now, the Vinton Merchants have represented Vinton in the NCAA-sanctioned summer basketball league. 

      The games take place in the North Liberty High School gym. 

      "A few of us from Vinton got together," said Stufflebeam. "We are all Iowa basketball enthusiasts."

      The men paid $100 each per year to sponsor the team. The money goest for uniforms, rental of the gym and paying referees and scorekeepers, said Stufflebeam.

      This weekend, the UNI star and the rest of the Vinton Merchants will 

playing in the semi-finals at North Liberty. The team finished 5-2 this summer in regular season play. That record tied them for the league lead and earned them a first-round bye. 

      The team, said Stufflebeam, does not have any "big stars," but has done well.

      "The North Liberty gym is a wonderful facility," he said. "It's air-conditioned. It gives the players and new recruits a chance to compete in summer time — guys like Roy Marble Jr., can go down there and see what they can do. And we throw in one hundred bucks apiece."

      The Prime Time league playoffs are under way, and the 5-2 Vinton Merchants will play at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 25, in the North Liberty gym, competing against the McCurry's Mike Gatens Real Estate Team.

For more information, visit the Prime Time League Web Site.

      Below is the team Roster for the Vinton Merchants/Hawkeye Title & Settlement team

Coach: Kevin Lehman

5  Ali Farokhmanesh – ex-UNI

45  Darryl Moore – ex-Iowa

35  Devon Archie – Iowa

4  Chip Rank – UNI

32  Isaac Gardner – Truman St.

44  Keith Steffeck – ex-Upper Iowa

40  Alex Novak – Minn. St. at Morehead

20  Dallas Hodges – ex-Wayne St.

45  Tucker Wentzien – Upper Iowa

2  Mike Sampson – ex-Bettendorf