Week 2 - Write Up Victorious Secret VS. The Motha Effect

by Jamil

This was a fantastic matchup between 2 very talented teams that suffered tough week 1 losses. After struggling mightily in week 1, The Motha Effect had fantastic chemistry from the start. Nate Guzzi (25 points 6 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Nika (15 points and 14 rebounds) were the catalyst for the improved play.

Nate Guzzi was impactful on both ends of the court (2 steals and 2 blocks) and was extremely assertive in scoring the ball. Nika on the other hand, dominated the paint and the offensive glass to the tune of 6 offensive rebounds. I’ve watched him play over the past two sessions and this was by far the best I’ve ever seen him play. 

The Motha Effect would jump out to an early lead, in a game that looked posed to be an absolute blowout, but Victorious Secret wasn’t prepared to go out without a fight. #5v5Draft rookie Jonathan Allen (15 points, 3 steals, and 9 rebounds) played well despite his team trailing in the scoring column. Fellow Rookie Ron Cabeza would have a quiet first half, as he returned from injury but would eventually get it going.

The Motha Effect would go into the half leading 39 - 27 with no signs of slowing down. Motha (13 points and 10 rebounds) Kunal (10 points and 5 rebounds), and Hamza (9 points and 6 rebounds) would all contribute to a very convincing win for The Motha Effect, as they re-establish themselves as a championship contender and one of the top teams in this league.

Week 2 - Write Up The Cambridge Rats VS. Primetime 5.0

By Jamil

Both teams started off slow in this week 2 matchup. Ben Danzig (17 Points and 9 rebounds) got the offense rolling early for Primetime 5.0. His ability to score at all three levels was on full display as he would score in a variety of ways.

Marquis struggled mightly to start the game, but there was an unsung hero by the name of Steve Rakusin (15 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists) that kept The Cambridge Rats within reach of the lead. Steve was incredible on both ends of the floor, but his 5 of 5 clip from three had to be a new personal best.

After some early struggles, Jacob Miller (22 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) hit his groove midway through the first half and controlled the pace of the game. He had the three-ball dropping (3) and penetrated at will for easy scores. 

Primetime 5.0 would go into the half with the lead, but Marquis Victor (35 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks) was saving his best for the second half. Marquis went on to hit 5 of his 7 triples in the second half and 3 absolutely monster rejections getting it done on both ends of the court.

Shawn Wise (10 points and 15 rebounds) was a man amongst boys, putting his week 1 struggles in the rearview mirror and re-establishing himself as of the top centers in the league. 

The Cambridge Rats would go on to beat PrimeTime 5.0 by double-digits despite playing reasonably well. 

Week 2 - Write Up All the Smoke VS. Can’t Miss Keramaris

BY WISE

Can’t Miss Keramaris came into the game missing their MVP candidate, Jacob Held. Unfortunately for All the Smoke, they would be missing their big man, Kola Olugbade, and Jamil would have to play through nagging leg injury. With Brian Horan not able to make the start of the game, All the Smoke would have to start the game with just 5 players. Can’t Miss Keramaris would jump out to an early lead on an undermanned and undersized All the Smoke team.

They jumped out to a 35-23 lead at half and never looked back. Eric Li looked like a mix of Dikembe Mutombo and Steve Nash. Eric was definitely the most impactful player on the court for the first 22 minutes. He had 4 of his 5 blocks and 5 assists in the first half and looked like he was well on his way to a triple double. He would finish the game with 14 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks and a steal.

Mazz made All the Smoke pay when they left him open behind the arc and would finish making 7 three-pointers in the game. He would finish the game with 30 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. This game was pretty ugly for All the Smoke from start to finish. Can’t Miss Keramaris capitalized on their bad turnovers and push the ball in transition for easy points. Jamil, Tyrone and Kashawn all would end the game with double digit points but I don’t think any of them would feel like they played well. All the Smoke was able to dig deep and rally back for a couple of minutes in the second half and cut the lead from 18 to single digits. However, they would run out of steam and lose by 18 in the end.

Week # 2 Power Rankings

1. Costa (3 - 0) - We’re still undefeated after 3 games and have embraced our defensive identity. Dylan Costa is looking like a visionary after forming one of the most formidable teams in the league. Charlie Maneval and Emmanuel Okharedia continue to make every captain regret passing on them. 
2. Nair (1 - 1) - Nair is poised to compete for the # 1 spot in these Power Rankings. If Nick Lynch's 39 points in his debut are any indication of what’s to come we’re all in trouble when Adwaith returns from his broken hand. Can’t wait to see them both on the court at the same time. Can’t forget about the amazing start the DTO and Ruff are off to. 
3. Stull Here (1 - 1) - After an impressive week 1 victory, David P and Co.lost their first game of the season to Team Costa. Jordan Staiger looks to be an excellent addition to not only the team but the league. When fully staffed, this team will be one of the top-tier teams in this league. 
4. Daniels (1 - 2) - Offensively Team Daniels is one of the most talented teams in the league, but they cannot seem to put it together for a full 40 minutes. Cam. Adam, and Ghost average 15+ points, how that’s not translating to wins is baffling.
5. Platano Power (0 - 2) - It’s hard to really gauge this team's ceiling because they haven’t had their full complement of players through the first 2 weeks of the season. AO returned to the lineup, but no Jorge really hurt them against us today. I will say, this team works their ass off on both ends of the court and I can see Tim, AO, and Jorge leading this team to the playoffs. 

Week # 2 WRITE-UPS

Nair VS. Daniels
By JAMIL

Even with Nick in attendance, I had Team Daniels as heavy favorites in this matchup and they didn’t disappoint early on jumping out to a quick lead.  Ghost “MICHAEL FRAHER” got off to a scorching start, scoring 20 of his 27 points in the first half. 

Cam Daniels (21 Points) was stroking it from deep and Team Daniels looked primed to run away with this game leading 24 - 11 through the first 7 minutes. David Ter-Ovanesyan (DTO) led the way early on for Team Nair with a ridiculous 25 points and 18 rebounds! WTF?

Team Nair would go into the half down 11 (47 - 36), but you could tell Nick Lynch was starting to heat up. The second half would be the Nick Lynch (39 points, 1 steal, 4 blocks, 19 rebounds, and 3 assists) show. 

This dude was absolutely unstoppable and despite their efforts, Team Daniels had no answer. 

With under a minute left in regulation, Andrew Marra would hit a huge three to tie the game at 72. With the clocking winding down, Team Daniels would inadvertently foul and Team Nair took full advantage converting the free throws and notching their first victory of the young season. 

Team Nair 

Patrick Blaikie C+ - Patrick is in a shooting slump like I’ve never seen before, but despite his struggles, he’s making a huge impact on the defensive end. I have no doubt he’ll find his stroke, I just hope it’s not against us.

David Ter-Ovanesyan A+ - DTO scored 25 while shooting 44% from three on 9 attempts. He’s off to a fantastic start this season. 

Damian Ruff B - Despite struggles beyond the arc, Ruff did a fantastic job rebounding and distributing the ball to his teammates. His ability to slow down Ghost was the difference in this game. 

Nick Lynch A+ -  39 points, 4 blocks, 19 rebounds do I really need I say more? 

Ben Mitchell A - Did a fantastic job defensively and played within the team offense.

Team Daniels

MICHAEL FRAHER A - 27 and 10 rebounds should have been enough. Ghost played a fantastic game despite his team suffering the loss. 

Cameron Daniels B+ - Cam had 21 points and played well for the most part. I still feel like he has another gear. 

Adam Ellabidy B - Adam struggled early on but still finished with 18 points. Cam and Adam aren’t on the same page yet, but it’s only a matter of time.

Andrew Marra A+ - Played fantastic on both ends of the court and hit a couple of huge threes when his team needed it the most. I would love to see him more aggressive on offense.

Costa feasts on Platano Power
BY DRUFF

Coming into this game I was interested in seeing the full Platano Power (PP) squad.  To my disappointment their captain Jorge was missing.  Although PP was already the underdog in this one, they had their 4th overall pick Alan Orellana in attendance so anything was possible.

The game was so bad to start Jamil Ball asked me at the 8:50 mark was the time right?  Umm yes it was and so was the score 25-8.  To close the half, things didn’t get any better, well for PP I mean, Costa went on a 16-3 run and was up 41-11 at the half.

Halftime stats:

Plantano Power

Alan Orellana 6 pts, 1 stl, 2 blks, 4 drebs

Neil Aggarwal 1 blk, 2 drebs

Tim Roberts 5 pts, 1 drebs

Chris Agresti 2 orebs, 4 drebs

Costa

Jamil Ball 19 pts, 1 blk, 3 orebs, 6 drebs, 2 asts

Charlie Maneval 13 pts, 3 drebs

Emmanuel Okharedia 6 pts, 4 stls, 1 oreb, 2 drebs, 1 ast

Dylan Costa 6 pts, 1 blk, 9 drebs, 2 asts

Player of the half:

Jamil Ball

Second half

To all the millions of readers across the world, if you’re waiting to read about a crazy comeback or how the game became interesting, keep waiting because neither thing happened.  10 minutes into the half Costa was up 62-23.  Final score ended up being 74-44 Costa with the win.  What’s crazy though is that PP was actually even with Costa the second half.

