By DEVIN QUINLIN

WEEK 2 9/14

Game 1 | Ronin Blood Warriors: 5 - Zards: 2

Ronin Blood Warriors Get Free Win as Zards Forfeit

Game 2 | The Spida Men: 87 - West Coast Shooters: 91

West Coast Shooters Hold Off Spida Men in Win

The first game of the night was a five on five matchup between two Thursday A League staples. Despite falling to 0-2 on the season, the Spida Men have looked like a formidable team in the early stages of the season, and they were once again competitive with one of the league’s top teams. Regardless, WCS were firing on all cylinders offensively, shooting seventeen for forty-two (40.5%) from three and accumulating 20 assists as a group. They held on to their 45-39 halftime lead, winning by a final score of 91-87 to move to 2-0 on the season.

David Reynolds led the attack for WCS in this one in his season debut, dropping 27 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting seven of fifteen from three. The Spida Men really had no answer for him on the perimeter as he knocked down a flurry of threes in the first half and used that to his advantage for the rest of the game by attacking off the dribble. His three level scoring ability adds a whole new dimension to this offense. Matt Pattyson played a very strong game, putting up 19 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. As one of the league’s best defenders, Pattyson shot three of four from deep and added some nice finishes inside. He has always been an above-average shooter, but his attacks off the dribble in this game helped showcase his high IQ playmaking, finishing with a game high 6 assists as well. Derek Retos shot four of nine from three to finish with 17 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 1 steal, while his shooting counterpart Eric D’Aguanno struggled with his outside shot (three of twelve), but did everything else, finishing with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Hugh O’Neil made his season debut with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, dominating inside per usual and getting the ball up quickly to start transition.

The Spida Men continue to impress with two strong performances against the league’s top teams. Tim Gallivan shook off his Week 1 rust to the tune of 27 points, 16 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block. He was a monster on both ends, hitting three threes and finishing well on offense, while grabbing 11 boards and playing well down low. John Lithio also continues to impress, finishing with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assist, and 1 steal, just playing incredibly smart, efficient basketball on both ends. Lithio is the type of player who can fit into any system and make an impact, and he has been a huge net positive for the Spida Men this session. Nick Mazzeo finished with 17 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal, and has been playing very well at the point guard spot this season. He had a solid look toward the end of the game to tie it up that he missed, but he also hit a few clutch ones during a late Spida Men push to keep them in the game. Danny Martin Jr. put up yet another double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, while Cedric White added 4 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal. The big man passing ability in this group definitely gives them a unique offensive approach, which I’m confident will lead to some wins soon.

Game 3 | Not A Dime Back: 70 - We The Ones!: 61

NADB Move to 2-0, Hold Off WTOs

Even without Dom Black and Dre Kontopidis, NADB continue to do their thing, securing a win against a gritty WTOs team behind some stellar defense and their signature ball movement. With a 37-31 lead at the half, NADB held off a late WTOs surge to win by a final score of 70-61.

Jon Luster continues his MVP campaign by playing with immense patience. He finished with 21 points, 8 boards, 5 assists, and 1 steal, going three of five from deep and hitting both of his free-throws. I would love to see a shooter of his caliber put up more than five threes, but I can’t argue with a guy who led his team in both points and assists and made almost no mistakes for the entire 40 minutes. Chris Connor shot five of twelve from three to finish with 21 points of his own, adding 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. At this point, the whole league knows about his shooting prowess, but his interior defense and passing ability continue to impress me, as his whole game has taken a jump since NADB moved up to the A League. Jeff Coulter brought his usual toughness and activity to this one with a 14 point, 10 rebound (4 offensive) double-double, plus 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. He hit a clutch three late in the second, and continues to cement himself as the best cutter in any CAC division. Marcus Giese was productive before turning his ankle, finishing with 10 points, 8 rebounds (4 offensive), 1 assist, and 1 steal. With Kontopidis out, he has done a phenomenal job holding down the paint and getting NADB out in transition. Chris Cusano chipped in 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, and Mike Synott came up with 2 rebounds and 2 assists in the win, as NADB continue their dominance in CAC’s most competitive division.

WTOs fought hard, relying on their guard play to hit threes and wreak havoc on defense. Ty Moore was hot early in this one, finishing five for nine from three for 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. He’s proven to be a knockdown shooter in his first two CAC games, hitting five threes in each game both off the dribble and on the catch, and his offensive ability will be key to WTOs getting some wins. Jalen Bruce has also been impressive in the backcourt, going three of six from downtown for 13 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, showcasing an impressive pull-up jumper and some smooth finishes inside. Grady Levi added 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists (team-high), 3 steals, and 1 block, bringing some major motor to both ends and filling in any and every role he could to drive his squad to the win. Jordan Carter also had 7 points, plus 3 assists and 1 steal, while Garrett Stanowicz had a clean 7 and 7 with 4 offensive rebounds. WTOs has definitely looked better than previous seasons, but will need to string together some defensive stops down the stretch and find some chemistry instead of relying on hot shooting.

Game 4 | Suffolk: 68 - Team Takeover: 65

Suffolk Survives Team Takeover Push

Suffolk came into this season as perhaps the most talented team in this division from top to bottom, and while they are 2-0, their two wins have been battles. They held a slim 28-26 lead at the half against Team Takeover, shooting on four of sixteen from three on the game and giving up 14 offensive rebounds. Still, they managed to hold on, winning the game 68-65 and moving to 2-0.

George Grillakis was the story in this one, putting up a monster 32 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. Team Takeover was genuinely incredulous that they knew exactly what move he was going to do every play, yet they still could not stop him. To Grillakis’ credit, he did drive left on several occasions, and whether or not he goes right most of the time, he can flat out score. His combination of speed and strength at the guard position is unmatched, and he will undoubtedly find himself among the league’s leading scorers at the end of the season. Grillakis aside, Bolden Brace is still the best player on this team, and he did not disappoint with 22 and 9, plus 4 assists and 5 steals. At one point in the first half, he got mad and decided to dribble down the court three times, hit three tough threes, and then go back to chilling. He’s a top tier passer in this league, but I would love to see him look for his shot more, especially in a close game like this. Mike McEneney finished with 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block, hitting his signature mid-range jumpers and holding down the paint on defense. Bret Edwards looks much more comfortable this session, and while he went oh for four from three, he finished with 4 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals with some nice takes to the hoop and strong perimeter defense. Nick Budesheim chipped in 2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal in the win.

Team Takeover was led by Trevor Parker’s 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 1 steal. He hit four threes and was dangerous in transition, but he shot four of fifteen from three and two of seven from the charity stripe. He really just needs some consistency with his jumper, or he needs to attack the rim more, but either way, he carries a big portion of this offense. Jared Johson showed up late to this one, but got going quickly with 15 points and 3 rebounds. He has become one of the league’s top scoring threats, as a guy who can go get a bucket at all three levels at any point in the game. Michel Toney finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks in a stat-stuffing effort. He three monster blocks in transition, pinning shots to the glass and getting his team out in transition quickly. His defense and effort are never in question as his team’s captain, and he shot a respectable two of six from deep as well. Sana Dahaba made his debut this week and was impactful with 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. He hit a three and was poised at the point guard spot, and had a few highlight worthy hezis to get defenders jumping. Julian Beach had a strong game down low with 5 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 assists, Emmanuel Nkounkou finished with 4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block, and Zach Scott chipped in 2 steals and 1 board in the loss.

By: JAY SHAH

WEEK 2 9/14

Lexington Steals (49) v. Julius Swerving (63)

Swerving use 3-point barrage to down the Steals in Lexington’s first true competition of the season

In their first game of the season after an unfortunate forfeit in Week 1, the Lexington Steals came out looking solid. Andrew led the way early while the Steals’ attendance was low, especially leading the team in energy throughout the game, drawing a couple fouls as he drove down low. Late arrival Eli Brick dominated the pace of play once he entered the game, grabbing plenty of defensive boards and firing away from deep, with 7 attempts (somewhat living up to his name). Brick transitioned from a shooting role to assisting his teammates, racking up 5 assists. He also did well on the defensive end, nabbing a couple steals. John Moscatel led the team in scoring, hitting a few 3s and 2s alike. James Long contributed a solid 11 points all on the inside, and did extremely well on the boards, getting 3 on the offensive glass alone. None of these components were anywhere near enough in the end however, as once Swerving got going, it was a dominant showing for them.

Will Otto, Anthony Dinuzzo, and Jim Birrell led the way for Julius Swerving in scoring, with 19, 16, and 14 points respectively. Otto came on late for Swerving, scoring the majority of his points in the second half as he began to assert himself in the paint among his 6 makes within the arc, along with 3 offensive rebounds. Dinuzzo, meanwhile, cashed in from beyond the arc with 4/7 shooting from deep. In fact, Swerving in general shot it prolifically from deep, with 25 attempts from deep and 12 of those converted. With more than half of their points from 3-pointers, it is clear what teams seeking to deal them a loss in the future will have to focus on. 

Next up:
Lexington Steals (0-2) v. Furious Rim Ticklers (1-1) - 9/21 6:00p
Julius Swerving (2-0) v. BADDIES (1-1) - 9/21 9:00p

Run and Gun (56) v. A Team Has No Name (69)

Run and Gun have too little, too late, as A Team Has No Name dominates from start to finish

A Team Has No Name was dialed in on the defensive end after their heartbreak last week, racking up as a team 6 steals and 5 blocks, along with 8 offensive boards to show exactly how big they are as a team. The rock was moving well for the team as well, with 15 assists for the team. Michael Chroney led the team in scoring with 17 points, getting each of his buckets from inside as he consistently pushed the ball up the floor. He baited Eduardo Deleon time and again, getting him to gamble for a steal before snatching the chance away with the ball and putting his head down on his way to blowing past Deleon on the way to the basket for a relatively easy layup. Eric Bradanese backed up Chroney with 16 points, though he once again got his primarily from beyond the arc, shooting 4/7 from that range. Steven McGuire was a dominant presence down low, having height that Run and Gun often simply could not match. Andy Coppage served as the teams point guard, setting the table beautifully for Bradanese and Chroney to get clean looks at the hoop as he played with a bemused smile on his face. Navid Sharifi played an excellent game as well, but ended up the target of late game fouls in an attempt by Run and Gun to extend the contest. Sharifi instead iced the game, making all but one of his attempts from the charity stripe. This is a team of players that know their roles and how to play them.

