B1 5v5 TUE Week 3 Write-Ups
by Jason on
WEEK 3 BY LAMARR
Game 1: Mens league (69) - Treys 4 Days (58)
Welcome back to week 3 of the season which has been pretty competitive up to this point of he season. This week was really surprising with some results that I didn't see coming. Starting with the first game of the night with Mens League getting an eleven point win over Treys 4 days. The first half of this game was the definition of a back and forth game, with no team gaining a lead over 5 points. Both teams traded buckets from the beginning of the half, with Mens league being led by PG Phil Mcgloin who was a huge factor all night. With his penetration, mid range game and ability to get to the line, he was a handful to deal with. Trey 4 Days was having a really difficult time from the field, missing some really open looks that they usually knock down. Big man and MVP candidate Kevin Lefrancis was his typical rebounding machine, but this game Men's League fouled and forced him to the line. This was probably a big reason for there win, as LaFrancis went 3-11 in the first half from the line. Just happened to be one of the days for the big man. But back up big George Thissel came off the bench and gave T4Ds a huge boost. Especially with his rebounding. But overall as a team, T4Ds mainly just struggled to hit the shots they were hitting in the first two weeks. Mensleague on the other hand was extremely efficient on the offensive end, with every player scoring at least a bucket in the first half. What kept Trey 4 days in the game was the offensive rebounding. 8 in the first half as a team, which allowed them to stick around.. The halftime score was 34-34 after a big 3 by Wes Scholl tied the game.
Second half couldn't have started better for Men's League, with McGloin scoring 5 quick points and then hitting T. Smith for a nice 3 to bring the lead to 8 two minutes in. They didn't look back from that point forward. Mcgloin controlled the game and basically did whatever he wanted. He ended the game with an amazing 11 for 11 from the free throw stripe. Along with some timely buckets from Smith and forward JP Wilkinson, the game was theirs to lose. Trey 4 Days stayed as close as they could by continuing to get to the line, but the miss just kept coming. They ended the game going 15 for 30 from the free throw line. Which basically killed there chances. The game ended with Mens league taking it 69-58.
MVP: Phil Mcgloin (27 points, 6 rbs, 6 ast)
Game 2: Big Phil from the hill and team (72) - Terminator 2 (60)
I can't lie, I thought that this was going to be a good match up for Terminator but boy was I wrong. Big Phils squad came out on a mission this week to get that first W of the season, Beating T2 with a convincing 12 point win. Big Phil came out and looked like an entire new team with the ball movement, they really shared the ball from the beginning of the ame that helped them get out to an early 18-10 lead. PG Hernon Perdomo was really running the show for BIg Phil and the team, his passes led to forward Jonathan Freund (who scored 8 quick buckets) and others. That really got the team going and feeling confident. Scott Jensen and Thomas Bissel were there typical selves, crashing the boards and getting some easy looks. But as a team from three, this team really really struggled. They were 4-15 from the 3 point line in the first half, something we aren't accustomed to seeing. If they made even a few of those threes the game would be much different. But instead T2 went into the half down 36-20, Big Phils squad also picked up 5 team steals in the first half that led to some easy transition buckets. But never count on the Terminator.
Second half was a completely different team for T2, they came out much more aggressive and started to push the pace, outrunning the bigger Big Phil squad. This helped to some easy baskets but still missing threes and Nick Roseetii grabbing two offensive rebounds and put backs kept for Big Phil kept the lead at 12 with 17:00 to go in the game. Two quick 3s by Freund and Concannon and I thought that would be the game, but a 14-5 run by T2 got them right into the game. Led by combo guard Carl Bunge, who had a steal and block on back 2 back possessions along with some big shots, gave his team the confidence they needed. They also started to knock down the 3 ball. Bissell knocked down three 3s under the 7:00 mark and BIg Phils squad finally got cold from the field, next thing you know the score was only 62-58, T2 down by 4. At this point I was thinking “Yeah Terminator 2 gonna make this incredible comeback” but that wasn't the case. Again T2 couldn't find their touch from 3, and with Nick Rosseti and Concanon knocking down everything they put up in the half the game was officially over. BIg Phil from the Hill and team wound up with the win, 72-60. Terminator 2 shot a horrendous 8-38 from the three point line, but dont expect that to be the case for the rest of the season.