Player grades

Alan Orellana B after the game we talked briefly he said he didn’t think he could’ve done much more aside from being more aggressive, bingo.

Neil Aggarwal C just an ok game for him.  I actually think he can play better and his team will need him to as well.

Tim Roberts B was obviously the best offensive weapon for his team but would’ve liked to see him do a little more on the defensive end.  Admittedly if his team wins he gets a higher grade

Chris Agresti C+ good rebounding numbers and I liked that he gave me the guys names on the team I didn’t know.  I swear he shoots the ball with both hands so maybe he just needs to figure out which hand to shoot with.

Rob Lunder C+ played sparingly but I did enjoy my conversation with him about the Celtics.

Jamil Ball A- was the best player on the floor only knocking his grade for asking me if I took time off the clock smh.

Charlie Maneval A says he was saving himself for the second game but still managed to shoot decent and get some other stats.

Cameron Daniels A in a blowout victory didn’t miss a three and got some other stats.

Emmanuel Okharedia A— had a solid game with 5 steals but had to give one minus for the 0fer from three.  The other minus is because the trash talk was non-existent.  I actually respect that because the game wasn’t close but there were still opportunities to do this and I was disappointed.

Dylan Costa A although I know Dylan can play better he led his team in rebounding, assists and blocks while also going perfect from the free throw line.  What more do you want?

Player of the game:

Jamil Ball as previously mentioned was simply the best player on the floor and It wasn’t even close.

Back to back no problem

BY RUFF

Coming into this game I thought Stull Here had the advantage of fatigue.  Not only was Costa playing their second game of the day but they only had 4 guys.  Stull Here was missing arguably their best player which obviously didn’t help but no excuses.  A smart thing done slightly before the game by Jamil was telling the ref to put on some tunes.  The music I heard was how do I say it in a nice way, not to my liking.  Cam and I had an interesting conversation about it.  Ok enough rambling let me focus on the game.

The pace of this game was super slow.  With about 10 minutes left in the half there was a total of only 14 points on the board and tied up.  As the half continued, Costa pulled away slightly and ended the half with a nice dime from Jamil Ball to Dylan Costa for the layup right before the buzzer.  Costa was up 19-13.

Halftime stats:

Stull Here

Steve Rakusin 4 orebs, 5 drebs

Christopher Stull 2 drebs

Jordan Staiger 1 pt, 1 stl, 2 drebs

David Pendergast 12 pts, 1 blk, 1 oreb, 6 drebs

Costa

Jamil Ball 11 pts, 1 blk, 1 oreb, 4 dreb, 1 ast

Charlie Maneval 6 pts, 5 drebs

Cameron Daniel 1 oreb, 1 dreb

Dylan Costa 2 pts, 1 blk, 9 drebs

Player of the half:

Jamil Ball

Second half:

2 minutes into the half, Costa went on a 10-2 run forcing Stull Here to call a timeout.  While Stull Here continued to battle, they were never able to recover from that run.  Costa wins 49-39.

Player grades:

Steve Rakusin C while he did have a good rebounding game, he struggled putting the ball in the basket which is what his team needed.  He did go scoreless in the first half and was able to change that in the second, he just needed a similar output to his week 1 performance.

Christopher Stull C- managed to get some rebounds and obviously going 0-7 is not good.  The reason I added the minus to his grade is because he stopped shooting.  I’ve literally seen this man make 4 straight threes in a game last season.  He definitely lost his confidence in this game.  As someone who will continue to make and miss threes, take it from me, don’t stop shooting.  Especially if they are good shots and your team needed some offense.

Erik “Slick” Johnson C+ while Slick was anything but that on the court today.  Hopefully he was at least successful at the casino.  His + grade is because he agrees with me that Michael Jeffrey Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all-time.

Jordan Staiger B- had a good debut in SDL.  I think anytime you’re playing with guys for the first time there will be an adjustment.  The minus to his grade comes from his low three point percentage.

David Pendergast B was obviously the best player on his team.  Would’ve loved to see him be a tad bit more aggressive and use his energy as he did against my team in week 1.

Jamil Ball A— in back to back games was the obvious best player on the floor.  Had to add some minuses to his grade.  The first one was for telling the ref to put on some tunes.  All those in favor of never allowing the ref to play music again, say I, I.  The other minus has to go for saying that LeBron James is a better “basketball” player than Michael Jordan.  I won’t get into it so we can just respectfully agree to disagree.

Charlie Maneval B- actually had a decent game but added the minus because he specifically told me he was saving himself for this game.  For whatever reason his three ball wasn’t what I expected but regardless his team won.

Cameron Daniel C got a few stats and played his role despite not scoring.

Dylan Costa B despite the struggles from the free throw line and three point line, still managed to have a double double and 3 blks.

Player of the game:

Jamil Ball I might have to start excluding him from this if he keeps winning it so easily.  No seriously well deserved and just was really good.

WEEK 2: 

BY LAMARR BENNETT

Game 1: Terminator 2 (65) VS FCHWPO (69)

Welcome back to B1 5x5 Week 2! WE start this week with probably the best game of the week with FCHWPO topping Terminator 2 in a back and forth, overtime deciding victory. Both teams were only running 5 players so no bench help this week, and we started the game off only running 4s. FCH got off to a quick start, starting the game on a quick 10-2 run led by some good ball movement to get some easy baskets. T. Bissell finally made it to the game and he was definitely needed for T2. he immediately called a timeout to get in the game and made his presence immediately. T2 went on their own 10-2 run, pressuring and forcing a few turnovers to lead to fast break points. Low scoring game to this point but FCH had the lead with 9:00 to go in the first half 12-11. J. Maniyaki and CJ got hot for T2, both knocking down multiple 3s to keep the team close but FCH would answer every bucket with their own. Aidan Cyr was a menace on defense and on the boards despite being one the shortest players on the court. McCarthy, the superhero from last week, cooled off some but still had himself a strong half, scoring 16 of his 23 points in the first half. T2 went into halftime down only by 4 with a score of 32-28. They had a well rounded scoring attack in the first half, with 3 players scoring at least 8 points.

FCHWPO came out of the half on fire. Chris Sellew, who had a rough first half shooting the three, came out and hit 2 back to back and had a nice spin move lay up to give his team a quick 12 point lead. But Sam Jenson and Bissell both had hit a three and Jensen with a nice euro step layup to bring it back to 7 at 47-40. T2 started getting really hot at this point, with Maniyaki finally getting it going, and boy he got it going. He hit a 3 and had a nice assist to Jensen who knocked down another three, 52-48 FCH with 7:00 minutes remaining. Few buckets from FCH brought it back up to ten quickly. T2 goes on a 10 - 0 from the 6:00 minute mark to the 4:00, led by two back to back 3s by T. Bissell and 1 more by Maniyika. With under 2:00 to go, Maniyika hit a thre that was answered by a Mccarthy 3, that was again answered by another Maniyaki 3. True definition of  a back and forth game. McCarthy got fouled with 45 seconds to go and had a chance to go up two at the line, he hit the first but missed the second of a 1 and 1. Maniyika took advantage of the miss and hit a midrange faraday jumper to tie the game at 64 a piece. OVERTIME!

First overtime game of the season and it didn't disappoint. McCarthy comes out with a ig thre to start OT, then Cyr had geat steal and lay up to go up by a quick 5. Very next possession, Cyr came up with a big block on the other end and tha sealed the game for FCHWPO. They ended up winning with a score of 69-65. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME: J. McCarthy (23 pts, 17 rbs, 2 ast)

GAME 2: Mid Range Magic (43) - Mens league (74)

Game 2 between midrange magic going up against Men's league was , surprisingly, a blow out from the opening tip. Going off what I saw last week, I gave mid range magic a real good chance of winning. But Mens league had full team this week unless last, and there are a force to be reckoned with. The men's league came out on a mission, playing team ball and making all the right plays on both ends of the floor. Tom Smith and Josh Slater set the tone early, both crashing the glass hard and scoring early. Before you knew it the score was 17-5. Mid Range Magic was getting good looks, just couldn't knock anything down, especially from 3. But even though they were not hitting at a high clip, 5 of there first 6 shots were 3 pointers  so that should tell you how the half was going. They did cut the lead down to 4 but after a 4 minute scoring drought, Mens ague got the lead back up to double figures and never looked back. They outscored there opponents to end the half 23-6 to leave the score at 41-22 going into the half. Let's not forget Mens league Captain Geaorge Shultz coming into the game droppin dimes and hitting two big trees. His impact was definitely felt. Mid Range Magic also didn't appreciate a Time Out called with 3 seconds left in the half and let there opponents hear about it. Forward Cliff Bouchereau did all he could in the first half, racking up a handful of rebounds and scoring 8 first half points, but he desperately needed help.