Run and Gun played with a deep lineup, having 8 players all see significant time on the floor. Daniel Depina got the scoring started early, drawing 2 fouls (including a 3-point attempt) and sank all his attempts. These 5 quick points allowed Depina to lead the team in scoring with 13 points. Stevy Alves and Eduardo Deleon were close behind with 11 and 10 points respectively, with Deleon once again sneaking between opposing players for shocking offensive boards. In all, it simply was not a strong enough team performance for the Gunners. Alves and Robinson Tejeda looked to pass relatively often, but the 5 team assists weren’t enough to compete with the chemistry displayed by the No Namers. Run and Gun had a heated team meeting after the loss; look for the Gunners to bounce back in a big way next week and perhaps break through for their first win of the season.

Next up:
Run and Gun (0-2) v. NNHS (1-1) - 9/21 7:00p
A Team Has No Name (1-1) at Calypso North Stars (2-0) - 9/21 8:00p

Furious Rim Ticklers (55) v. BADDIES (38)

Rim Ticklers run away with the win as BADDIES unable to score with any pace to make a run

The BADDIES were eager to get the season started, as the win they had landed in Week 1 was handed to them via forfeit. Late arrival Alan Gomez sank a couple deep balls to lead the team in scoring with 10 points, with Michael Weinstein and his own 3-pointer close behind with 9 points. The lack of scoring from beyond the arc - those 3 were their only treys of the contest - was a death knell for the BADDIES chances at winning the game, as they only cashed 25% of their looks. Jake Goldstein in particular will be looking for his shot to fall more going forward, going 0/4 from deep. Big man Matt Roberts filled his role well down low, leading his team in rebounds and also setting the table for his teammates a few times. The team will also be looking to do better from the free throw line in the future, as the points left behind on their 7/12 performance at the line will certainly sting when looking at the final score. 

The Rim Ticklers, meanwhile, had to have been galvanized by such a strong showing after a loss to league-leading Julius Swerving last time out. Point guard Drew DeBari led the backcourt, setting up his teammates with 4 assists and also controlling the defensive glass with a solid 10 total boards. Michael Rogosa had the team lead in scoring, with 14 points purely on 7 made baskets inside. Rogosa had a well-rounded game despite his lack of deep scoring, nabbing 3 steals, a block, 5 boards and dishing to his teammates for 4 assists. Djordje Vlajkovic put in an incredible performance on the boards once again, jumping relentlessly on his way to 6 offensive boards. Brian Phillips (13 points) and Jeff Yeakley (9 points) fired away with abandon from deep, combining for an astonishing 19 attempts, themselves eclipsing the entirety of the attempts by the BADDIES. The Ticklers’ 14 team assists were the other major difference in their performance from their opponents, the clean looks generated crucial in the Rim Ticklers securing their win.

Next up:
Furious Rim Ticklers (1-1) at Lexington Steals (0-2) - 9/21 6:00p
BADDIES (1-1) at Julius Swerving (2-0) - 9/21 9:00p

Calypso North Stars (60) v. NNHS (49)

Caletti carries scoring load as furious second-half rally by NNHS falls short

Tony Caletti was the story of the game for the North Stars, scoring a massive 30 of the Stars’ 60 points to deliver the win over NNHS. Caletti scored in every phase of the game, making 75% of his shots from the free throw line, 6 shots from 2-point range, 5 of 13 from 3-point range, 3 steals, and four assists. He eclipsed each half of NNHS’ production on his own. Trevor Britton was the second-leading scorer for the North Stars, making 3 treys on his way to 9 points to go with his 2 assists and relentless activity on the boards. Lucas Rathjens and Brian Vogt chipped in 5 points apiece, with Rathjens making some free throws to make NNHS pay for hacking him in the paint. Chris’ 9 points rounded out the scoring with John Letteney’s 2 points, with Letteney grabbing a couple of late, crucial steals to seal the win. 

Deven Labovitch was the top scorer for NNHS, scoring inside and out on his way to 15 points. When Calypso started fast, opening up an 8 to 0 lead, Labovitch struck back practically on his own, going on a personal 7 to 0 run to prevent the game from getting out of hand too quickly. Mike Gately followed close behind with 13 points, showing up all over the court to collect an offensive board, a block, and two steals as well. Gately tied for the team lead in assists as well, with Philip Barnett, who struggled to score but was similarly active around the court, grabbing a couple steals to boot. Matt Wood and Charlie Rao rounded out the scoring with 9 points apiece. NNHS put on the heat late, trying to mount a strong comeback in the closing minutes but came up short, simply running out of time in the end. 

Next up:
Calypso North Stars (2-0) v. A Team Has No Name (1-1) - 9/21 8:00p
NNHS (1-1) at Run and Gun (0-2) - 9/21 7:00p

3 Stars:

• Tony Caletti (Calypso North Stars) - 30 points (5/13 3PM), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
• Will Otto (Julius Swerving) - 19 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks
• Michael Chroney (A Team Has No Name) - 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks

Power Rankings:

1. Julius Swerving (+1)
2. Calypso North Stars (+2)
3. A Team Has No Name (0)
4. NNHS (-3)
5. Furious Rim Ticklers (0)
6. Run and Gun (0)
7. Lexington Steals (+1)
8. BADDIES (-1)

By: DEVIN QUINLIN

Game 1 | Plenty of Lotion: 50 - Bears: 44

POL Mount Major Second Half Comeback To Overcome Bears

Plenty of Lotion had nothing going on early in this one, trailing 20-32 at the half with no one shooting well, and the Bears capitalizing on defensive lapses. They flipped the switch in the second half, though, outsourcing the bears 30-12 in a dominant defensive effort. Their offense wasn’t quite as high-powered as it was during Week 1, but they got the job done, pulling out the 50-44 victory.

Guy Pistone had another solid game this week, tallying 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists in a near triple-double performance. While he wasn’t able to slice through the lane quite as easily as he did in Week 1, he was still the best offensive player on either team, getting some clutch buckets in the second half and distributing well with a league-high 9 assists, cementing himself as a top playmaker in this division. Garrett Vinett also had a stellar game, putting up 7 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, and 1 block, dominating the defensive end and hitting a few nice jumpers as well. Yancy Brown added 8 points and 1 block, canning all four of his free-throw attempts, while Jeff Yeakley added 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, and 1 block, hitting two threes in the win. Anthony McDaniels also added two threes, finishing with 6 points and 3 rebounds, while Drew DeBari came up with 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Dan Ollquist was also solid with 3 points, 5 boards, and 1 steal. Great comeback by POL, who fought their way back in the second half mostly through their defensive pressure.

Heartbreaking loss for the Bears, who simply couldn’t generate enough offense in the second half to hold their big lead. Danny Shapiro led the way once again, putting up 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. As his team’s best offensive player, I would love to see him look for his own shot more, especially off dribble hand-offs near the top of the key. Will Estes has been another bright spot for the Bears this season, coming up with 11 points and 6 boards while hitting two threes and three of his four free-throw attempts. His offensive jump has been much needed for the Bears, who have not shot the three ball well, and his defensive toughness has always been there. Other than these two, no one else scored in double figures. John Bowllan came up with 5 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, while Ted Blake added 4 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 block, both guys making a lot happen but not scoring much. Will Ross returned after missing Week 1, and he looked rusty (one for nine from three). However, he is probably their best overall player, and is a consistent knockdown shooter. He will be a big add on both ends once he finds his rhythm again. This team has the pieces, but they need to close out some games to get back into the win column.

Game 2 | The Substitutes: 50 - Team Ahern: 57

Team Ahern Pull Out Victory Against Gritty Substitutes Squad

Team Ahern dominated portions of this game, yet found themselves down 23-25 at the half and winning by a final of only 57-50. The Substitutes deserve a lot of credit for battling on both ends and hitting some clutch shots throughout the game, but ultimately Team Ahern had too much size inside, and despite missing all their free-throws, they held on for the win.

Nick Martin was a force inside in this one, putting up 16 points, 10 rebounds (6 offensive), 1 assist, and 1 block. While he did go zero for three at the free-throw line, he was unstoppable rolling to the rim, especially in the second half. His 6 offensive rebounds were a league-high, and he used his physicality well on both ends. Ethan Collins added 12 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block, just a monster athlete in this division. His impact on both ends was noticeable, as he was all over the court once again. Eric Bauman hit two threes to finish with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal, while Zack Gordon had a very impressive game with 9 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 assists. Similar to Martin, he was just too imposing inside, but showed off some versatility with a team-high (tied) 4 assists as well. Asher Bean added 6 points, 4 boards, 4 assists, and 1 steal on some tough takes to the cup to go along with some flashy dimes. As a unit, Team Ahern grabbed 22 offensive rebounds and had three players tally 4 assists (Cam Letalien: 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks), using this size to their advantage and sharing the ball to come away with a nice win.

The Substitutes were definitely physically outmatched in this one, but they hit ten threes and stole the ball ten times to keep themselves in this game. Yianni Grupen was on fire in this one, going for 22 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. Grupen shot five of nine from downtown, and was instant offense for his team. While I’m not sure the Substitutes will be able to compete with the better teams in this division, I do think Grupen will be one of the top offensive threats, and he will have to carry his team on that end going forward. Paul Habelow played a nice game, putting up 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals, showing off a smooth looking shot and a nice handle. He will need to put up more than four threes to take some of the offensive burden off of Grupen. Doug Law added 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, hitting some impressive threes in the process, while Lexi Kimball hit two threes of her own to finish with 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals (game-high). While they may lack some offensive firepower, the Substitutes have some solid pieces. They will need to find some chemistry and continue to shoot the three ball well to win some games this session.

