John Starks will try to win the championship that eluded him for 14 NBA seasons. Only this time, it will be as a coach.

Starks' Westchester Wildfire (19-11) face the Kansas Cagerz (15-15) in Dodge City, Kansas, at two o'clock today in the quarterfinals of the United States Basketball League Post-Season Festival. The semifinals of the single-elimination tournament will follow tomorrow with the finals Sunday.

Stifling the Wildfire are injuries to center Kitwana Rhymer (possible torn ACL) and top scorer Kevin Freeman (strained hand). Such setbacks have not prevented Starks from meticulously preparing his team with film and scouting reports, tools Wildfire guard Kwan Johnson says are rarely used in the USBL.

"If we're going into war, I want to be prepared," the reigning MVP said. "Starks does that."