Game MVP: NIck Rosseti (18 pts, 10 rbs, 2 ast)
Game 3: Mid Range Magic (63) 0 FCHWPO (45)
This was another big win that I didn't see coming into the week. Not because MId Range does not have the talent, but the size of FCHWPO would be a lot of Mid range to handle. Boy was I wrong. Mid Range took advantage of FCHWPO not having there 3 best players, and easily destroyed there opponent 63-45. Even if FCHW had its full roster, the way Mid range played im not sure it would have even mattered. First half was a pretty close game with no team really gaining any big lead. Mid range was their typical attacking selves, getting to the line and attacking the rim. The Zahner brothers were especially aggressive with both grabbing multiple offensive rebounds and knocking down mid range jumpers. With no rim protector from FCHW, mid range use this game plan over and over. FCHWPO stayed right there with MId range tho, with 2 big threes by guard Meech Ramirez and strong drives by AIden Cyr, FCHW was in position to take the lead. But two big offensive rebounds and putbacks by big Man Clifford Bouchereau kept the lead at a reasonable distance going into the half, with MId Range up 30-24 at the half.
Second Half started off similar to the first half, mid range being aggressive and FCHW making timely baskets to stay in striking distance. BIg Man Bouchereau was having none of that thought. He really turned it up in the second half, FCHW couldn't score in the paint as long as big cliff was roaming around. Plus the 3 ball not falling for them, and things got pretty ugly pretty quick for FCHWPO. Mid Range stayed on the gas, hit 6 second half 3s to their opponents 1, and only gave up a total of 15 points the entire second half of the game. Stifling defense led by Cam Kelley and Bouchereau. But let's not forget about the big second half for 6 man Sean Mahoney, who hit 2 big threes and added 6 rebounds in the second half of the game.. Real great team performance by Mid Range, and ended up getting the blowout win with a score of 63-45. MId Range had 5 different players score in double figures.
GAME MVP: Clifford Bouchereau (18 pts, 10 rbs, 1 ast)
B1 5v5 WED Week 3 Write-Ups
by Jason on
Game 1- Gravy Trains 2.0 vs. Orange OG’s
By: Ariel G.
What a way to kick off our Wednesday night with this high offensive octane match up against Gravy Trains 2.0 and Orange OG’s.A hard fought game but Orange OG’s were able to squeak out a 64-55 win. Both teams came out firing on all cylinders, specifically Gravy Trains 2.0 being carried by the hot shooting of Eric P. who went ⅘ from 3 in the first half. To combat the hot shooting of the Gravy Trains, Orange OG’s were able to knock down 7 first half 3’s of their own. On top of the hot shooting, Orange OG’s really utilized their pick and roll action to get good looks at the rim and kick outs to open shooters on the perimeter. Both teams were all over the floor, diving for loose balls, and snatching rebounds out mid air. Alex K. for Gravy Trains had 10 rebounds in the first half alone. It was a back and forth battle in the half, but Orange OG’s head into the 2nd half with a 32-27 advantage.
Gravy Trains would not be denied going into the second half, as they went on a 13-7 run out of the gates to take a 40-39 lead and force Orange OG’s into an early timeout. Both teams exchange offensive blows throughout the second half and the hot shooting continued as the teams combined to knock down 18 long range balls. As hot as Eric P. was in the first half for Gravy Trains, it was Brett A. and Zach B. who carried a lot of the offensive load in the second half finishing with 18 points and 11 points, respectively. Jesse O. had an all around game or the Orange OG’s as he packed the stat sheet with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Orange OG’s also had a secret weapon in Judah who came off the bench to give them 17 points. Orange OG’s outscored Gravy Train 25-15 in the second half to take the victory.
Game 2- Intramural Heroes vs. G League
Intramural heroes jumped out to an early league and never looked back as they put up 91 points in a 91-73 win over G League. Tim G. dominated from the tip off to the last buzzer as he finished with a double double with 20 points and 14 rebounds. He was an elite three level scorer in this game and G League had no match for him. The game went back and forth and Bradley R. was able to keep G League in the game in the first half from his hot shooting from 3, knocking down 3 in the first half. Not only was he an offensive terror, him and Giannis V. were both terrors on the defensive end as they combined for 12 steals between the two of them. Jamal B. also started to get going offensively and he finished the half on a 6-0 run. Despite their efforts, G League headed into halftime down 33-51.
Not at all discouraged by the 18 point deficit, G League came out with a spark and went on a 9-0 run to start the half and cut the lead to single digits. However, they did not have the fire power to keep up with the Intramural heroes who had four players who put up 20 points or more. G League got hot late from 3 and got contributions from behind the arc from Jack A., Colin M., Patrick K., and Bradley R. Although the second half was dead even with each team scoring 40 points, the 18 point first half deficit was too much for G League to overcome.