Game 3 | Miyagi-Fang: 72 - Splash City: 48

Miyagi-Fang Dominate in Easy Win

This game was never close, as Miyagi-Fang gave Splash City a brutal welcome to the B2 Tuesday division after a bye in Week 1. With a 42-19 lead at the half, Miyagi-Fang were just the better team, as they cruised to a 72-48 victory without much resistance.

Dan Lerner came alive with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists, slicing through the lane at will and going two of three from downtown as well, in an impressive offensive showcase. John Harding did much of the same, adding 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists (game-high), and 2 blocks. This duo puts so much downhill pressure on defenses, and I’m just not sure how other teams will be able to stop both. Joe Dwyer couldn't find his three ball, but did everything else, putting up 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block. After missing Week 1, his return adds yet another offensive threat. In their supportive roles, the rest of this team did exactly what they needed to. Djordje Vlajkovic came up with 6 points, 16 rebounds (5 offensive), 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block, just dominating inside on defense, while Greg Eusden added 6 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 assist as well. Harry “Poing Gawd” Demakes added 7 boards, 2 assists, and 1 steal in the win.

Splash City just couldn’t find the range in this one, going five of thirty-two from three and being outrebounded 18-54. Matthew Wulbrecht shot only one of eight from deep, but found a rhythm as the game progressed to finish with 17 points and 1 rebound. He was strong on the attack and hit all four of his free-throws, and with solid form, I expect him to hit some more threes going forward. Amy Peters finished with 12 points and 2 steals, but shot two of twelve from three. Most of her shots were pretty close, and like Wulbrecht, I expect her to find the range as the season progresses. Vijay Jeevanandam added 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals, and I thought he could have looked for his offense more. Four players scored 2 points for Splash City, with Ben Bennet adding 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, and 1 block as he patrolled the paint well on defense. Tough outing for Splash City, but they have some nice pieces and had a tough initial matchup with the heavy favorites.

By DEVIN QUINLIN

Game 1 | First Team CAC Benchwarmers: 30 - Gino Time: 83

Gino Time Rolls Benchwarmers in Season Opener

This game was never really in doubt, as Gino Time took a 49-20 lead into the half and just dominated the entire game from start to finish. To be fair to the Benchwarmers, they had no subs while Gino Time came with eight guys, but I’m not sure it would’ve made too much of a difference, as Gino Time was simply too dominant in this one, winning by a final of 83-30.

Erik Maynard and Max McKee led the scoring for Gino Time, hitting a flurry of threes early on and continuing their scoring throughout the game. Maynard finished with a league-high 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 steal, shooting four of nine from deep and dominating all facets of the game. McKee added 20 points on four of seven from deep, plus 5 boards, 3 assists, and 1 steal. He had some nice takes to the rim and was relentless in transition as well. Greg Eusden also added a double-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals, doing some damage inside, while Johnathan Ross played a very strong game on both ends, putting up 13 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals. Darren Hartwell scored only 4 points, but was perhaps his team’s most impressive player, hounding the opposing guard on defense and finishing with a league high 10 assists to go along with 6 rebounds and 3 steals, while Liam Abbott added 3 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in a stat-stuffing effort. Altogether, this team looks dangerous with their combination of size and athleticism, cementing themselves as the early favorites to win this division after a dominant win.

The Benchwarmers struggled in this one, but Zack Gray was a bright spot for his team. He finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and a league-high 8 steals. He shot three of seven from deep, showing off a nice looking shot and some impressive moves in transition, including his signature behind the back wrap off the dribble, which he did about seven times. Joseph Walsh hit two threes to finish with 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal, while Chris Alphen added 4 points, 4 boards, and 2 blocks in the loss. Matt Mackay chipped in 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, and Bugra Akaktan added 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Tough loss for the Benchwarmers, but it’s hard to play a full team with no subs. They will have better games in the coming weeks.

Game 2 | Thank You University: 34 - Handler’s Handlers: 31

Thank You University Pull Out Gritty Win in Low Scoring Affair

This game was either a defensive battle or two teams generating no offense, but it was competitive from start to finish. Thank you Uni held a narrow 17-11 halftime lead, with both teams shaking off some rust in their first game of the season. This game ended up coming down to the wire, but an Andrew Pratt corner three ball sealed the game for Thank You Uni by a final score of 34-31.

Pratt led the offense for Thank You Uni, going three of five from deep to finish with 11 points and 4 rebounds. After missing a few shots early on, he got going in the second half and ultimately won his team the game with the clutch three. Ben Hayes isn’t even on the roster, but he hit three threes to finish with 9 points and 2 assists, breaking out Jamal Murray the bow and arrow celebration on all three of his buckets. Electric stuff from the sharpshooter. Greg Palazzo added 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, making things happen on both ends, while Kevin Toomey finished with 4 points and 6 rebounds, playing well inside on both ends. Even with a lackluster offensive performance from both teams, Thank You Uni deserves their credit for coming up with some key stops down the stretch, with credit going to Eli Vogel (2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals) on the perimeter and Kelsey Cornwell (3 rebounds, 1 steal) inside. That effort, plus some clutch shotmaking from Pratt, and they pull out the hard fought victory in Week 1.

Handler’s Handlers honestly looked much better than their 31 point output might suggest, but they ultimately just couldn’t hit their shots, going five of twenty-eight from three as a group and zero for four from the charity stripe. Brian Horan shot three of seven from three to finish with 11 points and 7 rebounds, while Danny H was active on both ends, putting up 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. Jack Gallagher finished with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists (game-high), and 1 steal, and Ryan Kuchar added 5 points, 7 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, though he had beautiful jump shot form and I expect him to shoot better than one for six in the coming weeks. Even with their dominance on the boards and defensively (2 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals for big man Sean Lovett), the Handlers just couldn’t convert enough shots to win this one, but I think they have a solid roster and can settle in nicely as the season progresses and they find their rhythm.

Game 3 | SAUS: 68 - Mark It Zero: 33

SAUS Dominate in First B2 Game

SAUS have long dominated Corporate League, rolling through opponents handily. They finally made the jump to B2, and things are no different, as they handled business against Mark It Zero. The scoring was nearly identical in both halves, as SAUS led 32-16 early on, and finishing this one with a final score of 68-33 in dominant fashion.

SAUS benefited from an incredibly well-rounded offensive attack, with four guys in double figures and two more barely missing out. Michel Nofal was dominant early on, finishing with 13 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks. He quickly hit two threes to start the game, which set the tone for this one. Cam McCann also hit three threes to finish with 13 points of his own, plus 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, while Mike Baker did some serious damage inside with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block down low. Kevin “Half Speed” Toth is far and away the best player in this division, and he did not disappoint with 11 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals. Even against some solid defenders, he’s just two steps ahead of everyone else, even with some questionable effort. Chin Kuo chipped in 9 points on three threes, plus 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, and Griffin Haas added 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal while rocking the Jason Williams Kings jersey. Captain Gareth Goh added 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 2 steals in the win, and I expect big things from a very capable SAUS team this session, even after moving up a division.

Mark It Zero struggled in this one, but they have no shortage of talent. I am on this team, and will hopefully be back by Week 6 or 7 to add some much needed shooting, as our squad went three of thirty-one from deep. Still, knowing these guys and having seen them all play before, I am confident that those shooting numbers will not stand. Cam Daniels was a bright spot for us, as he finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, coming alive in the second half and applying serious pressure on defense. David Ter-Ovanesyan added 7 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 steal, but these two each shot one of seven from deep. David Pendergast added 6 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists (team-high), and 1 block, but he will need to be more assertive on the attack if Mark It Zero wants to win games. Rob Lunder played solid, adding 5 points and 4 rebounds, while James Mulvehill struggled with his shot (zero for eight) but did everything else to chip in 2 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Tough game for Mark It Zero, but I see better days ahead later in the season.

Game 4 | Bricksquad: 33 - The Unreliables: 49

Unreliables Cruise to Week 1 Victory

The Unreliables put together a strong Week 1 performance, taking a 21-12 lead into the half and moving the ball well the entire game. This is a group with excellent chemistry, and the addition of Matt McDonough adds another go-to-scorer to take some of the offensive pressure off of Eric Flemming. The combination of shooting, passing, and defense put the Unreliables over the top in this one, as they pulled away with a 49-33 win.

Matt McDonough led the scoring effort, shooting five of nine from three to finish with a commanding 20 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, fitting in seamlessly and knocking down jumpers at an impressive clip. Eric Flemming also played a strong game, adding 15 points, 8 rebounds (5 offensive), and 4 assists, knocking down his signature midrange jumper and distributing the ball well in the half court. Nate Koslof showed off his dynamic game with 5 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists (game-high), and 4 steals, making plays on both sides per usual and finding shooters and cutters at will. TJ Green chipped in 7 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block in the win, rock solid as always, while Samir Shah came up with 2 points and 6 boards.. The Unreliables looked very solid in their first outing, and we’ll see if they can continue their momentum against the top tier teams in this league.

Like most other teams in Week 1, Bricksquad struggled offensively, but they showed some flashes. Tenzin Nanglo finished with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, and while his shot wasn’t falling, he displayed a nice offensive arsenal and hitting a few shots in the second half. Tenzin Pharachesur also showed some flashes, adding 10 points of his own, plus 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 2 steals, while Nana Adu chipped in 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Julius Zuckerman also added 5 points, 4 boards, 1 assist, and 1 steal. This team definitely lacked some offensive firepower, but I think they have solid pieces who will find their rhythm as the season progresses.