The second half was more of the same if not better than the first half for Mens League. Big man Tyler Seibring just straight took over the game, and I think Midrange magic getting upset at the half fuelled him some. He scored  17 of his game high 23 points all in the second half, capped off with 3 threes and dominating the mid range.His height seemed to be just too much to handle and Mid Range Knew it. Big man Jack Anton, college teammates of Seibring, was dropping dimes left and right and had the first double digit assist game of the season. MId Range fought hard to the end, With Eric Maynard and Cam Kelly getting it going in the second half. Each scoring a couple of buckets and trying to keep a float. Free throws have been a problem for Mid range so far this season, and again it was a problem tonight. A lot of bickering and words to the refs, so they called the game early with about 4:00 minutes left in the game. The men's league ended up with the blowout win, Knocking off mid Range magic by 31 points 43-74.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tyler Seibring (23 pts, 9 rbs, 2 ast)

Game 3: Big Phil From the Hill and team (52) vs Treys for Days (66)

The final game of week two was a pretty good match up between Big Phils Squad and Treys for days. T4Ds came out with a solid 66-52 win. T4Ds came out hot with Devin Santilli all over the place, picking up two quick steals and hitting a quick lay up and 3 to get things going. Things pretty much kept going back and forth for the half, trading buckets. But a seventh foul by Trey for days 5:00 minutes to go left in the half gave Big Phils squad a chance to get back in the game. Henry Lafrancis was his typical dominant force in the paint, scoring at will, drawing fouls and seemingly grabbing every rebound on the offensive glass. Henry Louis was extremely aggressive, attacking the paint and getting to the line (6 free throw shots after the 7th foul). A three from Sean Concannon tied the game up at 21 a piece with 3 minutes to go. Dana Flood helped keep T4D in the game late in the half, scoring 5 big points with 1:30 to go. Both teams traded baskets until the half, where the score was 28-27 with T4Ds up. Lafrancis and Flood combined for 22 of the teams 28 first half points.

Second half is where T4Ds separated themselves and really got it going. a 12-3 run led by a three by both Santilii and Flood and Lafranicis cleaning up the glass. T4Ds were really attacking and killing the offensive glass and it started to pay off. LaFrancis Was a absolute monster in the second half, scoring 19 points and grabbing another handful of rebounds. His second straight week with a dominant performance. Henry Louis kept his team in the game getting to the line at will (12 attempts for the game),  if he had a little more help the score might have been different. Two more big 3s by Dana Food and Santilli and the game was out of reach. The game ended with T4D winning by 14 with a score 66 -52.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Kevin “Larry” Lafrancis (29 pts, 13 rbs, 1 ast)

By Niyati 

Game 1 | Hartbreakers (69) - Space & Pace (74)

The Devin Jensen Show Despite the Loss

The Hartbrakers were outplayed by Space & Pace but we shouldn’t count them out for future games. Player of the game was without a doubt Devin Jensen, leading both sides with 31 points. He put up 7 deuces and 4 threes but his defensive game was on fire as well with 4 defensive boards, a steal, and despite being involved in almost all the plays ending the game with no PFs on his name. The score going into the second half was 33-41 with Space & Pace up and it would have been a sight to see if the Hartbrakers could have gotten the comeback dub but hey it’s only week 2 and they’re just warming up. 

Jensen did have help with Tim DeMatteo and Tucker Landry to even the scoreboard with DeMatteo having 11 points, and 2 defensive rebounds and Landry notching 9, 2 boards on each end of the court, and a block. Unfortunately the trio could only take it so far with the rest of the bench collecting the final 8 points on their end. 

Space & Pace came out guns ablazing winning the tip and sharing the bucket glory as each player earned points on the sheet. Led by #43 James Welch who was too hot to handle with his no look passers he lead S&P with 17 points, 3 assists, and shooting 50% on FTs. As a newcomer scorekeeper, this team seems to have been playing for years together with their fluidity and chemistry on the court complete with no look passes and an impossible to stop around the horn play. Helping Welch and pad the score was a collective effort by the rest of the team. Jason Marino had 16 points, 3 boards, and a steal despite shooting 25% on FTs. Matt Turkington put up 11. Stephen Valacer helped with 10 additional points, going 4/4 on FTs 

GAME 2 | Borme’s Disciples (60) - Skelton’s Boys (55)

The Mismatch Mistake by Skelton’s Boys 

Despite the deep bench by Borme’s Disciples, the game was tied 24-24 going into the half. The no bench by Skelton’s boys may have aided into the loss as they got tired as the game went on. Though they did connect on backdoor passes and a smart #22 Andrew Yamin going into the second half with 3 fouls in the column. The game really came down to the last few minutes as the game tied 50 apiece with less than 5 minutes left in the week 2 matchup. 

SB put up a tough effort with Erik Pettit tallying 14 points but only going 2/7 from downtown. Elijah Henderson went off playing smart stealing the ball 4 times and converting them into a bucket each opportunity. Travis Sinatro had 3 steals as well and 10 points attempting to make the comeback they were desparately playing for. 

Even with Borme’s Disciples playing aggressively from the get-go they have to be thankful that SB didn’t capitalize on some of the sloppy passes that earned 12 steals. WIth the mismatch on Sam Holtze, he showed SB that no matter who’s on him he’ll find the way to the bucket, earning 25 points for the night. The play of the game goes under his belt as he made a breakaway layup assisted by #4 Garret Ganley who also had 12 points to get the dub. 

Game 3 | Ronin Blood Warrirors (82) - Shooters Shoot (86)

Shooters Shot Their Way to the OT Win

This game was a nail biter as it went into the second half with Ronin Blood Warriors trailing by just 4 points but tying it up to send the game to OT. Despite having two DIII players on their roster, Ronin wasn’t able to keep up with the scoring trio of Hugh O’Neill who had 16 points, Luke Rogers who had 19 points, and David Reynolds who went 6/13 on threes nabbing himself 24 points. 

The rest of SS was padded by Ryan Romich who had 12 points, Matt Pattyson who had 8 points and Ryan Fogarty who had 7 points and went 75% on FTs. The team as a whole was 10 for 12 on shots from downtown. 

Ronin Blood Warriers put up a hard fought fight with the trio of the Kevins and Isaac Lane. Kevin Nunez had 29 points for the night and went 9 for 11 on FTs, missing both in a crucial time with Ronin trailing by 1 point with 1:30 left in OT. Lane went for 22 points and putting up a show on the glass with 2 O’s and 4 D’s and going 100% on FTs for the game. Kevin Vanderhorst ended the night with 10 points. 

Game 4 | MostHated (60) - Team Takeover (66)

Heated Game Ends in Favor of Team Takeover to End Week 2

It almost seemed as if the teams talked trash more to each other than they talked game to their own teammates but nevertheless, it made for an entertaining week 2 final game. Team Takeover dished out just a few more buckets than MostHated could and took the game 66-60. 

MostHated was even across the boards for player’s points with Dakari Hannah-Wornum and Steven Chivallatti leading the team with 12 points each. Dandre Lopes and Anthony Barbosa also helped pad their score with 11 and 10 points, respectively. It seemed like all Lambert had to do was just stand near the paint and he’d make his way to the ball either defensively through boards or offensively through scoring the easy layup from underneath. Barbosa seemed to go through most of the game unguarded despite going 2 for 2 on threes and making all 4 of his FTs. Despite all the positives, they could not hit the nail in the coffin even with the lead for the majority of the second half. MostHated’s nail in their coffin was when they called a timeout that they didn’t have resulting in TT going to the line to secure their win. 

For TT, Jason Feliciano was the showstopper as he banked 27 points, catching 3 defensive boards, 2 assists, and shooting 75% on FTs. Jared Brown and Christian Higgins supported their man Feliciano by scoring 10 apiece. Despite the chirping from either team, it was a tight game from start to finish and I’m excited to see how both teams respond in the rest of the season. 

BY HARRY & IAN

Weinstein spoils the Great Clasby’s party  

As tends to be the issue during the summer season both teams had attendance issues in this one. Pollock was out for Trick or Treat and Clasby was out for the Great Clasby. These absences would seem to favor the Great Clasby slightly, but it was really a toss up game as we had no idea what to expect about from the first overall pick Jay. He made a solid, first impression, but was it enough? To the action!

To the shock of nobody, the beginning of this game was bad. Neither team could buy a basket and there were a lot of turnovers and sloppy basketball. Slowly but surely the teams started to figure it out and Weinstein threw the first punch scoring a couple of quick baskets. Things were back and forth in this opening ten minutes with Robel leading the way for the Great Clasby. Unlike past seasons were he hung out on the perimeter, Robel spent a lot of time down low and was doing a good job finishing at the rim. Jay got off to a slow start as Kenny and co were playing solid defense on him, but you could tell it was only a matter of time. 

Halfway through the first half it was 13-12 Trick or Treat and scoring was still at a premium even after it looked like the teams were starting to figure out their offense. Over the rest of the first half, it remained close as Jay was doing a good job distributing for Great Clasby. His shot was off, but you could tell he knew how to read the game and he was doing a great job getting good looks for other players. Angry Ian especially was the recipient of some good pocket passes and he was knocking down his signature mid-range jumper. For Trick or treat they were getting a balanced effort as rookie Karim was very active and looked to be much better than were he was drafted and Harry was knocking down jumpers. Things remained very close as the half closed and we went into half with the Great Clasby holding a slim 28-26 lead. Weinstein led the way with nine points for Trick or Treat, while Robel led the way with eight for Great Clasby.