Game 3 - Commando vs. Jelly Not Jam
Commando came out smoking hot to start the game as team captain Max scored the first 12 points of the game to put them up 12-3 early. Jelly Not Jam was not helping their own cause as they turned the ball over on the first 4 possessions of the game and could not hit a shot from the field to start off. After a collision, Max has to go to the bench and Jelly Not Jam takes full advantage by going on a 12-6 run to take the lead. These 12 points mainly came from transition buckets at the rim or from beyond the arc. Dave R. was starting to come alive for Jelly Not Jam and he and Max were both in double digits in the first half. Despite the hot start, Commando goes into half time with only a 5 point lead.
Similarly to the first half, the second half is the Max show as he finishes the game with 26 points and 7 rebounds. His ability to score at will is frustrating for Jelly Not Jam so they start to play a little more physical with him. This physicality leads to 10 trips to the free throw line, where he was able to capitalize on 7 of them. Thankfully, Marcken L. and Griffin M. got hot late in the second half from 3 as they both knocked down two triples to keep the game within reach. Jake H. also did damage on the offensive end in the second half for Commando as he finished the game with 18 points. Slow start for Jelly Not Jam leads to a tough 8 point loss for them.
Game 4- Big Tuna vs. Tuesday Night Selects
This game between these two teams started off very slow. Both teams combined for only 8 in the first 5 minutes of the game. But when Big Tuna decided to turn it on, they really turned it on. They knocked down back-to-back-to-back 3’s on ensuing possessions to go up early. However, Kyle C. had a few tricks up his sleeve as he then hit back-to-back 3’s to get himself going. Late in the first half it seemed like fatigue set in for Tuesday Night Selects as they started to give up easy transition buckets and they ended the half giving up a 14-2 run.
Chris L. and Billy A. were the dynamic duo you never knew you needed as they put on an offensive clinic the entire game. Billy A. even tried to throw a lob for Chris to dunk from half court, unsuccessful however. Both finished with 24 and 26 points, respectively. Tuesday Night Selects would not go down without a fight though as they were making huge plays on offense and getting gritty stops on defense when needed. The defensive charge was led by Ben C. and Cam O. as they both came up with two steals a piece in key moments. Quinton D. tried to carry the team as he finished with 14 points, team high honor. However, 3 late triples from Bill, Chris, and Matt C. put the exclamation point on what turned out to be a 22 point blow out win for Big Tuna.
B1 5v5 TUE WEEK 2 WRITE-UPS
by Jason on
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)
B1 5v5 TUE Week 1 Write-Ups
by Jason on
BY LAMARR BENNETT
Game 1: Terminator 2 (78) - Mens League (38)
Welcome back team! This year's B1 5x5 league looks to be a good one. We started off week 1 off with Terminator 2 absolutely destroying there opponents, The Men's League. Terminator 2 got off to a very fast start, starting the game on a 14 - 2 run, led by leading scorer (21 pts) Julian Manyika. Granted, Men's League started off the game with only 4 players, but that didn't stop T2 from keeping there foot on the gas. The first half was a transition game for T2, as soon as the team got the rebound they were off and running. Guards Thomas Bissell and Samuel Jenson were the engine for T2. Both men were pushing the pace and finding open teammates at ease. By the 12:00 minute mark the score was 7-19 T2 up. Another 11-2 run by T2 put them up 9 - 31 with just under 7 minutes left in the half. But Will Childs-Klein was doing everything in his power to keep the Men's League in striking distance. Childs-Klein had 7 of his team's first 9 points, along with the majority of the rebounds. But that was about it for the Men's League in the first half. Missing all 9 of the 3 pointers the team took in the first half. On the other hand T2 knocked down 7 first half threes, led by Manyika. Now it was Brendt Stephens time to get into the action. After the 7:00 minute mark in the first half, Stephens went off for 7 straight points for T2, grabbing rebounds and playing really solid defense during the stretch. With such a great team effort T2 went into halftime with a nice 38-21 lead. The men's league was outscored from the 3 pointers 7 to 0 which was a big indication of how the game was going.
Second half started off the same as the first half basically. T2 continued pushing the pace, crashing the boards and firing away from the 3 point line. Mens League did start the half better, with Tom Smith getting it going down in the paint and making his presence felt. He made a nice pull up jumper and a few quick lay ups to start the half, giving Mens league some hope. But Manyika and T2 had to shut that down quickly. Another three by Manyika and a couple quick hustle points by Carl Bunge brought the score to 54 - 32 T2 up with 13:00 to go in the half. From that point on, Mens League could only muster up 6 total points for the remainder of the game, which says a lot about the defense T2 was playing. T2 outscored Mens league 40 to 18 in the second half, led by great scoring from Manyika and a great team effort by the rest of the team. T2 outscored mens league from the 3-point line 16 to 1.