B1 5v5 TUE Week 2 Write-Ups

By JAY SHAH

Skelton’s Boys (71) v. Eastie Hoops (57)

Initially shorthanded Eastie Hoops runs out of gas late to fall to Skelton’s Boys

It was an incredible start for Eastie, as the team played the entirety of the first half with only 4 players but managed to come out with a very solid 10-point lead at half, leading 36 to 26. Chisom Nnadi led the way for Eastie in the first half, driving to the basket time and again with ferocity while also contributing on the glass on his way to grabbing 9 boards. He used his ability to penetrate to dish to teammates as well, dishing out 4 assists. Lucas Fortier galvanized the team throughout the contest with his 3-point shooting, once again draining buckets from deep to keep the game competitive. Fortier also contributed defensively, stealing a pass and denying a Skelton shot while tying with Nnadi for the team lead in assists. Kyle Coughlin and Grant Miller were key in securing the lead in the first half, doing all the little things like chasing Skelton players around screens and hounding them throughout the game while taking smart, open shots when the opportunities presented themselves. Late arrival Gary Howell-Walton allowed Eastie to finally field a full 5-man squad, but the second half spelled doom for the squad, as it was clear that the toll of the first half was being paid.

Skelton made shot after shot in the second, scoring an incredible 45 points after managing only 26 while playing 4-on-5 in the first. It was a very egalitarian performance by the squad, as all 5 active players managed to score in double digits. Elijah led the way with 16 points and 11 boards, knocking down a couple 3 to go with his inside game. Doug Horan had a game-high 5 assists and came on strong in the second half, scoring all of his points then. Every player both managed to make at least 1 3-pointer and take at least 1 trip to the charity stripe, and even though they left points on the board from there, their second half onslaught was simply too much for Eastie to bear. Erik Pettit, similar to Horan, really stepped up his game in the second half, asserting himself and looking for his own shot far more than he had in the first. Ryan Fitzpatrick had his shot dialed in from deep, helping keep the game close in the first and opening it up in the second with his 12 points from beyond the arc. Henry Bayly was a strong presence throughout the contest, scoring from 2-point range 5 times and staying active on the defensive end to compile a steal and a block to boot. It was an oddly resilient performance for the team in their first game of the season considering their initial numbers advantage evaporating without a lead and set an excellent tone for the season to come.

Next up:
Skelton’s Boys (1-0) at Markit Basketball (2-0) - 9/19 7:30p
Eastie Hoops (0-2) at Treys for Days (1-1) - 9/19 8:30p

Men’s League (70) v. CCC Studios (65)

Thrilling second half comeback by Men’s League capped by dominant overtime period in disappointing CCC Studios loss

It was a very different type of game this time around for George Schultz, who last time around led Men’s League in scoring in their loss to Treys for Days. In the matchup against CCC Studios, however, Schultz put up no points, and further hardly shot the ball at all, just missing the mark twice from deep. But his team’s result was different this time, and the rest of his team showed up - particularly James Morse, who didn’t play last time out, and Will Childs-Klein, who asserted his size around the basket with much more tenacity than in his season debut. Morse had a tough first half in his own season debut here against CCC, because though his defensive intensity never waned (3 steals), his shot simply would not find the bottom of the net, particularly from deep. In the second half, however, and especially at the tail end of the matchup, Morse’s shots began to fall, including a massive 3-pointer to tie the game at 65 and eventually send the game to overtime. Morse was also perfect from the free throw line, making 100% of his 8 attempts down the stretch. Childs-Klein didn’t settle for pull-up jumpers this game, instead working his way relentlessly toward the basket to get excellent looks, utilizing every inch of his size to press his advantage. His 7 2-point makes, plus a clutch triple no one in the gym but him expected, were absolutely key in Men’s Leagues comeback, as were his countless boards and 3 blocks. Meanwhile, bruiser Matt Goodwin looked strong down low, picking up a couple offensive boards he had no business getting to and setting up some second-chance points. Tom Smith once again looked like a seasoned vet on the floor, calling for his teammates to push at any opportunity, recognizing that CCC’s lack of a bench would eventually catch up to them. JP Wilkinson scored a few key baskets, but his primary impact was certainly felt on the defensive end, as he matched up with Mike Salis to try and prevent him from dictating the game. His physical play clearly riled Salis up, and despite Salis knocking down a 3 in his face while talking directly at Wilkinson, it was Wilkinson’s team that walked away with the win.

CCC Studios, meanwhile, started out relatively hot, outscoring Men’s League 35-28 in the first half, led by the downhill and teammate-centric approach of the aforementioned Salis. He and Zac Brown were particularly effective in the paint, each drawing multiple fouls and converting a high percentage of their looks from the free throw line. Salis also fired from deep more than he had in his first game, converting 50% of his looks from downtown on his way to 21 points. Mike Simoni was similarly effective from deep, cashing in an even higher percentage of his looks on his way to 18 points. Unfortunately, he missed both of his shots from the charity stripe, which could have been key points to have in hand for CCC down the stretch. It was a somewhat quiet game for Chris Voukides, who made a big 3 down the stretch, but came up a little short on his other looks. Fill-in Matty followed the Mikes’ lead from beyond the arc, beginning to fire away in the second half to temporarily prolong CCC’s lead with his 3 triples. In the end it was a disappointing loss for CCC, who watched their lead slip away without the possibility of any injection of bench energy. Watch for them to show up with a deeper bench next time out.

Next up: 
Men’s League (1-1) at Wat Rats (1-0) - 9/19 6:30p
CCC Studios (0-2) BYE

Markit Basketball (52) v. Treys for Days (38)

Markit utilizes every ounce of lengthy roster in dominant win over 6-man Treys for Days squad

In by far the lowest-scoring matchup of the night, Markit Basketball made a defensive statement. The Markiters swarmed across the court with little regard for the limits of stamina, with nearly every one of their 9 players recording at least one steal. Victor Chang led the way on that end, nabbing an incredible 6 steals, adding a block for good measure and leading the team in rebounds. George Phillips led the team in scoring with 11 and was the only player to score in the double digits, as he especially forced the Treys to deal with him on the inside, making 3 separate trips to the charity stripe. All 9 Markit Basketball players managed to put the ball through the hoop at least once, with Cameron Gleichauf once again looking stellar, racking up 4 buckets from in close (including an and-1) and dishing out a team-high 4 assists. Jonathan Chang had a intriguing season debut, utilizing a unique shooting form to cash in once from deep and flashing all over the floor to even grab an offensive board. In all, it was an impressively democratic game from Markit Basketball, with every present member contributing in some significant way and no fall-off with the introduction of any given sub. An incredibly deep team and one to watch going forward.

Treys for Days, meanwhile, had some clear drop-off in their production from their first game, missing key members from their win against Men’s League. Wes Schroll returned and was in good form, though unable to cash in from deep as he was previously. He was a huge presence on defense though, helping keep the game manageable for the Treys squad with an unbelievable 6 blocks and 2 steals, plus 8 boards to go with his 8 points. Collin Yip, Kevin McGovern and Devin Santilli had 6, 6, and 5 points respectively to round out the scoring, with McGovern in particular involved in nearly every play or point scored. Yip was a wily presence on the defensive end, grabbing 2 steals from unsuspecting Markit players. The team lead in scoring went to fill-in Ando, who scored a few fastbreak buckets late on his way to 13 points. Look for Treys for Days to rebound in a big way next week with a more complete squad. 

Next up:
Markit Basketball (2-0) v. Skelton’s Boys (1-0) - 9/19 7:30p
Treys for Days (1-1) v. Eastie Hoops (0-2) - 9/19 8:30p

Three Stars:

• Markit Basketball Attendance - 9 players, all played and scored
• Doug Horan (Skelton’s Boys) - 11 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks
• Chisom Nnadi - 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists

Power Rankings:

1. Markit Basketball (0)
2. Wat Rats (0)
3. Skelton’s Boys (+4)
4. Men’s League (+2)
5. Treys for Days (-1)
6. CCC Studios (-3)
7. Eastie Hoops (-2)

By HARRY DEMAKES & IAN CUNDALL

40 minutes of eye bleeding 3s later, X marks the spot for Cundall!

I thought this might be the best game of the evening between two contending teams in the top half of the rankings. News of AJ being out kind of softened that though, but nonetheless Etheridge built a pretty deep squad. Cundall had everyone at his disposal. TO THE BRICK SHOW!

X Personalities got ahead early in this one thanks to the play of Bdraft Tim Roberts. He some good SDL numbers, but those mean little in the big time over in Bdraft. If you don’t believe me, compare Lynch’s numbers between leagues last season. Anyhow, Roberts was cooking the defense with mid-range and some tough finishes at the cup. It looks like Koller found himself a running mate this season. Speaking of Koller, he added 10 first half points and was decisively winning his matchup with fellow top 10 pick Angelo. He also took his first career first half sub. A milestone day for all involved as X personalities stretched their lead into double digit territory.

Meanwhile, Swish & Dish was making a mockery of the game of basketball. Apparently, the entire team looked up AJ’s numbers and got scared they might never shoot a shot when he plays, so they went a chucking. Swish & Dish missed all 20 of their first half 3-point attempts. Hanks was 0-7, Angelo was 0-5, Waldman 0-6. Yuck, yuck and yuck. What a miserable performance. Let’s just go to the half.

X Personalities went into the half up 32-11. Swish and Dish did have one highlight with rookie Dan Waldman taking a charge. That was cool, but X Personalities was dominating this game. BACK TO THE ACTION!

Swish & Dish got their miss count up to 22 from three before the basketball gods took pity on them and Waldman banked one in. Hanks, would hit two real ones later on, but I don’t know who told these guys they were 3-point shooters. A real disappointing week 1 showing here, AJ will make things better, but I expected a lot better from these guys.

X Personalities went on cruise control for most of the second half. Rookie Padavick looked pretty good, hitting 2 treys and being active on the boards. These guys have a good starting lineup and an active bench. If only Packard would stop trying to break the backboard on every 3-point attempt, I think they got something.

X Personalities crushes Swish & Dish 63-33. Another season of blowouts is upon us. God help us all.

Grades:

Koller A: Good opening night, crushed his matchup and took subs.
Roberts A+: Great start to his Bdraft career. Kid gets buckets.
Padavick B+: Good start, just needs to cut down on turnovers.
Cundall C: Mediocre night for Ian who still can’t hit free throws.
Packard D: Tough first game, too many turnovers and missed 3s.
OTTOMATIC B: Solid game for the veteran.