The second half started with Jay finally getting going. He started to get to the hoop and in a matter of minutes he had equaled his first half point total with three quick buckets. During this time Harry’s team was really struggling to score and all of a sudden Ben’s team had created some separation. Trick or Treat broke their drought when Harry made a nice runner off the dribble and got fouled. He missed the free throw, however and Jay went down and knocked down his first three of the game to push the lead to 43-36. Even though the Great Clasby had some separation, it seemed only a matter of time before Harry’s team made a run. Behind some excellent defense from Karim, Harry’s team got out in transition and started to cut into the lead. A Weinstein bucket tied things up at 43 and then Karim got a block and took it all the way for a layup to give Trick or Treat their first lead since midway through the first half. 

Jay answered quickly after with a tough fadeaway jumper and he scored several times after that as well as he started to take over. There were only five minutes left at this point and Great Clasby held a 51-47 lead. A Weinstein put back made it a two point game, but Robel answered to restore the four point lead with three minutes left. A couple of misses for Great Clasby opened the door for Trick or Treat and after a Weinstein jumper we had a tie game with two minutes left at 53-53. Both teams would miss threes on their ensuing possessions, but Karim would get fouled on back to back possessions. He knocked down four clutch free throws and Harry’s team found them up by 4 at 57-53. A Jay and one cut the lead to one, but inexplicably Silva’s team didn’t foul immediately and the clock ran down from 30 seconds to five. Silva used both his timeouts to advance the ball and had a play drawn up for a three to tie. They inbounded the ball to Jay, but Harry smartly fouled immediately before a shot could be put up. Jay knocked down both free throws even though I think he was trying to miss the second leaving it a one point game with just over two seconds left. Harry got the ball on the inbound and was fouled immediately. He missed the first one and then did the right thing and missed the second as well causing the clock to run out. Final score Trick or Treat 59, Great Clasby 58.

Trick or Treat

Weinstein A: Vintage performance where he carried the offense for the large majority of the game.
Karim A: Really impressive debut. Knows how to play, can finish at the rim and was very good on defense.
Harry B+: 6/6/2 and made two really good captain calls late, giving the foul when up three and then missing a free throw to cause the clock to run out.
Stat D: Didn’t make a field goal, but played solid defense.
Kenny C: Quiet game on offense, but did a good job sticking with Jay

The Great Clasby

Jay B+: 32/10/6 is a great line, but I thought he left a lot of points on the board. If he finds a consistent jump shot we’re all in trouble.
Robel B: Really good first half, but seemed to tire as the game went on.
Angry Ian C+: Really good first half, but plagued by foul trouble in the second half.
Cassel C: Quiet game for the great one with only one three. 
Ben D: Really questionable Captain decision not fouling when down one with 30 seconds left for 20+ seconds dings the grade big time. 

Rookie Miller finds gym and his team a victory!

Our second game of the evening featured Cundall’s team taking on Cam’s team, with both guys counting on rookies to be major contributors. Cam’s team was missing Lynch though, so things weren’t looking up for them. Cundall had everyone. TO THE ACTION!

The first half of this rock fight belonged to Benjamin Koller, who was trying to win one for the CAC vets in this rookie fest. He led all scorers with 14 first half points, adding 7 rebounds along with a steal and block. Pretty much enjoying the fruits of number 1 status and dominating the game along the way. Good thing too, because his teammates outside of small contributions from Cundall and Gray weren’t doing their part. They did have the lead all the way through though.

That’s because the Young Bucks offense kind of sucks. Miller, who I helped get to the gym, you’re welcome Cam, wasn’t afraid to get up shots. He led his team with 13 points and was described as a bigger Weinstein by Cundall, good comparison I’d say. Miller wasn’t efficient, but did a good job getting to the line. He also destroyed Koller on one drive, sending Koller down on his buttocks. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a good look at the play. Miller’s teammates outside of 6 Cam points, weren’t doing much. Apparently, DTO can only unlock his powers on Saturday mornings.

Gray Matter went into the half up 30-22. Outside of their respective stars, these teams really looked fucking awful. BACK TO THE ACTION!

I’d like to say the Young Bucks supporting cast stepped up this half, but I’d be lying. Jkjkjk they did a little more than nothing, with Landy and DTO hitting a three. New fan favorite Eric Bauman, added 4 points and did something sexy I can’t remember right now. Cam added his usual effort, hustle and some crazy passes that never had a chance. They looked A LITTLE better, which got them the lead because…..

Gray Matter really sucked in the second half. It’s never good to look at second half and see the leading point scorer had 5 points for you in the half. These guys just couldn’t buy a bucket and you can credit the defense, but man this doesn’t look good. Rookie Julien just couldn’t get good looks for himself. He’s a tall man, but it appears he comes from the Djordje school of bigs who don’t use their body like they should. Cundall’s other rookie LB looked like a player, but he was gassed repeatedly. Taha and Gray did their best to chip, but you’re asking a lot of them to pick up your offense for a half. Then Koller, who dominated the first half, just died in the second. He didn’t look comfortable knowing he had to create buckets for himself late.

Young Bucks mercifully ended this horror show hitting enough free throws late. 55/49 Final.

Grades;

LB B-: Hit some threes, but just couldn’t get a wind all game.
Cundall B: Second on the team in scoring, but couldn’t get the 3-ball to drop.
Koller B: Great first half, but a bad second half full of forced shots.
Taha B-; Brought the energy late, but they’ll need more from him.
Julien C-: He has more in him. I know that already.
Gray B+: Hit his jumpers when he got them.

YOUNG BUCKS:

Cam B: Good activity and defense, but left points on the board.
Landy B-: Shot was off, but contributed else where. Had a nice block too!
DTO C-: This should have been a good DTO game, but it wasn’t.
Miller A-: Ultimately won the game for his team, but I except more.
Bauman C+: The new fan favorite needs to make his threes and FTs.

Counselors lecture 5 weeks and counting the hard way

Another game, another team full of rookies. Thankfully, we had one team with known commodities. The Counselors rolled into the season with the reigning OPOY and a good supporting cast. While Jamil’s team went with the long game and rookies, along with BIG GUNS. Joel and the other Julien was out for Noah’s team. TO THE ACTION!

Cam filled in until Jamil got there. Naturally, this didn’t lead to a great first half showing as the Counselors wrecked havoc upon 5WNC’s defense. They hit 10 first half threes, 4 from Jack and 3 apiece from AJ/Noah. AJ, led the world in 1h scoring with 19. It was a buffet at the Golden Corral.

Troy had some nice takes, co-leading the team with 10 first half points. Cold off the streets, Jamil had 10 points himself. Things are obviously going to be an uphill climb on both ends without Nair.

Counselors went into the half up 51-31.

BACK TO THE ACTION!

The bright spot for 5WNC was Big Guns notching a double digit rebound game. I also thought Maneval looked like a pretty good defender. AJ is a tough guard for anyone, so no shame giving up buckets there. These guys just need to work on their chemistry.

The Counselors slowed down a bit as the game moved on. They moved the ball nicely in this game. I’ll be looking closely at their ball movement as they play harder games down the stretch. Rookie Bret looked like a good hustle player and a willing passer.

Counselors cruised to an easy victory. Nice way to start the year.

Grades:
Maneval C-: Rough game shooting the ball.
Big Guns B+: I like this career high in rebounds. Can it continue?
Troy C+: Good effort on the boards and scored it, but shot was a bit off too.
Jamil B-: Late start, but still lead the team in points. We’re leaving too many points out there though.

Counselors:

Team grade: A+ Everyone played good and shared the ball. Noah almost had a triple-double. AJ and Jack had double-doubles. No negative comments.

Civale the defender

We finally reached a game where we knew all the key figures as Calderan’s Danner 18 took on Civale’s Mountains out of Mulvehills. Hanks was out for Civale and Glynn as well as their namesake was out for Calderan. TO THE ACTION!

MOOM came out guns ablazing behind their captain and leading contender for DPOY after one game, Civale. Civale had 13 first half points, along with a steal, 6 boards and FIVE blocks. Who is this man and what did he do with the Civale we know?!?!! The rest of the team wasn’t too shabby either. James, led the team with 18 points in the first half and the reigning MVP had 7 assists, along with 8 boards. We also got an OTTOMATIC sighting. The good times were rolling here.

Meanwhile, Danner 18 struggled with their putrid defense. Calderan did ball out early though, with 10 first half points, 8 boards and 2 assists. Not bad work for a half. Rookie Marcellus struggled though, missing a bunch of easy shots. He may need a week or two to get going in this league. Casey and Cavano combined for a bunch of bricks from deep early. They combined to 4-19 from deep. Gross, Marcellus and Calderan also missed 3 from deep, hitting none.

MOOM went into the half up 47-36. There was a funny moment in the first half when Macdonald forgot who was in and tossed the ball out to OTTOMATIC. BACK TO THE ACTION!

Things would get tighter in the second half with Cavano coming alive for Danner 18. Young Christopher did a great job attacking the cup this half, scoring 19 second half points. Cavano tends to get stronger as games go on and teams wear down. This appeared to be another case of that. Everyone else chipped with a few buckets as well.

