Distinctly Montana Magazine

35 w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m On August 13, 1980, shortly after the Vol- canos touched down in the Trea- sure State, a Helena insurance salesman named Ron Iverson an- nounced the establishment of a second Montana-based CBA team: the Montana Golden Nuggets. Iverson had grown up loving basketball in the small town of Belgrade, and had already helped bring a successful AAU team in the Helena Americans. "So I figured I knew enough about basketball to go ahead and start the Western Division of the CBA," Iverson chuckles. That year, in addition to the birth of the Golden Nuggets and re- location of the Volcanos, the Alberta Dusters set up shop in the agricultural C a n a d i a n town of Leth- bridge, where local residents were allowed to swap grain for sea- son tickets. The two new franchises, the relocated Vol- canos, and Anchorage formed a full- fledged Western Division. Iverson hired San Antonio Spurs Assistant Coach George Karl, only 30 years old, as the head coach. On November 21, 1980, 1,800 fans packed into the Fieldhouse at Charles M. Russell High School for the team's season-opening victory over Al- berta. A few nights later, 3,033 came out to see the team take on Anchorage. Still, financial woes mounted almost immedi- ately for Iverson. Great Falls Public Schools' gym rental fees 1981-82 Goln Nuets THANK YOU MONTANA.... for nominating us Best Bank, Best Customer Service, Best Mortgage Lender, Best Insurance Firm, Best Investment Management Firm, Best Wealth Management, Best Financial Planner, Best Bank Teller, and Best Oktoberfest. We appreciate your votes! Deposit and loan products are offered by Stockman Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender . Investments managed through Stockman Wealth Management and insurance products offered through Stockman Insurance are not FDIC insured, are not bank guaranteed, and may lose value.

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