A 5v5 Week 1 Write-ups
by Jason on
WEEK 1
Game 1: Not A Dime Back: 69 - Shooters Shoot: 89
by Devin Quinlin
Shooters Shoot Dominate Second Half to Pull Away
It was a tale of two halves, as NADB led by 1 going into the break, 45-44. I watched these guys roll through B1 last session, and they are without a doubt an A League level team. Unfortunately, they were missing big man Dre Kontopidis and they were out of shape coming into this game against the well-oiled machine that is Shooters Shoot. Shooters Shoot looked sharp in the first half, but stepped on the gas early in the second to go up 12 with 15 minutes left in the game. They didn’t slow down, outscoring NADB 45 to 24 in the second half to win the game 89-69.
Shooters Shoot is my favorite team to watch in A because of their unselfish play and well-balanced team. Last session, David Reynolds was a fill-in off the bench, and while he proved he was a great player at this level, I did not expect him to start this game off going five of five from three. But, that’s exactly what he did, putting up 35 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in the season opener. He shot seven of twelve from deep, hit both of his free-throws, and generally got whatever he wanted on offense. Hugh O’Neil came up with 26 points of his own, plus 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block. O’Neil has dominated inside for several sessions now, but he shot six of nine from three this game. He’s hit a few threes at a decent rate in the past, but if he can add a consistent three-point threat to this team’s offense, he immediately becomes an MVP candidate. Adam Lindhorst added 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, always a steady and reliable player who does everything right. In the same vein, Stephen Tam picked up right where he left off with 6 points and 3 rebounds, plus a team-high 5 assists and a game-high 3 steals. Look for him to be among the league leaders in both of those categories. Shooters Shoot has also added three players for this session, two of whom played well in this game. I watched Eric Savage lead B1 in scoring last session on a god awful team that won 0 games on the season. He was clearly an A level player, and his scoring adds an immediate threat to this team. He finished with 8 points and 9 rebounds, but I was impressed with his 4 assists. In B1, he was looking exclusively for his shot (as he should have, his team was terrible), but he fit seamlessly with this team. Matt Pattyson is another great pickup for these guys after playing with the Mambas last session. He put up 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks this game, bringing reliable outside shooting and smart offensive play. His main impact will be on the defensive end, where he’s an absolute menace. He puts up nice stats (2 blocks this game), but his general positioning and strength force opponents into tough shots and make it difficult to find rhythm. Two fantastic pickups for Shooters Shoot, and the fact that they dominated this game without their leading scorer Andrew Jaworski (2nd in MVP race last session) shows just how deep they are. We’ll see if they can overcome their playoff woes this session.
As mentioned, Not A Dime Back destroyed B1 in the fall, and I expect them to be able to compete with any team in A this session. They actually led at the half, but they ran out of gas in the second. Their lack of size also hurt them, but they were missing a big and I fully expect them to adjust quickly. Chris Connor led the way with 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists. He shot five of ten from three and converted four of his five free-throws, but exceeded his role as a scorer with his game-high 6 assists. NADB is similar to Shooters Shoot in that they have several guys who can go off in any game because of how well they share the ball. Jeff Coulter was the main beneficiary of his team’s passing in this game. Jeff is a fantastic off-ball cutter and finishes well inside, finishing this game with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. He probably won’t lead them in scoring too often, but he’s always reliable on both ends and will be a consistently great player in this league. Big man Marcus Giese looked sharp offensively against O’Neil with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. With the size disadvantage for once, he turned to his mid-range game to maintain his impact. As their only true big man this game, he struggled a bit to guard O’Neil and Reynolds while protecting the paint from drives, but the addition of Kontopidis will take pressure off of him against big teams in this league. Jon Luster put up a double-double with 12 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, but he struggled this game by his own standards, going two of seven from three. I’m not looking forward to matching up with him next week, because I know he will bounce back immediately and establish himself as one of the top guards in the league and an MVP candidate going forward. Chris Cusano played well in his role with 7 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks. He’s not the biggest guy, but his timing and positioning on defense has always been stellar, and his jumper is reliable, too. Mike Synott chipped in 1 rebound and 1 assist, and he’ll have to hunt his shot in this league. He’s an unselfish player who helps their offensive flow by moving the ball, but he’s also a three-point sniper and will need to let it fly to put his team over the top against other top teams.
Game 2: Skelton’s Boys: 53 - Zards: 83
by Devin Quinlin
Zards Back With a Vengeance, Blow Out Skelton’s Boys
Skelton’s Boys is another team who have been cruising through B1 for a while, and just like NADB, they kept this game close, down 30-31 at halftime. I warned them that NADB lost the game in the first 5 minutes of the second half, but the Dan Wohl - Sam Longwell duo was unstoppable and Zards did the exact same thing as Shooters Shoot, and soon enough this game was out of reach.