Player of the game: Julian Manyika (21 pts, 5 rbs, 3 ast)
GAME 2: Treys 4 Days (62) vs Mid Range Magic (52)
Ok time for the game of the night! Trey 4 days and Mid Range Magic battled it out in a great game where T4Ds ended up getting the win 62 to 52. MRM got off to a hot start with 2 3s to start the game from guard James Smith. A quick 7-0 start was quickly erased by T4D, big man Kevin “Larry” Lefrancis made sure his presence was felt early in the game. Coring 4 quick paint points and grabbing 3 straight offensive rebounds. At that point I think MRM knew they might have their hands full in the paint. But they definitely were not intimidated. Big men Clifford Bouchereau E. Maynard started to really protect the paint and not give up anything easy. A quick transition 3 Dana flood brought the lead to 17 - 14 for T4D with 15:00 to go in the half. This is where T4D made there first little run of the game. Big man Lafrancis continued to dominate the paint and the glass, but got some nice help from fellow big man Wes Schroll who was huge on the glass. The two combined for 16 first half rebounds. As it looked like T4D was about to take control of the game, the Zahner brothers finally got going. Zack, who is more of a point guard of the two, found his Cam brother twice. Once for an open three and the other a nice mid range pull up. This seems to get Cam going as he knocked down another 3 pointer from the wing which brought the game to 30-32. Layups from Lafrancis and forward Luke Davidosn gave T4D a 8 point lead, but a 3 from Zack Zahner cut the lead to 5 and the score was 38 - 33 halftime with T4D up. Lafrancis had 11 rebounds in the first half alone. James Smith led mid range magic with ten first half points.
Second half continued on the same as the first half with both teams trading baskets, going back and forth with nobody taking a sizable lead. Mid range really started to make things difficult in the paint with Bouchereau taking on the challenge of big man Lafrancis. He really held his own on both ends, forcing tough shots and making some key baskets. But thats when an unexpected player started to take over the game and that was S. Issenberg. This man was an absolute beast on the offensive boards and in the paint in the second half. Yes he did miss a lot of free throws, but racking up fouls left and right, taking rebounds against all the big. His energy was infectious for his team. Davidson and Flood were also all over the place, deflecting pases left and right, rebounding and just making the smart winning plays. With 15:00 minutes to go T4D was leading 49 - 42 but knew the game wasn't close to being over. MRM just kept at it slowly but surely keeping the game close with timely 3s and great ball movement led by Zahner (game high 5 assist). Forward Cam Kelly was also huge during the stretch hitting two nice layups and an impressive and-one. A 3 pointer by James Smith cut the lead to 2 with 5:00 to go causing a time out from T4D. With the score close with T4D leading 52-54, guard Devin Santilli might have made the play of the game, coming up with a huge steal and knocking down a big 3 to give T4D a 5 point lead with 1:30 seconds to go. Then comes up with another steal on the next possession that really helped seal the game. Lafrancis finished off the game with two more layups and T4D ended up winning by ten with a score of 62-52 but the game was probably a lot closer than the score shows.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Kevin “Larry” LeFrancis (15 pts, 17 rbs, 4 ast)
Game 3: FCHWPO (75) vs BIg Phil from the hill and team (50)
THe final game of the evening didn't turn out to be the most competitive game with FCHWPO coming out with a very dominant and impressive win Over Big Phil and the squad. FCHW got out to a blazing start, hitting 3 threes and 3 quick lay ups to start the game on a 15 - 2 run. Big man brothers Eric and Chris Sellew were dominant from the jump. Eric, the younger of the two, used his quick speed to get to the rim at ease and Chris with his smooth jumpshot couldn't seem to miss. A quick time out for the Big Phils squad was exactly what they needed to try to get going. Peter Noland and Henry Louis started to get going after the timeout going on a mini 7-0 run, but that didn't last too long because this is when the Man himself began one of the greatest shooting clinics ive ever seen in person. It all started with a smooth jab step three from the corner, which brought the lead to 26-11 FCHWPO. Two more threes from 3s from McCarthy and C. Sellew and we thought the game was over. Not if Big Phils squad had anything to do with it. C. Sellew at one point was outsourcing the other team 13-12 by himself. Quick 3s from Noland and Jonathan Fruend helped cut the lead down some. This is when big man Eric Sellew popped his shoulder out of pocket. Horrible news from a player who was having a great game. After taking a couple minutes the action started back up. The end of the half was a little off because of the injury, as both teams traded baskets until the half. Score of 25 - 42 with FCHWPO up. Eric did not end up continuing to play but the good news is his shoulder seems to be fine ( with the help of his opponent Henry Louis).
