Lancaster Lightning

The Lancaster Lightning, based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, played in the Continental Basketball Association from 1981 to 1985. The franchise was the Lancaster Red Roses in 1979-80, then moved to Philadelphia as the Kings for 1980-81, then came back to Lancaster with the new name. Seymour Kilstein, a local urologist, owned the team. Home games were played at J. P. McCaskey High School and Franklin & Marshall College, in gyms that held about 3,000 fans.

Cazzie Russell, a former big-league All-Star, was the head coach. In 1981-82 the Lightning went 34-12, the best record in the league, and beat the Billings Volcanos four games to one for the CBA championship. Guard Steve Craig, a former Brigham Young player, was one of the team's notable names.

The Lightning played their last game in Lancaster on March 15, 1985, a 107-104 loss at Tampa Bay. The team then moved to Baltimore for 1985-86 as the Baltimore Lightning. The franchise was sold in 1986 and moved again, to Rockford, Illinois, where it played as the Rockford Lightning until 2006.