With Cavano charging, his Wednesday teammate provided the answers. Macdonald scored 10 second half points, but shot an ugly 0-5 from deep. He ended up one assist shy of a triple double. It wasn’t his most efficient scoring game though. Civale, continued his good play, scoring 12 more points and picking up another block.

Unfortunately, Danner 18 just couldn’t cut into the lead enough to make this game feel uncomfortable for MOOM. They really struggled from 3. 77-70 Final MOOM.

Grades:

Macdonald B: Stuffed the sheet, played good D, but inefficient shooting.
Civale A+: Drink it in, this might be the greatest Civale defensive performance we’ll never see again.
James B: Great first half, but struggled in the second half shooting it. Did get a double-double though.
Lucas B+: Very nice showing and he had a monster block,
OTTOMATIC A: I loved what I saw in his return,

DANNER 18:

Casey C+: A cool 3 for 17 from 3 and he missed FTs. Yuck.
Cavano B+: Continues to suck from 3, but he played well.
Calderan A-: Really filled it up, but his shot from 3 has been off.
Marcellus C-: Tough first game, needs to convert on his open shots.

BY CHAS & HANKS

Week 2: Game 1 Skelley Vs ShawHanks 

Frano nails jumper right away to kick us off, but Dutton hits the elusive 3 ball 3-2. Matty O slashes in for the deuce, but Skelley responds with Obrd power 5-4. Hanks walks up into a 3 and it was money, but Dutton unleashing a 3 ball of his own. Frano converts pump fake shot, then rookie Hull showed that 1st step gets ti the rim 11-8 16 min. Frano gets anothe post 2 13-8. Worth/Keilley splash trey balls, lane continues run with bank shot, but a Hull 3 ties things at 16. Matty middy, Frano finishes runner, but Lane keeps pace with calm J. Matty finds Frano TD pass, then Matty and 1, Frano finished high off window 27-18. Dutton finishes at rim, but Hanks hits middy, then they traded hoops again 31-22. Hanks splashes a 3, then in the post hes balling 36-22. Worth 1-2, Skelley Obrd, but Shawhanks finish half with Matty spin shot, and Hanks Obrd 40-28. 

Hull strong take to start half, Kielley responds 2-2, but Frano pos work keeps lead at 44-29. Dutton nails another 3, Skelley P n roll, but Paul gets hook to go 46-34.Matty finds Frano and this one was not looking good, Team Skelley would never quit and got the lead down to a respectable 6 pts, but team Hanks just to consistent they win despite some late 3’s 64-61. 

ShawHanks 

Hanks-A- Rock solid night hit 3’s got steals/blocks, loved it!
Frano-A-) Knows how to put the ball in the hoop 
Matty-B+- Passing was beautiful, this team needed a facilitator and they got one. 
Hull-B- Looking more comfortable, got to se that burst off the 1st step.
Peteet-C+- Hustle was there, rebounded well. 
Paul-C-) Hit the hook but not much else. 

Team Skelley
Skelley-B+- Nice big man double double, playing well this young session. 
Dutton-B+- Shot the ball great, they will need that. 
Worth-A-) Dude was all over the place, hit 3’s, had some dimes
Lane-C-) started well but couldnt get anymore buckets 
Kielley-C- Really struggled shooting, rebounding D were there though
Lindsey-D- Didnt see much from my guy tonight. 

 Week 2 Game 3: Drop step Vs Amir Mortals 

Joey Randal 3 ball sex right off the tip, but Bohnaker obrd makes it 3-2. Bohanker 2-2, ut Murphy nails J, and then converts Obrd 7-4 15 min. Bohna 2-2, but Murphy hot ,dives in 9-6. Randal steal, and finish , then Randal 3 ohhhhhhhbabyyyyyyyyyy 14-6. Bohna 2-2, but Randal sticks J 16-10 10 min. Randal a walking fire ball gets runner, but Ian hits big 3 to keep his team in it, Pizza reponds with J, Randal converts slash than another randal 3 magiccccccccc 23-15. Amir $ 3, but Dany $ 3, Amir said stop that and hit another three 28-21. Choa nails jumper, but MCHPher 2-2, Murphy goes off glass, Ian 2-2, but Dany 3 35-25. Mchpher finally gets a 3 to go, and then htis J to end the half 35-30. 

Bohna Obrd 35-32. Murphy keeps his team out front with drive 37-22, Randal adds to that with bank shot 39-32. Pizza post work, but Murphy locked in $ J. The ace got frantic here both teams throwing hay makers after a broken play Dany got free and hits J 46-41 15 min to go. Dany hots nother 3 , randal slides in 51-41. Pizza strong take/Mchph J/, but Dany keeps pressure with up N under 53-45. Mchpher deep 3, Murphy 1-2 54-48 11 min. Mchpher J, Pizza nice cut/ but Choa trying to play hero gets J to go 56-52. Mchpher trey ball $, Bohna slashes in for the lead 57-56. Mch 3, but Drop Step would not quit, Murphy dives in, Dany hits big time 3 making it 62-61, but there goes that man Mchpher has no fear and drains 3, Bohna would dominate in the post down the stretch due to some ian dimes, and AM runs away 76-64. 

Drop Step
Randal-A- Throw back, dude was a savage out there. Sub woud have helped. 
Choa-A- 40 min and hung in there tough. Played D hit J’s, great job!!!
Murphy-A-) Didnt get the win, but played very well and efficient
Dany-A-) Was solid, loved loved loved loved loved the 5 steals 

Amir Mortals 
Mchpher-A-) Took him awile to get going but when he did, he showed he can take the league over. 
Amir-A- $ 3’s thank you very much!! 
Bohna-A+- Baller alertttttttttttttttttttt. My guy refused to lose, great finishing around the hoop 
Pizza-B+- Nice night here, was the lift they needed. Positive vibes are contagious 
Harry-C-) Defense was good, but man I need some hoops 
Ian-B-Did a nice job getting his boys the loosk they needed 8 dimes int eh 2nd half. 

Week2 Game 4: Asterisk VS EJ

Freinstein got a J right off the tip, and we were off and running 2-0. Fraher robotic jumper good 2-2 18 min. Big Lu gets Big for 2, Franher sticks J. Ray gets in on the act with a smoooth deep 3, but Ghost feeling it gets hook to go, then another perfect J 10-5. Jeffries now called “The Slim Reaper” $ 3 ball, he liked that so much he did it again, Ray said I like that 2, and hits another 314-10 Astrik up. Fraher calms things with a J, but Ray red hot hits another 3, then sticks middy, then converts drive 21-12. Cavano keeping his guys in it with a 3, but Joel with a nice finsih at the rim 24-15. Stull would geta  3 to go, but Ray oh my hits another walk up 3, you gota get out on that, oh wait whoops he hit another one, Dias cuts in but it was 30-20 7 min. Fraher with the rare trey ball , Cavano dives in, but there goes Ray Trey again , then Danner caught the 3 bug, and nailed it, danner lay up, Jefferies 3……………this one really got away. 

The 2nd half would not get better at all, as Astrik looks like a fucking Jauggaurnaught by the time I stopped taking notes it was 55-31, and to do that to a team at full strength is very very impressive they dominate 84-55. 

Asterisk 
Ray Trey-A+- 1 st game and absolutely killed them. Very active player, going to be a true handful for the league. 
Jefferies “ Slim Reaper”-A- Another deadly night from 3, striking fear into his opponents as hie rips their souls out. 
Joel-B- He was good, just overshadowed by his studs. 
Danner-C+- Did his thing, nothign crazy but solid as always 
Feinstein-B-) Didnt shoot 3 as good but still looks like a solid high IQ player, steal for Joel. 
Carey-B- they leave him open he hits 3 its simple. 

Team Slick 
Cavanao-C- Did all he could but struggled to shoot the 3, and let ray walk into to many 3’s. 
Fraher-B-) Fuego in the 1st, but really cooled off
Lu-C- got toasted on D, finished well in the 2nd half, but they need more. 
Ej-D-) Really rough right. 
Stull-B+- I really like the pep in his step so far, nailed 3 3’s. 
Dias-D+- Rebounded well, but struggled getting hoops. 

BY DEVIN QUINLIN

Game 1 | Bing Bong: 68 - Cobras: 60

Bing Bong Impress in A League Debut

Bing Bong came into the season as the only team I knew nothing about. Since I procrastinated my preseason research, I decided to just let them play and see what they had, and they came out ready to go against A League regular Cobras. The game was tied 30-30 at the half, with both teams making some shots but neither separating themselves. As the second half wore on, Bing Bong really started to establish themselves down low, finishing the game with 38 rebounds to the Cobras’ 26, and 18 twos to the Cobras’ 12. Solid debut from Bing Bong, who will be a competitive addition to the A League.