Swish & Dish:
Etheridge C-: Mixed bag here. Some tough drives, but lots of shooting misses and turnovers.
Hanks D+: If you aren’t a shooter, you should never touch 12 three point attempts.
Angelo D: Better days to come on both ends of the floor.
Waldman D+: The charge gets a plus, but the shooting. WOOF!
Weaver C: Not a bad debut, at least he didn’t catch any of the bad on him.

Miller who? Goes off in opening night win

The biggest storyline going into this game was Cam facing off against another friend he betrayed in the draft for someone better. Then trying to play it off like “nah, I just like tall dudes.” Cam, pretty much brought back his team from last season, but saved Gray from the Ian/Koller combo of doom and drafted rookie KG. They had everyone, while Civale’s team was missing himself. TO THE ACTION!

It was a tight back and forth first half, with Remy leading the way for Civale’s team. There was some concern that Remy might suck now due to old age, but he looked quite spry taking every shot he could in this game. He led all scorers with 11 first half points. Rookie Joe, got off to a slow start only scoring 4 first half points and going 0-4 from deep. He did have 7 boards and 4 assists though in the opening frame. The Great One added a couple treys of his own as well.

Meanwhile, Cam’s squad spread out the love early on, with multiple guys picking up multiple FGs. DTO led the team with 10 points in the first and 3 assists. Lynch, only had 3 points in his new role as big dog of the team. We went into the half tied at 28. Seemed like a bad sign that Cam’s team couldn’t find a lead, but would it end up that way? BACK TO THE ACTION!

Rookie Joe continued his first half slumber into a second half coma. He didn’t score in the last 20 minutes of the game, which is quite unacceptable for a first rounder. He can’t be a non-factor out there for his team on offense. This led to Remy deciding he would just shoot every time. Remy shot 5-17 from 3 in this game, 4-12 in the second half. The Great One nailed 2 more treys as well, but they couldn’t keep up on either end in the second half.

Cam’s squad went offffff in this half, especially rookie KG, who hit 4 second half threes. Kid, could be a big pickup for a team who needs extra scoring. I will have my eye on him in weeks to come. Cam joined the game too, hitting two treys himself.

DTO hit a couple as well and Lynch added one. Miller who? went a combined 9-11 from 3 in the second half. Did they blow their load in week 1? Time will tell. 75-56 final for Miller Who? They continue their regular season winning ways.

Grades:

Cam A: Cam outplayed his buddy for 40 minutes, which is a huge win for his team.
Lynch B: Bdraft Lynch was ok, he’ll need better games in the future.
DTO A: If DTO wasn’t a turnover machine this would be an “A+” effort.
Bauman A: Solid double-double from Bauman here. Gray B: Nice effort, I like his hustle and effort.
KG A+: This going to be his best game, so drink it in.

CIVALE:

Joe K. D: Letting your buddy outshine you that didn’t pick you isn’t a good sign IMO. Also, give me buckets.
Remy B-: It is a good sign that Remy can still score, though he needs to be more efficient.
Glynn C+: shooting, but he did some good things else where.
Great One B+: Your standard above average Great One game
Clarke B: Solid Clarke game and my stat sheet claims he hit a 3. I don’t believe it

Nate Not So Great opening night

The last game of the evening was between Nate’s dead last ranked team that people have going no where against Noah’s contending squad. Everyone would eventually be there for both teams. TO THE ACTION!

This game would start ugly for both teams as they traded missed 3s to start the game, like every other game so far. Nate’s team went 2-17 from 3 in the first half. Lucky for them Noah’s team forgot about Ghost in the first half and he scored 13 first half points, more than the rest of his team in the opening frame. Nate got their late, but didn’t miss the chance to get up a bunch of shots to a mixed bag of efficiently. He did have 10 first half points, but was 1-6 from deep. If you can do math, that means the rest of the team only had 2 points, including Joel, who had zero.

On the other side of the court it was Pollock and Kenny carrying the load. Both men combined for 23 of their teams 33 first half points. They weren’t much better from 3 though, going 2-12 from 3 as a team. Noah’s team led 32-25 at the half. Might as well have been up a 100 at this point, since Nate was getting “I’m just here to set meaningless off ball screens and stand in the corner” Joel. BACK TO THE ACTION!

Noah’s team stepped on the gas pedal in the second half, thanks to Pollock’s week 1 MVP effort. He added 15 second half points to his total, with a couple assists. Robel joined the party with 10 second half points that included a trey. Angry Ian led the team with 3 second half assists and Dias got himself to 11 boards for the game. A good all around effort from Noah’s team against weak competition.

Somehow Nate’s offense got worse in the second half. Ghost made like a ghost and disappeared. Nate also flew off and Joel had as many trips to the ground as he had FGs made. Troy lapped his teammates in points by 3x with 10 in the second half, that include 3 threes. Rookie Maloof wasn’t a factor and if he’s 5’10, then I’m 6’3.

Rough game for a team that’ll see plenty more. Nice start for Noah’s team to build chemistry. 65-42 Final.

GRADES
Joel F+: Score points.
Ghost B: Pretty much your standard Ghost line.
Silva C+; Good rebounding, had 2 assists, but shot it poorly.
Troy B-: Not too bad, but most of the damage was done when the game was over.
Nate C: Tough night from 3, did lead the team in assists.
Maloof D: Not a good start to his Bdraft career.

NOAH:
Pollock A+: Owned his counterpart and played like an MVP.
Angry Ian C+: His shot was the shits, but he put in work else where.
Kenny B: Impressive that Kenny got to 16 points without hitting a three.
Noah D+: Did a whole lot of nothing, but I guess he got hurt.
Dias B: Great game on the boards and provided a bunch of energy.
Robel B+: Show up on time.

By CHAS BELLS & CHRIS HANKS

GAME 1

Woke and Swole outmuscle Goyle

For the first matchup of the fall 23 Over30 season we had Roberts’ Woke and Swole taking on Chas’ Hot Goyle Departed. Fresh off winning a championship with Goyle Roberts would be matched up against the remains of his squad from the previous season. Roberts had a great draft, putting together a contender with plenty of size and shooting. Goyle returns without a key piece in Kodra and with some new faces. This game would be a battle between the size and Strength of Roberts team against the shooting and quickness of Goyle. Weinstein opened the scoring by cashing a three, but MacPherson answered by crashing the offensive glass of a put back. After the draft, I predicted a big season for MacPherson coming off somewhat of a quiet Over-30 debut last season, and this game would indicate a trend in that direction. Swole would go on a run led by Macpherson and Danny. Goyle would be in a hole at this point in the half and big Lu would call out his team on the defensive end. He backed that up by snatching a steal at midcourt and drawing a foul. Weinstein would make some buckets and get to the line and Swole’s lead would drop to 5. Swole would keep applying pressure on both ends, with McPherson and Danny continuing to score and Clarke getting a nice block. Jake Gold would score 8 straight for Goyle to keep them in it. With time winding down in the half Jeffries walked into a 3 and Goyle would go into the half only trailing by 4.

Coming out of the half, Joel sparked a run for Swole, hitting a rare three and getting some great looks in the post. He was really looking to run and pushing the ball in transition. The second half was all Swole and the lead would balloon to around 20 points. Goyle did not have the size to compete against Swole’s bigger lineup and Swole would take home the 30-point victory. Goyle may have issues going forward against some of the bigger teams in this league, such as Jimsanity and the Mulholland Bros.

Goyle

Chas C – not a great opening game from Chas. Expect bigger games going forward
Jefferies C played ok, could’ve been dishing it out a bit more.
Weinstein B – average game for Weinstein, he is capable of a lot more
Perry C- hit the offensive glass, but didn’t contribute much else
Luigi C+ the fire was there but this might be a long season for big Lu being the only size on this team
Jake A- kept Goyle in the game for a bit before things got away

Swole
Joel A played really well in the second half, looks motivated after last season’s last place finish
Ian C hustled and hit the boards, but failed to convert his two free throw attempts
MacPherson A led all scored and was big on both sides of the ball
Roberts A- had some nice buckets and was distributing well
Clarke A – did all the TC things, blocking shots and getting boards
Danny B – kind of a quiet night likely due to the big lead.

Game 2 Corp X VS Drop

Step Murpheys Kerr looked spry out of the gate as he gathered an obrd put in, Murphy with a post bucket for a quick 4-0 lead. Stevenson gets Corp on the board, and Bonvie gives them the lead with a trey 5-4.Mazz 2-2, than Bonvie again they were on a 10-0 run. Hanks stops the bleeding with paint bucket, Matty obrd finish, but Ian responds with scoop, Stephenson adds another J for the 16-8 lead. After a Kerr hoop Mazz finally hit a 3 19-10, and then hits another after a Hanks J 22-12. Zeng beautiful cut, Hanks 3, but Mazz nails 2 straight deep 3’s 29-20. Matty O got a 3 to go, kerr gets 2 off hustle, Randal 3, and his team was fighting well as Hanks would hit a 3 making it 34-32 at the half with his team up.

Randalls team would keep their foot on Corp, Kerr 2-2, Zeng up n under. Drop Step would maintain a 10 pt lead throughout the 2nd half as Kerr was using his size/huslte to get easy hoops and keep Corp in check. Corp would make a push but Zeng hit a big J. Corp would show shome fight at the end getting steals and hoops but it was not enough. Randall starts his boys off well 66-59.

DSM
Kerr-A-) Wasnt spectacular but dman effective. His size his a problem.
Randall-B-) Thought he kept his boys calm, they played the matchups well. Good captain game here.
Matty-B-) He was solid on both ends, nothing crazy just good.
Murphy-B+- Did it all kinda. PASSED well/ 3 steals 1 block, very nice night.
Zeng-A- I dont think he missed a shot, was very active.
Hanks-A- Shot them back into the game. Making you all pay for letting him fall in the draft.

