May 14, 2009 League officials have announced the formation of the new Mountain States Professional Basketball League and have named the first four franchises. It is the belief of the team owners that regional basketball is more viable than a larger national league in this economy and that with troubles within the Continental Basketball Association, the American Basketball Association and other leagues that solidly financed and managed franchises need to band together, cut the costs of travel and league fees and become transparent in their business and player movement areas. It is for these reasons that the “Mountain State Basketball League” has come into existence. The established Georgia Gwizzlies of Atlanta and the American Basketball Association will join the Mississippi Tornadoes of the WBA Exposure League, the West Virginia Wild-formerly of the International Basketball League and playing out of Clarksburg, West Virginia and the Madison Miners from Madison, West Virginia for the inaugural 2009-2010 basketball season. These organizations are already up-and-running and will be joined by up to four other franchises to be named shortly from Kentucky, South Carolina and Ohio. The league will publish a full directory within a month and announce player signings and coaching positions. The league will play a 20-game inaugural season beginning this Spring.