Gavin Keough led the scoring with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. He converted four of his six three-point attempts, showing off a fluid game and establishing himself as a strong catch-and-shoot guy. Tyler Lennon added 13 points, hitting three of his six attempts from deep and adding 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. He’s got that slow, shifty game where he doesn’t get sped up and showed off a few impressive moves in the pick and roll up top. Sam Goy was impressive on the attack, going hard downhill in transition and off the catch for some explosive finishes, including a nice dunk on the baseline and a crazy missed poster. He finished with 10 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal. Aaron Jaynes was extremely active on both ends, finishing with 8 points, 11 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. His high motor down the stretch was a key factor in Bing Bong pulling away for the win. Griffin Perry was another guy who’s active effort played a role in the win, as he only scored 2 points, but added 6 rebounds and a game-high 5 assists, including some excellent extra passes for threes for Lennon or Keough. Mike Boaheng was bringing the energy all game, hitting a three to finish with 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block, while Steve Azums was strong inside with 4 points, and 4 rebounds. Andrew Frazer hit a pull-up middy and a nice bucket in transition to finish with 4 points and 3 rebounds, and Dante Duncan was steady at the point with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. The only issue with these guys is that they have too many players, as 6-7 players seems to be the sweet spot for most teams to both preserve energy and help each other get a rhythm. Still, I think all of these guys can play well at this level and I expect them to be competitive in every game.

Cobras showed some strong flashes, and continue to play solid defense, but just couldn’t finish it out. Will Rowe continues to show out in this league, finishing with 21 points and 4 rebounds. He shot only one of six from the free-throw line, but hit all four of his three-point attempts and operated well down low as usual. He will be their key player come playoff time. Warfa Abdillahi finished with 15 points on three of seven shooting from downtown, plus 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, running the point well and knocking down shots as usual. DeAngelo Alston hit two threes of his own to finish with 8 points and 3 rebounds, and I liked his defensive energy as well. Ray Miller added 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal, but he showed some impressive poise with the ball in his hands. After a lot of complaining to the refs about contact, I expect him to adjust his game and make a big impact going forward. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up as their best player by the end of the season. Jamal Fiin added 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, but couldn’t find the range, going zero for five from three. I expect him to turn it back around quickly, though, as his offensive attack has been much improved recently. Carter Burruss added 4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, and I’d love to see him shoot and/or attack more, as he’s just an insane athlete and an underrated passer. Kevin Querusio added 1 points, 3 boards, 1 assist, and 1 steal in the loss.

Game 2 | We The Ones: 64 - Suffolk: 77

Suffolk Bring Balanced Attack to Overcome We The Ones

The Suffolk squad got off to a strong start, taking a commanding lead early into the second half and pushing the ball out in transition. We The Ones would not go away, though, as they found some offensive chemistry and started hitting threes to get the game to single digits in the second half. Eventually, though, Suffolk turned it on offensively and pulled away, winning by a final score of 77-64. 

George Grillakis made his return to Thursday A League, missing last session with an injury. Looks like he fully recovered, as he was just as explosive and strong in the open court. This guy has never once gone left in his entire life, but it doesn't matter, as he finished with 26 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a game-high 6 steals. Great physicality from Grillakis in his return. Bolden Brace added 13 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, a pretty good statline considering he was going about half speed. He did shoot one of six from three, but even with his shot off he was still highly impactful, leading his team in assists and blocks. Sam Holtze added a near double-double with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and a game-high 8 assists, taking a back seat with his shooting but facilitating as well as anyone during week 1. This trio will be at the top of the league this season, pushing for a championship. Logan O’Donnell added 10 points, 7 boards, 1 assist, and 1 block, finishing well inside and patrolling the paint on defense, while Mike McEneney couldn’t miss from the mid-range to finish with 9 points and 5 rebounds. With these two inside, Brace’s length on the perimeter, and Holtze’s quickness and strength against lead guards, this is a formidable defensive group. Kerry Weldon only enhances every part of their team, as he’s a strong finisher inside, moves the ball well, and can guard multiple positions as well. I definitely see these guys as a top team, I’m curious to see how they match up against other top competitors.

We The Ones have clearly upgraded from last season, with better ball movement, disruptive defense, and smarter overall play. Brother Karim and Marat Belhouchet had a huge impact in their A League debut, putting up similar statlines. Karim led the way with 18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals, and 4 assists, showing off a quick release jumper (six for eleven from three), some smooth handles, and good chemistry with his brother. Marat led the team in assists, finishing with 15 points, 3 rebonds, 4 steals, and 5 assists, hitting three threes, some nice pullups, and distributing the ball really well. Jordan Carter hit three threes of his own to finish with 10 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 3 steals, rounding out some really strong guard play from We The Ones, a big improvement from previous seasons. Garrett Stanowicz continues to score the ball well, adding 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, hitting jumpers in the mid-range and finishing well at the rim. His brother, Aidan Stanowicz, added 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals, while Keith Baranowski hit a big three down the stretch to finish with 3 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals, putting in a well-rounded effort on both ends.

Game 3 | West Coast Elite: 102 - DRBL: 90

West Coast Elite Outlast DRBL in Fast-Paced Shootout

In a matchup of two of the top teams in the division, this game was competitive until the very end (though WCE pulled away at the end with free-throws and open threes on DRBL defensive gambles). A high-scoring affair, both teams were pushing the ball, getting out in transition, and putting up plenty of threes. West Coast Elite eventually secured a 102-90 victory, shooting an absurd twenty of fourty from three and combining for twenty total assists as a team.

Derek Retos picked up right where he left off last season, shooting ten of seventeen from three to finish with 30 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. He started the game seven for eight from three before forcing Mike Thompson to switch on to him. Thompson did a nice job with his size and athleticism advantage, but Retos was patient and hit two huge threes late in the second half to help WCE pull away. Perhaps the best shooter I've ever seen. Jack Fay played a very solid game with three threes of his own to finish with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal, jumping right back into the league lead in assists and generally playing his solid game. Tom Palleschi added 8 points, 11 boards, 5 assists, and 2 blocks, dominating inside defensively. I expect him to hit more jumpers going forward as well, but his passing out of the post remains elite. Shooters Shoot have switched to the Monday division, but Andrew Jaworski and Stephen Tam both filled in today for WCE. Jaworski finished with 30 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals, knocking down all five of his free-throws and three of his seven three-point attempts. The guy just scores on anyone and the threat of his jumper opens up his game to attack for floaters and kick-outs. Stephen Tam shot four of seven from deep to finish with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, and 1 block consistently making smart plays, disrupting DRBL’s offensive rhythm, and knocking down some key buckets in the second half. Hard to judge WCE given the heavy contributions from two guys not even on their roster (though they may be added?), but they are consistently a top A League team and they came out ready for the challenge against DRBL.

DRBL returned with largely the same roster, but new addition Luka Vlajkovic made a big impact in his first game. He finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals, bringing great energy, solid size, and excellent skills. He was crashing offensive boards for easy putbacks one play, and hitting walk-up threes the next time down the court, going three for seven from out there. Definitely an excellent addition to an already talented group. Anthony Colozzo came out firing in this one, running the point effectively to the tune of 22 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals. His chemistry with Vlajkovic and Brodnitzki in the pick and roll is a key part of their offense, but his ability to create threes off the dribble for himself stood out in this one. Will he shoot six of eight every game and add two tough pull-ups in the mid-range? Maybe not, but he’s a big-time shot maker who I expect to be toward the top of the league in assists and threes made, and he’ll be a huge part of their offensive success. Mike Thompson added 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 big block in the loss, shooting only two of eleven from three and three of seven from the free-throw line. Even on the off-shooting night, Thompson is an exciting playmaker who is relentless on the attack and a strong defender. I would love to see his guys set him up for more catch-and-shoot threes, as he’s fully capable of making his tough stepbacks off the dribble, but could benefit from easier looks in rhythm. Jonah St. Clair added 13 points, 9 boards, 1 assist, and 2 steals, finishing well inside and playing excellent on ball defense on Jaworski in iso situations, while Will Brodnitzki added 13 of his own, plus 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block, finishing well inside and grabbing 5 offensive rebounds. Salim Belkebir struggled to find the range in this one, but looks to be another shooting threat, adding 5 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal, and he will be a nice floor space for them this season. Despite the loss, DRBL remains one of my favorites to win it all.

Game 4 | Spida Men: 76 - Not A Dime Back: 82

Not A Dime Back Hold Off Late Spida Men Comeback

Not A Dime Back went into the half down 42-45 against the Spida Men, but quickly pulled away in the second half on a three-point barrage. In the last few minutes, though, the game got away from them and they couldn’t convert their open looks and gave up too many careless turnovers. The Spida Men took full advantage, tying the game at 75, and a missed one-and-one ended regulation with the score tied. Chris Connor hit a massive three in OT, and the game was all but over from there, as NADB won by a final of 82-76.