Zards had an early exit last session, but I would argue their spotty attendance was their biggest detractor after entering the season as the early favorites. Without Longwell and Dan Aronowitz in the semis, they struggled against a much bigger Spida Men team. But, with a full roster, these guys are the favorites to me. Longwell won MVP last session pretty easily, and he picked up right where he left off with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 steal. He shot four of eight from three, and his skill makes you forget about how strong he is on drives to the hoop. His 9 assists was the highest across all games in the opening week. Dan Wohl came into the last session way off, starting off the first few games shooting like 28% from three. Still, he finished third in the MVP race as he found his rhythm, and he was locked in last night. Perhaps the best pure scorer in the league, he finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. Five of ten from three, five of six from the line, solid finishing inside, good vision on the break, he can do it all. He’s definitely a league standout and will be looking for that MVP and the championship by the end of the year. Craig Melillo is not an MVP candidate, but he is a damn good player. He applies full-court pressure on defense and an absolute flamethrower on offense. He finished with 16 points on four of five from three, plus 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. With guys like Longwell, Wohl, and Aronowitz getting a lot of defensive attention, Melillo will get a lot of open looks, and he will make them. Great piece for Zards. Mike Kearney led the league in assists last session, and he runs the point perfectly for these guys. He added 6 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals, knocking down two of three three-point attempts. He and Melillo are an aggressive defensive backcourt with good instincts, and they’ll get in passing lanes and get their team on the break quickly. Dana Flood filled-in for Zards tonight, and he will be joining them full time. He fits perfectly with their team, finishing with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. He’s athletic to the rim and always manages to come up with a monster block every game. He’s a reliable shooter and his high IQ play will get him a lot of steals and easy assists. Zards are back, and they’re ready to go. We’ll see who can top them.
Skelton’s Boys hung around in the first, but they were not ready for the Zards to turn it all the way up in the second half. They definitely have A League level players, but they will need to adjust to the quicker pace in this league, where decisions have to be quicker and you can’t just take guys off the dribble because you’re simply better than they are. It might take them a few games, and going up against Zards is a tough first matchup, but I’m confident they will adjust and stay competitive with most (if not all) teams in this league. Erik Pettit put up 12 points and 8 rebounds on four threes, plus 1 steal. He’s a fantastic shooter, and once he gets his timing he’ll get back to being a three-level scorer instead of shooting deep threes to get his shot off. JP Barrett’s attendance has been questionable at lower level, but he looked the most A League ready this game. He was physical inside and had no problem battling down low, finishing with 11 points and 2 rebounds while hitting one three. They will need his physicality and fearlessness inside going forward. Brendan McNamara also looked ready to go, finishing with 10 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. As their only true big, he will be their most important player in terms of keeping them competitive against the size in this league. Like Barrett, he was physical and finished strong inside, adding a team-high 4 assists as well. Elijah Anderson put up 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block, and his slow-paced Luka offensive style will adjust to this league quickly. Once he figures out how to get his shot off cleanly, he’ll emerge as their primary offensive threat. Similarly, guards Doug Horan and Travis Sinatro will adjust, Horan taking it strong inside for acrobatic finishes and Sinatro knocking down threes. Horan put up 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists while Sinatro chipped in 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal.
Game 3: Bormes’ Disciples: 66 - Spida Men: 55
by Devin Quinlin
Bormes’ Disciples Pull Off Gutsy Upset Against Defending Champs
I didn’t know anyone on the Bormes’ Disciples roster except for Sam Holtze, who had a stellar season with Deuces last session. He finished second in DPOY while facilitating well on a loaded roster. On this team, he is the guy, and he stepped into that role effortlessly. His defensive effort was the same, picking up 2 steals and generally being able to stay in front of anyone, but with more shot attempts, he dominated this game. He put up 26 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist, converting five of his six free-throws and a blistering five of seven from deep, including a deadly three to end the half, giving his team a 33-27 lead that they never surrendered. I’m excited to see what he does week to week as his team’s number 1 option. Jack Beck added 16 points and 3 rebounds. He’s got a quick trigger, going three of nine from deep (which I expect to improve) and three of four from the line, hitting some clutch free-throws to put the game out of reach. Mac Bohuny played well, too, chipping in 8 points, 5 boards, 2 assists, and 1 steal, showing off his athleticism with a strong baseline dunk, while Mike Conlin was a monster inside with 8 points of his own, plus 11 rebounds, and 1 steal. Mike Cerulli only had 4 points, but at his size I haven’t seen many players that athletic. He contributed 12 rebounds (6 each way), a game high 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. He’s like 5’8 and was soaring over Spida Men’s bigs to grab offensive rebounds, and he limited Jamal Brown to just 13 points. He and Holtze will be a brutal defensive backcourt to face. Will Jackowitz was a solid defensive presence inside, finishing with 3 blocks and altering plenty of shots as well. He hit one three and grabbed two rebounds as well. Charlie Mather chipped in 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals. Bohuny, Conlin, Jackowitz, and Mather shot a combined one of ten from three, but also have solid form and I expect them to hit a few more shots as they get into a rhythm as a team. Bormes’ Disciples are definitely an undersized group, but their effort, shooting, and savvy play will make them a contender against every team in this league.