Corp X
Mazz-A-) 30 pts in no joke, but I wanted him to be even more aggressive wth Dennis/B.Robb out. Thought he fought despite the frustaration good sign for Corp going forward.
Ian-B-) he was just ok, they needed so more shooting from him.
Stephenson-C+- Strated red hot, but kinda disappeared.
Bovie-C- Same thing as Ben, on fire to start but faded hard.
B.Robbb-N/A- Was very late.

Game 3 Ej Vs Blood Line

EJ comes in hot as he canned a 3 right away, Frano followed that with a Pnroll hoop 5-0. Liam gets his boys in it with a trey, but Kap to the rizack7-3. Kap middy, than Frano scoop, followed by Kap slash 14-3 they were rolling. Carey hits a big momentum 3 14-6, but Kap nails deeps 3 right abc at them 17-6. EJ another 3 and this game was getting ugle, as BloodLine O was puke worthy, not getting any good looks, no energy, honestly not a ton of fight. The half would end with a Frano J making it 28-16 at the break. The closest the score would get 33-24, as EJ’s squad looked like they were on a mission all over the floor. Kap was hounding Frongi the former MVP’s life, Amir splashing 3’s, and this game really never was in doubt. EJ got his boys balling they win 56-38.

Team Slick
Frano-B+- Rock solid night, wasnt as aggressive when the lead was big, but really looked good.
Kap-A- Would have been an A+ if he shot the 3 more effecently, but man did he ball out all over the court.
Butter-B-) D was good O was not.
EJ-A-) Solid EJ game, took good shots, played good D.
Amir-A- Doing his J O B which is nail open 3’s.

BloodLine
Cawley-B-) Saves his day with some great hustle and D, they need 20 ppg from him or they are in trouble.
Harry-D- Where is the fight, wheres the Harry yelling “what the fuck are we doing”. Week 1 I guess but I dont like a complacent Hareld.
Frongi-C- Kap really bothered him, he was so hesitant like Kap was in his head.
Liam-B-)He was steady, nothing crazy either way.
Carey-A-Leave him open and see 3’s go throught he hoop.
Danner-D- my man struggled out there. He will have better nights.

Game 4 Bros Vs Buddys 

J.Mul looking sexy and confident nailed the 3 ball. Lane hustling his ass off gets Obrd assist to Kielley 3-3. J.Mul locked in slashes 3, Jet floater and hesssssssss backkkkkkkkkkkk 8-3. Eth nice cutting hoop 10-3. Skelley sick reveurse lay in, then adds an Obrd finish. J.Mul had the answer with a middy, but Worth drains a 3 14-10. Lane cutting hoop to cut the lead to 2, but Lane hustle leads to another Kielley cutting hoop 15-14. Skelley post for the lead but Eth right back at him. J.Mul would finish his strong half with some hoops and it was 22-17 at the break.

J.Mul a killer today, nails another middy, but Kielley responds with tough finish 25-19. J.Mul unconscious hits another trey 28-19. This game stayed within the 9 to ll point range as Brothers defesne was stifling, there was nothing easy out there for the Buddy’s, and the Bros continue their successes together 42-36.

Buddys
Skelley-A-) Thought he was a bright spot, hustled hard, and his finsihsing gets better every session.
Kielley-B-) Not a terrible game, but they will need much more from him if they are gonna get w’s.
Worth-D- Grade is harsh because we all know he can play way better, his team neds him to.
Lane-B+- His hustle was crazy 5 obrs, 3 steals, I loved it!!!

Bro’s
Jet-B-) Shot was a lil off, but it was awseome to wathc him flyyyyyyyyyy again.
ETH-B-) Lil rusty getting his legs/wind back, but saw some Eth flashes.
J.Mul-A+- He was awesome , MVP level play.
S.Mul-B- only guy who can geta B scoring 0. His D is so nuts.
Stull-C- Hustled hard but 0-6 is 0-6.

By DEVIN QUINLIN

WEEK 1 9/7

Game 1 | Suffolk: 79 - Spida Men: 73

Suffolk Hold Off Spida Men in OT Win

Suffolk jumped out to a big lead the season opener, up 50-37 at the half. Even without their full roster, this group was looking dangerous on both ends. The Spida Men, also without their full roster, battled hard in the second half and managed to tie the game with under a minute. After some misses from both teams, the game headed to OT, where Suffolk took control to pull away with a 79-73 lead.

Bolden Brace led the way for Suffolk, cementing himself at the top of the MVP ladder after only one game. He put up 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 7 steals in a strong effort on both ends. Even with his shot slightly off (five of thirteen from deep), he was just a step ahead of everyone else on the court, garnering 7 steals and even more pass deflections while moving the ball well and getting to his spots when necessary. George Grillakis wasn’t far behind, dropping 25 points of his own to go along with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals, terrorizing Spida Men in transition and once again, driving to his right. He converted five of seven free-throw attempts and hit two threes as well, but also decided to foul out with 1:30 left on the clock by running at Mazz and grabbing him for no reason. Logan O’Donnell had a monster double-double inside with 12 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks, showing off some nice footwork on some post moves and playing good defense, while newcomer Nick Budesheim had some strong takes to the hole to finish with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals. Throw in Holtze and McEneney, plus a much improved Bret Edwards (3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist) and this is a seriously dangerous roster.

Spida Men fought hard and kept this game close, especially in the second half, even without Jamal Brown. Newcomer John Lithio was impressive, hitting shots and creating for himself while moving the ball well and just generally playing smart. He finished with a team-high 17 points, plus 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, and I see him as a huge addition to this roster. Danny Martin Jr. and Cedric White both had big games as well with 16 points each. Martin Jr. added 7 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, while Ceddy hit a few threes, plus 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Nick Mazzeo played very well at the 1, hitting five of his ten threes to finish with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Tim Gallivan added 9 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. The ball movement looked good for the Spida Men, and I was impressed that they took Suffolk to OT. Could be a big season for them if they can continue to click offensively.

Game 2 | We The Ones!: 85 - Zards: 94

Zards Return with Victory Over WTOs

Zards return to Thursday A League as a consistent, well-oiled machine on both ends, and this game was no different. They held a 52-36 lead at the half, showing off their crisp ball movement and shooting prowess on offense, while relying on their aggressive zone defense to force turnovers. Big credit to WTOs, who battled back late in the second half with a barrage of contested threes, but this game was never really in doubt, as Zards held on for a 94-85 win.

In the preseason rankings, I put Zards at #4, but that’s because I forgot about Sam Longwell, despite giving him MVP like 3 sessions ago. Either way, he now ranks #1 in scoring (31 points), #1 in made twos (12 2ptm), #3 in assists (6 assists), and somewhere in the top 10 in rebounds (10 total, 2 offensive), while adding 1 steal. He was simply unstoppable inside the arc, getting to the rim at will and operating smoothly in the mid-range. He shot only two of eight from deep, which will only improve as the season progresses, and I expect him to be a nightmare for opposing defenses every game. Dan Wohl is another matchup nightmare, finishing with 25 points, 11 boards, 4 assists, and 1 block, shooting three of six from three and four of five from the line. Impressive distribution to go along with his usual stellar scoring. Craig Melillo was a menace on defense, finishing with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks while shooting three of eight from three. Matt LaBove was a monster down low, putting up 14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal, but altering plenty of shots and discouraging WTOs from even attacking the rim. High IQ player who really fits well in this system. Newcomer Milan Prodanovic added 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, but I think he has more to give with his smooth shot. Either way, Zards pick up right where they left off, and will be among the favorites this session.

WTOs benefitted from some great guard play, particularly from Jalen Bruce. Bruce was solid all game, but really took over at the end, hitting several pull-up threes to finish with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. He shot six of ten from three and did well to get to his spots and hit tough shots. Ty Moore added 20 points on five of eleven from downtown, plus 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, while Grady Levi chipped in 15 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Jordan Carter found his rhythm in the second half to finish with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, hustling and making plays on defense as well. As usual, no one knows who Keith will bring to ACEC on any given Thursday, but this core group, plus Garrett Stanowicz and myself, make up a much improved roster from previous sessions. Still, this group will need to win some games to prove they deserve to be moved up in the standings.

Game 3 | Ronin Blood Warriors: 68 - Not A Dime Back: 73

NADB Best RBWs in Closely Contested Game

Tibbs is one sick mf matching these two up in the first game, as NADB and RBWs have previously matched up in both the B1 Unification and A League Unification Championship. All of their games are closely contested, and this one was no different, as NADB took a 37-35 lead into halftime despite being up big early. They managed to hold on at the end of a wild game, winning by a final of 73-68.

For NADB, Chris Connor stepped up majorly. Everyone knows he can score, but he put up 27 points (three of eight from deep, no FTs) against tight defensive pressure to go along with 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block in highly impressive game. His mid-range was unstoppable, with his teammates doing well to find him at his spots, and he took care of the rest. Dom Black was in attack mode early, getting to the rim at will to finish with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, applying serious pressure on both ends, while backcourt mate Jon Luster came alive in the second half to add 14 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists (game-high), and 1 steal. Probably the worst I’ve ever seen Luster shoot (two of eight from three, which isn’t even that bad), but he still had an overwhelmingly positive impact on both ends. Chris Cusano added 6 points, 3 boards, and 1 assist, while Marcus Giese was strong inside with 4 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Jeff Coulter and Mike Synott also played their roles well, and even without Dre Kontopidis, NADB pulls off an impressive win and look primed to repeat.

RBWs got strong contributions, with Deven Palmer leading the way. Palmer finished with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, shooting five of eight from three and five of seven from the line despite showing up late and not warming up. Talent-wise, he’s up there with the best in the league. Arinze Obiora added 21 points, 10 boards, 3 assists, and 2 blocks, doing most of his damage inside on both ends and relentlessly attacking the rim the whole 40 minutes. Juran Ligonde added 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, while Guy Pistone chipped in 3 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, but led his team with 5 assists. I’m definitely less familiar with RBWs roster than the other teams, but I do know that these guys can play, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them make a deep playoff run.