Chris Connor hit the big shot, but he was big all game, finishing as one of three 30 point scorers on the night, adding 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal in the win. Connor shot five of nine from three while adding a few nice post moves and mid-range buckets, using his height to rise above defenders and pour it on. His 4 assists are a great sign as well, as he will draw doubles down low all season. Jon Luster must have read my preseason write-ups (does anyone read these?), in which I told him to be more selfish. Luster was definitely hunting his shot more, and despite a tough start in the first half, he quickly found the range to finish with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal. His 6 assists was a game-high, and he is the cog that makes this team run so well. Jeff Coulter added 14 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block. Always active on both ends, Coulter is a great finisher off of cuts, and serves as one of their best defenders, who can handle bigs but quickly switch onto guards and wings as well. Chris Cusano added 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and a week-high 4 blocks. He’s a reliable mid-range shooter, so it was nice to see him look for it a bit more in this one. He’s also gotta be one of the best shot-blocking guards I’ve ever seen, as he frequently denies guards attacking the rim, and he blocked a few jumpers in this one as well. Mike Synott added 5 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists, moving the ball well and looking for his shot a bit more, which will be key to NADB’s offense as Luster and Connor get more attention. NADB is always difficult to gauge because they’re such an excellent team, but their lack of size is always a question. Even without Giese and Kontopidis, it didn’t hurt them in this one, but it could present problems come playoff time. Still, one of the best teams in the division, and I’m excited to see how they rise to the occasion.

The Spida Men were a bit sloppy at times, but I saw a lot of good stuff here. Last session, I don’t think they would have made the late game push that they did, but they locked in defensively and converted some tough buckets late. Billy Battaglia went five for seven from three to finish with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, showing off a versatile offensive skill set, but doing most of his damage, as usual, from beyond the arc. He’s key to balancing out their offensive attack, as they love to dump the ball inside. The main reason is Danny Martin Jr., who finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Love Dan’s game, as he busts his ass on every possession and always plays to win. He also converted seven of his ten free-throws, despite missing a few early on. Tim Gallivan added 11 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block, though he uncharacteristically missed four free-throws. Still, strong defensive game from Gallivan, who should be getting up more than two threes a game, especially since this team needs the spacing. Eric Fleming finished with 10 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists, knocking down middy after middy and generally playing solid all game, while Jamal Brown added 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, knocking down a three as well. Both guys should look for their shots more, especially Jamal, whose strength makes him brutal on the attack. Lucio Dahlstedt-Brown hit a three to finish with 5 points and 1 rebound in his A League debut, while Cedric White added 2 points and 5 boards.

WEEK 1 SDL WRITE-UPS

Stull Here vs NAIR

BY JAMIL

The man, the myth, the legend David Pendergast made his much-anticipated debut and didn’t disappoint. With 29 points, 23 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal David put the entire league on notice. Admittedly, these stats would be more impressive, if Nair had a single player over 5”9. Nonetheless, I have no doubt David will be in contention for MVP when it’s all said and done. 

David got out to a hot start scoring his team's first 7 points in a variety of ways. Steve Rakusin had an impressive 17 points and 14 rebounds as Team Stull Here dominated the glass and pace of play. However, despite only having 4 players Team Nair was not backing down. Led by Damian Ruff (16 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) and DTO
(18 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 steals) neither team was able to pull away in this low-scoring affair. 

Stull Here would enjoy a slight advantage going into halftime leading 28 - 25. Team Nair did their best to keep the game competitive, but once Devin Quinlin got it going in the second half, this game got out of hand very quickly and Stull is here never looked back.

David, Devin, and Steve have the potential to be one of the better trios in this league. This team will be contenders when it’s all said and done, Jack, who?

DANIELS vs Platano Power

By JAMIL

After losing the first game of their opening week double-header, Team Daniels had the opportunity to redeem themselves against an understaffed Platano Power. Admittedly, this game got off to a very ugly start but Cam D’s aggressive kept Team Daniels in the game. 

Cam would finish with 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, but more important managed to find his three-point stroke. Jorge (23)  and Tim (22) were fantastic for Platano Power as they did everything within their power to keep this game competitive. 

Platano Power would enjoy a slight advantage going into halftime leading 28 - 27, but when has a one-point lead ever been safe in a CAC League? Exactly never! Playing the second of back-to-backs without Adam Ellabidy I could tell the fatigue was starting to set in for Team Daniels, but Joe Breda (11 Points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists) was still going 100 MPH, as he did his best impression of Russell Westbrook with the one man fast break. 

This game would come down to the final minutes. Tied at 60 with 7 seconds on the clock, Team Daniels got Ghost opened for the screen at the top of the key and Mike nailed the three with seconds left on the clock. 

Neil tried to get a shot off to tie the game as time expired, but Joe Breda called game, stealing the ball from Neil, before he could get the attempt out of hands.

COSTA vs DANIELS

And we are back…

Week 1 is here and not only are there a lot of familiar faces back in the league, but I, Damian Ruff, am back providing some of the league coverage for the first time since 2019.  Will this trend continue, ask my wife.

Coming into this game I expected it to be highly competitive.  Both teams were fully staffed and there was only 1 “true” rookie playing in this game.  A “true” rookie to me is someone who has never played in any CAC leagues.

To my surprise, team Costa completely controlled the half.  They pretty much led throughout.  To end the half, Jamil completely bricked a three point shot off the backboard, followed it up perfectly with an oreb and then was able to lay the ball in right before the buzzer.  Team Costa was up 36-24 at the half.

First half stats:

Team Daniels

Andre Jones 1 stl, 3 drebs, 1 ast

Michael “Ghost” Fraher 10 pts, 2 orebs, 5 drebs, 2 asts 

Andrew Marra  1 dreb, 1 ast

Cameron Daniels 7 pts, 1 stl, 3 drebs, 2 asts

Adam Ellabidy 2 pts, 1 oreb, 1 dreb, 1 ast

Joseph Breda 5 pts, 1 dreb, 1 ast

Team Costa

Jamil Ball 13 pts, 4 oreb, 2 dreb, 3 ast

Charlie Maneval 9 pts, 1 blk, 7 dreb

Cameron Daniel 3 pts, 1 blk, 1 dreb

Emmanuel Okharedia 4 pts, 4 stls, 1 dreb, 1 ast

Dylan Costa 5 pts, 1 oreb, 7 drebs, 3 asts

Dan Waldman 2 pts

Player of the half:

Jamil Ball

For the second half, I really would love to talk about the competitiveness of the game but I can’t, team Costa dominated winning 69-55.

Player Grades:

Andre Jones A- I think Andre played a great game especially rebounding but I’m giving him the minus grade because he has to attempt some shots and score.
Michael “Ghost” Fraher A- it’s clear that Ghost will most likely be the go-to scorer for this team all season.  While he did have a nice double double, he’ll need to attemp more FGAs for this team to win games.
Andrew Marra C+ really just played his role and took advantage of the opportunities presented to him.
Cameron Daniels C has to be more aggressive and not let the opposing player get him off his game.  Didn’t play awful but expected more.
Adam Ellaby B- was happy to see him start in the second half and as a result really got things going on offense.  Would’ve liked to see him do more on the defensive side of the ball.
Joseph Breda B+ the + is for the fact that he remembered that I threw him out of a game (yes I refereed at CAC too) and he said I was right, imagine that.  Joe did a decent job scoring the ball (fortunately for him I don’t keep track of missed twos).  I think he needs to talk a lot more and give some energy and effort on the defensive end as well.

Jamil Ball A although he didn’t shoot the three ball well he played a really solid overall game.  I especially liked how he rallied the troops during a timeout early in the first half.  This made a huge difference in the game to me and they never looked back.
Charlie Maneval B- didn’t shoot his best but did rebound well on the defensive end in a team win.
Cameron Daniel A played his role perfectly and shot efficiently.
Emmanuel Okharedia A+ I think statistically he can do more but his trash talk was at an elite level today and was entertaining.  My favorite quotes were “I got three shooters” “send the double” “he acts like I won’t lock that up”. When I think of the top 5 trash talkers in this league it’s 1) Emmanuel 2) Emmanuel 3) Emmanuel 4) Emmanuel 5) Emmanuel.  I also feel like he walked away from this game owning real estate in two guys' heads (not gonna name any names but you know who you are).  With all that said, I still can’t wait for my Del Frisco’s 😂
Dylan Costa A+ completely dominated the game and shot the three ball well.
Dan Waldman C did nothing to cost his team the game, I just feel like he’s capable of playing better.

Player of the game:

Dylan Costa had a massive double double and shot the three ball well in the team win.  Great way to start of the season with a win and as a first time captain.

