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==1989-1990 Season==
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==1987-1988 Season==
Power Forward [[Wikipedia:Norris Coleman|Norris Coleman]], 6'-8", 210 lbs., signs with the Tornados after playing one year with the NBA [[Wikipedia:Los Angeles Clippers|Los Angeles Clippers]]. Coleman was a second-round draft pick (38th overall) of the Clippers after being named to the Big-8 All-Conference team while at Kansas State. Other key players are rookie guard '''[[Wikipedia:Mark Wade|Mark Wade]] (5'''-11", 160 lbs.), '''Tommy Davis''', NBA veteran [[Wikipedia:Freeman Williams|Freeman Williams]], forward '''Bill Nelson''' and '''Henderson'''. By the end of the season, the Tornados were tearing up their opponents that would return the team to the playoffs.
In the playoffs, Pensacola crushed the original Tornados franchise (now located in Biloxi, Mississippi) in a 4-1 run, but were swept by the [[Wikipedia:Albany Patroons |Albany Patroons]] in four straight semifinal games.
==1988-1989 Season==
A slow start hurt the Tornados, but by the end of January head coach [[Wikipedia:Joe Mullaney |Joe Mullaney]], pulled his club up from the Eastern Division cellar into fourth place in the standings. 6'-5", 190 lbs. guard [[Wikipedia:Brook Steppe|Brook Steppe]] averaged 25.7 points per game and earned a 10-day call-up to the [[Wikipedia:Portland Trail Blazers|Portland Trail Blazers]]. [[Wikipedia:Mark Wade|Mark Wade]], who helped pace the Tornados in the 1987-88 season, broke the CBA record for most assists in a season (626). Even though the Tornados earned another playoff berth, they were knocked out of the playoffs by the Tulsa Fast Breakers-but not before giving Tulsa at least one loss in the Breakers' eventual playoff championship run.
==1989-1990 Season==
The Tornados won a record 32 games, while four players received NBA promotions: small forward [[Wikipedia:Jim Farmer|Jim Farmer]], guard and Penascola native [[Wikipedia:Clifford Lett|Clifford Lett]], forward [[Wikipedia:Bob McCann|Bob McCann]], and [[Wikipedia:Mark Wade|Mark Wade]]. '''Lett''' was named CBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 21 points a game while '''Wade''' was a first-team All-League sleection. He was signed in March 1990 by the [[Wikipedia:Chicago Bulls|Chicago Bulls]] to a 10-day contract, and then to a second in April. Tony Dawson, older brother of current [[Wikipedia:Dallas Mavericks|Dallas Mavericks]] forward '''Jerry Stackhouse''', led the team with 25.9 points per game. After a strong first-round playoff series victory over the [[Wikipedia:Grand Rapids Hoops|Grand Rapids Hoops]] , the Tornados lost another playoff run to the [[Wikipedia:Albany Patroons|Albany Patroons]] three games to two in the best-of-five series. Tom and Jane McMillan are the new owners.
==1990-1991 Season==