Game 4 | Team Takeover: 75 - West Coast Shooters: 88

WCS Shoot A Lot, Win

WCS put up 56 threes in this one, making 22 of them (39%) and they therefore won the game. That’s really it, as no other team put up more than 31 attempts on the night. They also lead the league in assists with 25 total, and they really just do the same thing every time but they’re all proficient shooters, so there just isn’t much other teams can do. They led 46-35 at half and went on to win 88-75.

Collin Sawyer led the way with 29 points on seven of twelve from three and a perfect four for four at the charity stripe, plus 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Sawyer often leads the team in scoring because, while he’s an excellent shooter, he is also willing to take layups. Eric D’Aguanno does not take layups (unless he’s posting up apparently), and he shot seven of thirteen from three to finish with 27 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, while Derek Retos shot five of fifteen for 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Matt Pattyson added 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, while Stephen Tam added 5 points, 12 rebounds (5 offensive), 3 assists, and 2 steals. In the highlight of the game, Tam encouraged defensive effort from his squad during a dead ball, which made D’Aguanno look like the Nick Young meme. Jack Fay had a funny game with 4 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and a league-high 12 assists. He played a strong game, but just couldn’t hit any shots, going zero for eight from deep, the Ying to the rest of his team's Yang. This group is fun to watch, but we’ll see if they can translate it to postseason success later in the season.

Team Takeover played the beginning of this game with only four players, putting them at an early deficit, but they battled hard and made this game somewhat competitive. Trevor Parker finished with 27 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting five of eleven from three. His talent is off the charts, and he will need to propel his team to a few victories this season. Jared Johnson also had a strong showing, dropping 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists with some strong finishes inside and some nice defensive effort as well. Michel Toney got going late, finishing with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block, but he will need to be better if this team wants to win games. He’s more than capable. Julian Beach was active inside with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block, battling for rebounds and finishing some nice takes around the rim Zach Scott was late and didn’t get a chance to warm up, but his activity on both ends was a big boost, as he added 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals from the guard spot. With their bigs back next week, we’ll see if Team Takeover can string together some wins before their huge October 19th matchup with a shit-talking Keith and his We The Ones team.

BY LAMARR BENNETT

WEEK 1: 

Week 1 is in the books and it looks like we are going to have a competitive and fun league this Fall.Lets get right to it with our first game of the night, with Big Tuna starting off their season with a convincing win over NEW TEAM NEW (NTN).

First game of the night started off pretty slow to say the least, but that was expected, it being the first game of the season. The first half was a back and forth game, both teams settling for jumpshots (1 free throw attempt in the first half combined) and not really attacking the paint. A three pointer by both Warner and Weaver gave NTN a small lead, but guard Connolly from BIG TUNA started to get hot. He had 3 quick layups and a nice couple assists to bring the lead back 

To 1. BIG TUNA big man Murphy was dominant on the boards, grabbing 8 first half rebounds by himself. The first half ended with a pretty low score of 28 - 27 with NTN up. 

BIG TUNA came out the second half as a completely different team. They started by pushing the pace more and playing a more physical game. The ball movement was evident to this half, with Connolly and the rest of the team really moving the ball. 2 quick threes by Arsenault and Dario gave TUNA a quick ten point lead. NTN wouldn't go out without a fight, after a quick timeout, guard weaver and forward both hit 3s to cut the score to 3 with about 6 minutes left in the game  but those were the only 2 threes that NTN would hit in the second half. BIG TUNA was too physical down the stretch, out rebounding their opponent 24-10 in the second half alone, led by Murphy who ended the game with 14 total boards.’

FINAL SCORE: 58-49 BIG TUNA

Player of the game: Matthew Conley (22pt 5ast)

The second game of the season between Clevor Trevor vs Mid Range Magic was a great game from start to finish, definition of a back and forth game. This game started off hot, both teams pushing the pace and attacking the basket. Clever Trevor was really moving the ball well, led by lefty guard Jack Fay and his strong penetration in the paint. After a nice euro step by Fay put CT was up 12-8 7 minutes in. But the physicality and Size of Mid range magic clear early. Big men C. Bouchereau and Andrew “Bogut” King were felt in the paint. After a couple minutes they started to let the other team know.. Crashing the boards and feeding the ball inside was the plan for MID RANGE. Then back to back 3s by J. Smith gave mid range a 25-24 lead. But Fay just kept coming, scoring 13 first half points. He also had help from forward Arya Balaji, who scored 8 points in the first half. The first half ended with a score of 37 - 33, Clever Trevor up.

Just like the first game of the night, one team came out looking like a different team. Mid Range Magic started the half with a quick 7-0 run which quickly blew up to a 16- 4 lead half way into the half. CT was really struggling to score the basketball, none of the threes seemed to fall and the turnovers started to pile up. But you can credit that to the defense of Mid Range. Forward Chad Kelly was a menace all night, deflecting passes and racking up 3 steals on the game. After a quick time out, CT got there gameplan together and started to make it a game again. Most of the scoring came from the trio of Fay, Balaji, and Caletti who were trying there hardest to keep their team in the game. After a nice lay up by Balaji the score was 61 - 60 with 1:00 left in the game. Knowing Mid Range magic from doing there games last year, I know there 1 weakness is FREE THROW SHOOTING. This was again a problem, going 14 of 23 from the line. But fortunately for Mid range, after being in the one and one. On two back to back possessions, mid range would make the first and miss the second, but both times got the offensive rebound of the miss that pretty much sealed the game for them.  

FINAL SCORE: 66-63 Mid range

Player of the game: Andrew “Bogut” King (14pts, 6rbs, off bench)

Game 3 of the night had one of the best individual performances of the night, as Leonard and the boys took on Intramural Heroes. Another back and forth 1st half, Intramural heroes were moving the ball really well getting everyone involved (3 different players scored in the first half). Big man Tim Gallivan was grabbing every rebound that went up for intramural heroes. On the other side, everything was being run through guard Jamal Brown. He was a monster in the first half, scoring from all three levels. His supporting cast was also a lot of help, knocking down three’s at a consistent rate. The half continued as a back and forth game, with Spencer Ross hitting a 3 at the buzzer. Half time score was 33 - 32 Leonard up. Jamal was extremely hard to contain, scoring 18 points in the first half to go with 7 rebounds.

Second half was exactly the same as the first, trading baskets and both teams really playing well. Intramural heroes were really moving like a well oiled machine, but the threes did stop falling like they were in the first half, only knocking down 2 threes in the second half as a team. Jamal slowed down a little with the scoring in the second half, but kept getting his team involved. 2 big threes from nick Rossetti cut the game to 58 - 55 but was answered by a big three by Chris Gallivan ties the game up with 30 seconds to go. Walking the ball up and calling for an isolation, Jamal sized up his opponent, went left and hit a nice step back jumper with 3 seconds left in the game to win it for his squad.

Final Score: 60 - 58 Leonard and the boys

Player of the game: Jamal Brown (27 pts, 14 rbs, 3 ass)

The Final Game of the night was a low scoring affair between Tuesday nights select going up against Team Commando. Low scoring game with some pretty good individual performances. The game started with a very fast 10 - 0 run by TNS, led by guards Max Hienrich and Jake Heggestad. The guards were quick and looked like there were going to have an easy night. Commando finally got on the board with 7 minutes into the game with a nice lay up by Kyle Curry, but the drought continued for the next few minutes  with 5:00 to go in the half the score was only 15 - 5. But Commando outscored TNS the remainder of the half 13-7 to go into half time only down 5. Score 23-18.

Second half Kyle put his mark on the game and willed his team, he also got some well needed help this half. TNS scored 14 quick points to tie the game up at the 15:00 minute mark 32 - 32. Commando's three ball stopped falling in the second half and that was there downfall. If they kept up the hot shooting from the first half they most likely would've pulled away for the win. But TNS was too much in the second half, squeezing out a tough 48 - 44 win to open up the season.

Final Score: 48 - 44 Tuesday Night Select

Player of the game: Kyle Curry ( 20 pts, 7 rbs)

SDL Week 1 Write-ups

BY JAMIL BALL & DAMIAN RUFF

Ok so maybe I was wrong kinda.

First half:

Coming into the first game of the Fall 2023 Saturday Morning Draft League I had Washed and Folded (WAF) as the 66-56 favorites over Ball Mitzvah (BM).  I was starting to like my pick early on because BM was missing their 2nd round pick.  On the opposite side WAF had their entire team.

Game was relatively close for most of the first half but BM controlled the game.  BM had leads of 11-7 at the 13:27 mark, 20-17 at the 6:43 mark, 24-17 at the 5:40 mark, 32-29 at the 59.4 second mark and finally at the half was up 35-31.

Halftime stats:

WAF:

Jamil Ball 14 pts, 1 stl, 4 orebs, 5 drebs and 3 asts

Ben Butterworth 1 oreb

Robert Wood 2 pts, 1 blk, 6 dreb 

Patrick Blaikie 1 blk

Joshua Gettings 10 pts, 4 orebs

Sami Hameid 3 pts, 1 dreb

BM:

Christopher Stull 1 oreb

David Ter-Ovanesyan 13 pts, 4 stls, 4 drebs, 2 asts

John Reilly 2 pts, 1 blk, 1 oreb, 1 dreb

David Pendergast 9 pts, 1 stl, 1 oreb, 2 dreb, 2 ast

Rob Lunder 11 pts, 1 blk, 4 drebs

Player of the half:

David Ter-Ovanesyan 

Second half:

It seemed like BM was preparing to pull away up 51-42 with 10:19 left and then again with 4:45 left up 59-51 but WAF had other ideas.  The game became a 1 possession contest with 38.9 seconds left 71-68 BM was up.  All WAF needed was a stop then a score but unfortunately for them that didn’t happen.  BM went on to win this one 75-68.

Player Grades:

Jamil Ball B his three ball was off but still managed to lead the game in scoring.  He seemed fatigued too because he took several trips to rest on the chair during free throws.  It’s scary because he’s capable of playing better and he probably will.