Week # 1 Overreaction Power Rankings

By JAMIL BALL

# 1 Costa - Despite poorly handling the coveted # 1 pick, My guy Dylan managed to assemble a very formidable roster. Defensively, led by Dylan Costa, Emmanual Okharedia, and Charlie Maneval we will be a pain in the ass for opponents all season. Can’t wait to see the Awaith Nair vs Dan Waldman matchup. Our 5th round pick definitely has a chip on his shoulder. Last but not least, there’s the original Cameron Daniels whose physical defensive style will make the captain regret not picking him up earlier. Our victory over the “other” Cam Daniels had to be a moral victory for him today, as we impatiently await the results of the Who’s the real Cameron Daniels, please stand up! @dcosta32 @dan_waldman @cameron (edited)

# 2 Stull Here - Admittedly, this they’re victory over Team Nair wasn’t overly impressive, but $20 dollars is $20 dollars. What was impressive was the play of David Pendergast. David was extremely impressive in his league debut, it helped that Team Nair did have a single player over 5”10, but you can tell the talent is there. Last session Most Improve Player (MIP) award winner Steve Rakusin, had a monster game with 17 points and 14 rebounds, which made a huge difference in their matchup today. Can he produce at the level consistently? On this team, absolutely. David is out there dimming dudes! Harry D was an impressive fill-in, despite not trying offensively. 13 rebounds and 2 blocks isn’t too shabby. Last, but far from least is the # 2 pick Devin Quinlin who had an up-and-down game in his debut. Got some points in garbage time to finish with 16 points, but I expect him to get better as the season progresses. @srakusin87 @devinquinlin7 @dp

# 3 Nair - Admittedly, I expected a blowout, but played extremely well despite the absence of Adwaith and Nick Lynch. DTO led all scorers with 18 points and matched his offensive intensity on the defensive end. Damian Ruff continues to regain his form and shot finishing with 16 points and holding his own with 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Patrick Blaikie didn’t shoot as well, but grabbed 7 rebounds and recorded 2 steals. This team was built in the image of their captain. Once Adwaith returns, Patrick is going to absolutely feast. Ben Mithell was solid, steady, and productive! Another guy that’s going to thrive when they have their full roster or at least Nick Lynch. @waith @damruff @pat_blaikie @bmitch

# 4 Daniels - First-time captain, Cam Daniels drafted a fantastic team. Mike Fraher, Adam Ellabidy, Andre Jones, Joe Breda, and Andrew Marra are all very capable and productive players. Joe Breda is my early favorite for ROY. I love the enthusiasm, toughness, and most importantly banter. I think Cam made a fantastic decision trading for him. Mike Fraher and Cam have fantastic chemistry and as the season progress, I have no doubt they’ll be more effective on both ends of the court. I have them at 4 because they didn’t look good today, even in their win. I have no doubt Cam will get the troops in order when the games matter the most. @Mike F. @Cam D @AndreJones24

# 5 Platano Power - I love Jorge Morel, Tim Roberts, and AO, so selfishly I want this team to be good, but they’re not. Offensively, they have no shortage of firepower Tim Roberts is one of the top scorers in the league and that was on display today, as he poured in 23 points. Jorge Morel, consistently one of the best players in the league over the past 2 sessions, finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 steals. When AO returns from drinking wine and getting fat in Italy, he will give them a stabilizing guard which will only help Tim and Jorge. After surviving TAYO ESPN 30 for 30 Neil Aggarwal has a renewed enthusiasm for basketball, hopefully, it has a positive effect on his questionable attendance (lol). Chris Agresti and Rob Lunder were solid but do little to address this team's biggest weakness: size. Jorge drafted 5 guards, which will either be brilliant or have him on the outside looking in for the second consecutive post-season. Regardless of all the nonsense above, this team is going to be fun to watch.

BY AO

AO's Draft Reactions that nobody asked for but I'm drinking wine in Italia and love run-on sentences.

ROUND 1

1. Costa - Ball Excellent choice, especially for defensive stud and the SDL ASG MVP! Like this Cabernet sauvignon Ball has aged gracefully into a complete guard. It's only because of his stupid false humility that there was even a chance he would go 2nd, nevermind in the second round. Glad to see him go first after all the work he does for the SDL.
2. DP - Quin Second best pick goes... Second. Easy enough and another good pairing, like this fancy cheese I can't pronounce. Stoked to have DP back; thought he'd never return after getting sucker punched by Mr. 63 in the SDL playoffs. I would never endanger my good looks like that, and he's even more handsome than I.
3. Daniels - Ghost Lol, I forgot Ghost is not his actual Christian name. Old reliable continues the chalk trend, and honestly it should. Ghost is the first 'big' body to complement the first guard captain. Plus they have chemistry from last season.
4. Jorge - AO What a stupid idiot pick. I'm available for trade.
5. Nair - DTO DTO is like the pick above, but better. Cooks me every time we play and smiles while he does. Fits nicely with Nair. More on this in the power rankings, but Nair's big question will revolve around his return and less about the actual draft results.

ROUND 2

1. Nair - DTO - Lynch Interesting. I had Lynch at 3 on my big board. An actual D3 player should always go #1 in this watered down rec league. But questions abound after he got injured. Hopefully he returns to form quickly, as they'll need help immediately.
2. Jorge - AO - Roberts Tim is a walking bucket. He was a big reason his team played in the finals two seasons past. Not sure if the captains remembered him but honestly this was the spot he would have gone regardless. Only issue is this team is tiny.
3. Daniels - Ghost - Ellabidy Adam is good. You put a lefty in a league of chumps and no one knows how to play defense. Which is a problem when we don't want to play defense to begin with. But are you telling me half and Adam is better than a full glass of E, Charles, or rookie X..? Actually ya.
4. DP - Quin - Jack DP continues to take people I don't know so I'm forced to make shit up. Lucky I do that for a living. Jack gives this team more size. If he can walk and chew gum look out. Even if not I really like the idea of 2 wings/guard setup. This should be an athletic team.
5. DC - Ball - E Augh. This was the only place I thought would fit and surprise! There he goes. E brings crazy intense defense and a wilder shot selection. But the man makes winning plays and on team that can hide his offensive warts he should shine. The slide ends here

ROUND 3

1. DC - Ball - E - Charles Sir Charles completes an impressive starting group. He started turning heads halfway through the season as a stretch 4 and never looked back. Ball & I talked him up during the ASG so I'm not shocked they pair up here. With the best player setting these guys up this will be the best defensive unit. No weaknesses. Yet.
2. DP - Quin - Jack - Rak Ahhh... Idk. I thought I knew what DP was cooking. You take a bunch of handsome athletic runners and let loose the hounds of war. Rakusin is like putting a pitbull in the mix. Will the MIP fit in? Will he change his game again?? Will people understand this unbelievably beautiful metaphor??? Only time will tell.
3. Daniels - Ghost - Adam - Pat Cam!!!! Pat was supposed to reunite with his pickup crew. Instead he gets rewarded for another growth season with a starting role. Pat gives this team the spacing on O. I'm curious who he guards on a weekly basis. Less about him then the 5th pick when Adam is out. PS - he should have been MIP again but the committee (JAMIL) outvoted me.
4. Jorge - Alan - Roberts - Lunder Here comes the thunder! I have no freaking clue about this guy but it felt like a good time for a rookie pick. Theoretically a 2/2 wing/guard setup should work this season. God I hope so. Somebody save me.
5. Nair - DTO - Lynch - Ruff What was the name of the QB everyone thought was going to Houston only to sit in the green room all day? Levis?? Ruff did not deserve this fate, and hopefully he remembers I wrote nice things about him before we play. I see many 3s and shoulder shimmies already. We've always been friends. Honestly though, Nair lucked out with a guy that can captain a team while he recovers. Get well soon bud.

ROUND 4

I'm running out of steam, sobriety and wine.

Nair - DTO - Lynch - Ruff - Breda "Talks a lot" small guard. Yikes. Who wants another AO? I take back the nice things I said. Unless this is a sand bag? Feels like a sand bag.

Jorge - AO - Roberts - Lunder - Agresti Sweet pick. Someone to do all the dirty things so I can relax on the sidelines and play 2mins a quarter. Chris will be sneaky good in a small watered down league. And he screens better than my captain. PS - our team name is Under Agresti.

Daniels - Ghost - Adam - Pat - Dre You forgot about Dre. He only made it to the chip. Another awesome role player. Let him guard the best player on the other team. That's what I did.

DP - Quin - Jack - Rak - Slick There are 3 timelines here: 1) Slick is inebriated and doesn't know he got picked 2) Slick is big mad he got picked this late and will actually do the drills I sent him 3) Slick is too preoccupied with the NYK to care Fwiw I love this pick. Shooting and gives a shit attitude from your 5th man is a luxury. Made real strides last season, got some reps in the CAC CUP finals.

DC - Ball - E - Charles - Cam The other Cam Daniel. Honestly thought he would go higher this round. Tougher than he looks. Works for everything. And doesn't let you take a play off on defense with his cutting. I regret we didn't take him because now I have to guard him. Damn it.

ROUND 5

DC - Ball - E - Charles - Cam - Waldman Forget what I said about the last round. I'm wine happy and the captains are idiots. Should have taken a swing on the not short rookie a round ago. DC completes his team with no weaknesses. The only way he loses is if I steal his gun before every game.

DP - Quin - Jack - Rak - Slick - Stull Stull nailed SEVEN 3s one time last season. Against my team of course. Many on me. And then he immediately turned back into a pumpkin. I don't think any other last round picks have that upside.

Daniels - Ghost - Adam - Pat - Dre - Marra Ehh, maybe Marra could hit 7 treys. But he won't take that many shots bc he's a good team player. Makes me sick. Be selfish !

Jorge - AO - Roberts - Lunder - Agresti - Neil I don't know anyone braver than Neil. He survived a season with the Tayos and CAME BACK. Makes him either a sadist or braver than the troops. Who can tell?

Nair - DTO - Lynch - Ruff - Breda - Ben Mr. Irrelevant! Welcome back!! Come hoop with me at Powder House again.

That's it for the draft and my liver boys. Hope you enjoyed it because I don't get paid for this analysis.

Good luck tomorrow, unless we play, in which case get bent.