Last season, the Spida Men finished as the 6 seed with a 4-5 record, but upset their way into a championship win. Their talent and chemistry is unquestionable, though they often underperform in the regular season. Still, as the defending champs, you have to give them the benefit of the doubt even with a lackluster performance in week 1. Jamal Brown put up 13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. He was definitely not expecting the excellent defense of an undersized team, but you have to give Bormes’ Disciples credit here. Still, Jamal is one of the best players in the league, and I expect him to go on a tear in the coming weeks. Tim Gallivan added 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks, though he only shot one of four from deep. Gallivan is a versatile stretch big who is a force in the paint defensively and can do it all on offense, and he pairs well with Danny Martin Jr. He actually arrived on time for this game, but an early start had him walking in the gym after the tip-off, which is definitely a disadvantage in terms of warming up and getting pre-game shots up. Going forward, game times may be changing slightly to adjust to the five game schedule, but the refs and I will make sure games start at the scheduled time from here on out, though we encourage everyone to arrive as early as possible to be ready to go for tip-off. Martin Jr. only had 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks, but he’s still one of the best players in this league even at his age. I fully expect him to bounce back next game and have another elite session. Hallvard Lundevall is an explosive player with the skill to match, finishing with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 steal. He can outjump almost anyone, but shot one of four from three and one of three from the line, but he’ll pick it up. Billy Battaglia and Nick Mazzeo are both excellent shooters and capable playmakers as well, with Mazz putting up 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal, hitting a three and converting an and-1, while Billy chipped in 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. He shot one of six from three, which will undoubtedly improve over the session. Tough game for Spida Men, but I’m confident they will be ready to bounce back. Credit to Bormes’ Disciples, who have put the league on notice.
Game 4: West Coast Elite: 96 - SYTMTAC: 78
Game 5: Take the Under: 57 - Cobras: 64
by Devin Quinlin
Cobras Pull Out Sloppy Win Against Take the Under
Cobras are back with some returning players and some new additions as well, and they pulled out a win in our final game of week 1. They led 31-28 at the half, and controlled the second half to secure the victory.
Warfa Abdillahi led the way for the Cobras. Always a scoring threat, Warf put up 17 points, 7 boards, 4 assists, and 3 steals. He shot three of eight from deep and will be hunting his shot all session, taking on any and all defenders. Chris Cardoso played a strong game with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, leading both teams in assists and using his long frame to disrupt on defense and maneuver his way to easy finishes on offense. He missed all four of his threes, but I expect him to be a huge piece for them. Mike Gillespie added 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist, and he’s another guy who will be huge for them. He’s an explosive scorer who can hit the three, get to the rim, and consistently make his free-throws (four for four this game). Gabe Granberry was a force inside late in the second half, finishing the game with 8 points, 4 boards, 1 steal, and 1 block while shutting down any interior threat in the last 3-4 minutes. Jamal Fiin chipped in 7 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks, bringing his usual defensive intensity and pushing his team out in transition. Kevin Querusio and Carter Burruss put up 6 points each, with Querusio hitting two threes and grabbing 3 rebounds, while Burruss added 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block and threw down two thunderous dunks in transition. It’s one thing to dunk, it’s another thing to get your whole hand above the rim and have the ball bounce out to halfcourt after it goes through the hoop. I will not be jumping with him, but I’m sure someone will. Good luck with that.
Take the Under is another new team this session, and they kept the game close until the final minutes. Captain Nick Pellegrini was operating down low, finishing with 16 points on layups and hook shots, plus 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. He’s strong and showed great touch. Stephen Valacer is another guy who moved up from B1 last session, and he’s another guy who belongs in A. He put up 13 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals while hitting two of his three shots from downtown. He’s a reliable player who almost never makes mistakes and is a great slasher. He had some strong finishes, but his passing is the best part of his game and he’ll be their primary playmaker this season. Matt Kroll added 12 points and 2 rebounds, hitting four of his eight threes and looking like their primary outside threat. Their other outside threat is Kordell Harris, whose lightning quick release led him to 9 points on three of eight shooting, plus 2 assists and 2 steals. Mike Wing hit a three to finish with 5 points and 4 rebounds, Joe Drost added 2 points, 6 boards, and 1 assist, while Sam Wamakima chipped in 4 rebounds. Corey Huerfano was a beast inside with 12 rebounds (7 offensive) and 2 assists. I’m honestly not sure what to expect from Take the Under this session, but they have some good players and look promising defensively. I’m excited to see where they end up.