Ben Butterworth A kind of a high grade but he played the perfect role player game.  Shot efficiently and contributed in other areas.

Robert Wood C his midrange was kinda off but overall I don’t think his team used him enough on offense.  He’s clearly capable of playing better and I’m sure he will as the season progresses.

Patrick Blaikie C- Pat is my guy so it actually pains me to give a negative to his grade BUT the fact that you questioned how you fouled out has to be called out.  I won’t go into the details again here but overall Pat played ok considering his limited opportunities.

Joshua Gettings B his numbers were actually pretty decent.  He gets a higher grade if his team wins and he makes a three ball.  I have high expectations for Joshua so I can’t really give him too high of a grade this early on.

Sami Hameid B- his game overall was ok I think the China Sully description of his game was pretty spot on.  My biggest gripe was his bickering at the ref.  Do I do it?  Yes.  Do others do it?  Yes.  To me it felt like it was a little obsessive.  Not in a disrespectful way but you just have to understand the ref will miss some calls and to complain the majority of the time isn’t helping you or your team.

Christopher Stull A I loved the game he played.  Didn’t force any shots and the 2 threes he did make were huge in helping his team secure the victory.  He also was able to contribute in other areas.

David Ter-Ovanesyan A had a great shooting and defensive game.  If he plays like this each week, we all are in trouble.  What’s scary is he can play better and probably will.  

John Reilly B gotta knock his grade slightly for fouling out but overall he was just a menace on defense.  A lot of what he did isn’t going to show up on the stat sheet but he played the perfect role for his team.

David Pendergast A- I have to knock his grade for his low free throw and three point shooting percentage.  I don’t think any of the threes he took were bad ones, they just didn’t go in.  Overall he came alive in the second half.  Not sure if it was because he was called soft or just a better rhythm regardless he played well.

Rob Lunder A was electric and spry. I guess he took offense that he went 19th overall.  Whatever it was I hope he keeps playing this all season long because his team will definitely need it.

Player of the game:

David Ter-Ovanesyan was just the best player on the floor on both ends.  Too bad we aren’t teammates anymore 😢but he did what he’s typically been doing for the majority of his SDL career.

Subject: No Hangovers for Hungover Hoopers 

Admittedly, I didn’t have Hungover Hoopers as the favorites in this matchup. Without Adwaith, I gave Costa Coast a slight edge. 

Through the 9 minutes, Costa Coast held a slight edge (16 - 15). Charles was playing absolutely smothering defense as promised, and Costa Coast looked primed for an early run. Lucas had other plans, as he got out to a scorching start including 3 for 3 shooting from deep. 

Jamie Cummins who looks to be the steal of the draft, would match Lucas’ output with 19. They combined 38 of their team's 54 points in an impressive outing. 

The Hungover Hoopers' lead would balloon to 12, as they would go into the half leading 33 - 21 with no signs of letting up. 

BFFs Robel (11 PTS and 20 REBs) and Musse (3 PTS, 2 STLS, 6 REBS, and 3 ASTS) played extremely well for Hungover Hoopers as they would go on to win this matchup by double-digits easily. 

For Costa Coast, I would not overreact to this loss. It’s week one and guys struggled to hit shots they will hit when the games matter the most in week 10. Unlike past seasons, everyone makes the playoffs. Once they build stamina and chemistry, this will be one of the top teams in the league.

Hungover Hoopers

Andrew Marra (C+) - I need more Marra, I need more! 

Jamie Cummins (A+) - Steal of the draft! ROY conversation. 

Lucas Guliano (A+) - Lucas is my early favorite for the MIP award. He’s always been able to score the ball, but the level of efficiency with which he performed was out of this world. Can he maintain this level of play? 

Musse Kassa (A-) - Musse didn’t need to score a bunch of points to impact the outcome of this game. He was by far the best point guard on the floor. I think he actually played defense a couple of times too. 

Robel Ghebremichael (A) - Robel dominated the paint and played with a level of dominance I haven’t seen in a while. 

Costa Coast

Charles Maneval (B) - Charlie gets an A for his defensive effort, but offensively he struggled mightily. I think pressing full-court in a 90-degree gym might’ve impacted his offensive production a bit. 

Dan Waldman (B) - Dan was extremely effective and really scored the ball well for Costa Coast. I’m docking his grade because of his AI-type rant against practice/team pick up.  

Dylan Costa (B+) - I love that Dylan was aggressive and assertive on both ends of the court. He didn’t shoot the ball well, but not too many folks did. I look for Dylan to build on this performance and get better as the season progresses. 

Joshua Brown (C+) - I’ve watched Josh play 4 or 5 times over the past couple of weeks and he is way more capable than what he displayed on Saturday. I look for Josh to be more assertive in the coming weeks. 

Kevin Ross (B) - Kev struggled from deep like many others during week 1, but he still found ways to be effective on both ends of the court. He will be their best player as he starts to round back into form. 

Matthew Starr (C+) - I’d love to see Matt assert himself more on both ends of the court. 5 Rebound is not enough for a player with his capability. 

Subject: Mamba Forever Dismantles Old School Ballers

E was not happy about his 8th-place power rankings, but let his play do the talking for him as his squad made light work of Nick Lynch and the Old School Ballers. 

Early on Djordje and Kopel led the way for MF. Djordje in particular was very effective offensively with 25 points, but his defensive effort was by far the most impressive performance of the day. He and Darby limited Nick Lynch and Ghost to a combined 21 points. 

Mamba Forever would go into the half leading by 12 points (35 - 23). 

The Old School Ballers' struggles were due to their ineffectiveness offensively. I figured shooting would be one of their strength, but during this week one matchup they couldn’t get much going. 

Mamba Forever would go on to win this matchup by 25. Led by fantastic overall team play and a fantastic outing by their leader and do-it-all captain Emmanuel Okharedia (18 PTS, 11 REBs, and 3 ASTs). E controlled all aspects of the game and was extremely effective and efficient. 

After this outing, there’s no way in hell this team will remain 8th in the Power Rankings. Looking forward to seeing this entire roster in future weeks. 

Old School Ballers

Alan Orellana (B) - AO was efficient per usual. I would love to see him a little more assertive offensively. 

Damian Ruff (C) - Ruff looked a little rusty, but gave consistent effort on both ends of the court. As he noted, if his team is going to win, he’ll need to be more impactful in the scoring column. 

Erik Johnson (C) - Slick didn’t have his best game, but his effort throughout the game was consistent. I know he will play better in the upcoming games.

Michael Fraher (B) - Ghost was efficient in the week 1 opener, but his team needed more from him offensively.

Nick Lynch (B) - Lynch was a monster, per usual but 11 points will not be enough if his team is going to be successful this season. 

Mamba Forever

Djordje Vlajkovic (A+) - Was by far the best player on the floor at all times. His defense and unselfish play led the way for Mamba Forever. 

Emmanuel Okharedia (A+) - Per usual, E was effective on both ends of the court. He facilitated the offense efficiently and really controlled the game from start to end.

Jake Darby (B+) - Darby was really effective in his debut. He and Djordje looked good together and controlled the paint. 

Seth Kopel (A) - Kopel is already on ROY watch. He had a fantastic outing overall despite struggles from beyond the arc.  

Subject: MFs Must’ve Forgotten About Dre 

Killa Cam (22 PTS and 11 REBs) wasn’t messing about to start this game. He was the early catalyst for FAD as they jumped out to an early 15-point advantage (25 - 10). This included 4 - 4 shooting from deep. Admittedly, I think Steve was wrong for making Nick Galle guard Cam in his rookie debut because Cam absolutely feasted on the smaller guard. 

Jorge Morel embraced his Point-Forward role, nearly notching a triple-double. Civale made his SDL debut and notched a double-double (22 PTS, 2 BLKs, and 10 REBs) as would go into the half leading 43 - 30 with no signs of looking back.

Despite the early deficit, Turbo was having no part in a blowout. Fresh off a monster performance in #FRANCHISE Keith (32 PTS, 17 REBs, and 7 assists) turned on the jets and within a blink of an eye it was a three-point game.

Turbo was feasting in transition and really started to play with more confidence. Keith was by far the best player on the court for either team, once he decided to play defense. Guys like Joe (10 PTS and 6 REBs), Steve (9 PTS, 8 REBs, and 1 Stl), and Nick (7 PTS) really benefited from his play.

Turbo went on a 17 - 5 run and trailed by 2 points (50 - 48). Nick Galle would his a huge three to put Turbo up 1 (51 - 50) with 11 minutes left, but it wasn’t enough as Forgot About Dre would seal the victory from three free throw line, despite poor overall free throw shooting.
 

Forgot About Dre

Andre Jones (B+) - Debo gets docked some points for showing up late and demanding I open the front door for him. Aside from that, he was extremely effective for them on both ends of the court.

Brian Civale (B+) - Civale let it fly whenever possible. It wasn’t his best shooting performance, but I expect him to get better over time. 

Cameron Daniel (A) - Solid overall game for OG Cam Daniels. I couldn’t have asked for more. 

Cameron Daniels (B+) - Was the player on the floor during the first half. Disappeared in the second half. 

Daniel Lyman (C+) - Very quiet debut. Dan was very active and will play better as he gets comfortable. 

Jorge Morel (B+) - Jorge had a nice overall game, but I know he has another level. 

Turbo

Gordon Sheffield (A) - 11 rebs and 6 assists. He played the point guard position very well and helped initiate the offense. 

Joseph Breda (B) - Struggled early on, but got it going in the second half. More importantly, was not called for a single travel. 

Keith Baranowski (A) - Was by far the best player on the floor at all times. Could have easily scored more, but did a fantastic job facilitating. 

Neil Aggarwal (B) - Worked his ass off on defense. Struggled a bit offensively. 

Nick Galle (B) - One of the best rookie debuts in the league. This kid has some dog in him. 

Steve Rakusin (B) - His SDL double-double streak came to an end, in what was an average performance for him. On a bright note, he looked good the next day in pickup. He’ll be better.