Second half continued as both teams decided to continue the game 4 on 4, great sportsmanship from Big Phils Squad who agreed but could have continued the game with 5. Second half was all about John McCarthy. Hitting three 3s in the first half, his man hit SEVEN more in the second half alone. He was absolutely unconscious, hitting step back threes, side steps, 5 feet behind the lie. He was having target practice out there. Even his own teammates seemed to be shocked at the performance. It was definitely something to remember. But Big Phil, led by guard Henry Louis definitely had a better second half than first. Getting to the basket and finding open teammates at ease. He had himself a great second half. Sean Conannon and Hernan Perdomo were also better in the second half making this difficult on the defensive end. It was just a little too late because of the deficit in the first half and McCarthy watching basket for basket with the other team. The threes did start falling for big phil and hopefully it carries to next week because i think this team can do some real damage when the shots are falling. They shot 4 for 17 from three for the game and that's not gonna get the job done. The score ended up 75 - 50 with FCHWPO getting the big win. But let's hope this team can stay healthy if they can. I think they have a chance to win the whole thing.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Johnny McCarthy (38 pts, 8 rbs, 4 ast)
B1 5v5 Week 2 Write-Ups
by Jason on
WEEK 2 Write-ups
By DEVIN QUINLIN
Game 1: Mainely Love: 78 - Men’s League: 56
Mainely Love Dominate Their Way to the Top of the Standings
Mainely Love had three players in the gym at 6:20 when the game was finally ready to start, as James Morse and Harrison Taggart walked in a minute later. With almost no warmup and starting the game down 2-0 on two technical free-throws, it didn’t even matter. Mainely Love were unstoppable on offense, and after going into the half up 46-32, they only expanded their lead on the way to an easy win.
Morse was unstoppable from the jump. He was jacking threes without hesitation, finishing the game seven of ten from deep and eight of eight from the line. His final statline of 33 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals on this type of efficiency is the most impressive performance in the league thus far. Harrison Taggart was also impressive, especially early on. He put up 22 and 6, plus 1 assist and 1 steal on three of five from three. He has a smooth all-around game, effortlessly getting to the rim and always in control. Tom Palleschi played a strong game down low, adding 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. His footwork and finishing are extremely polished and he holds down the paint on defense. Matt McDonough chipped in 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal, but his team-high 4 assists were beneficial to his team’s ball movement and offensive rhythm, while CJ Jordan added 1 point, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. He doesn’t look for his shot much, but his rebounding, tough defense, and general scrappy play clear the way for guys like Morse and Taggart to go off on offense. Mainely Love are looking like the team to beat in this division.
Men’s League struggled in this game. Charlie Bagin looked like the only player who came ready to go, finishing with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and a game-high 5 steals. He has some nifty finishes inside, but also shot three of six from downtown and generally went hard on both ends. Impressive game from him, but his team let him down. George Shultz hit the two technical free-throws prior to the game, but struggled to find his shot in this game. He put up 15 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 3 steals, shooting three of nine from three, but with a few garbage time buckets. He’s a great shooter and I expect him to bounce back, but his off-ball catch and shoot threat will be extremely important for his team’s success this session. Big man Will Childs-Klein made his debut this week with 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist. He showed some nice touch inside and out, and his team could benefit from him being more involved on offense. Other than these three, Matt Goodwin chipped in 6 points and 4 rebounds and Josh Salter 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist, which is simply not enough to overcome most of the teams in this league. Tyler Seibring will have to have an enormous impact in every game he’s available for Men’s League to compete.
Game 2: Intramural Heroes: 77 - Hartbreakers: 72
Intramural Heroes Hold Off Heartbreakers to Secure Week 2 Win
Intramural Heroes went into the half up 41-25 on a hot shooting start, even without big man Tim Gallivan. The Hartbreakers got rolling as the second half progressed, but couldn’t overcome the early deficit. Credit to the Heroes for their solid defense down the stretch.
Cedric White had another stellar game with 20 points, 7 boards, 4 assists, and 2 steals. He struggled from the free-throw line, shooting four of eight, but did everything else. Great footwork inside, reliable mid-range jumper, and solid paint protection make him one of the best bigs in the league. Brendan Farley also had a great game, shooting four of nine from three and drawing tons of defensive attention early on, and then controlling the offense from there. He ended with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and a game-high 8 assists, finding open guys and using the threat of his shot effectively. Nick Weber has been one of the best defenders this session, continuing that this week with 5 steals and 1 block, plus 7 rebounds and 1 assist. He’s not the most prolific scorer, but he put up 14 points this week, hitting some mid-range jumpers and finishing super well inside off of offensive boards and smart cutting. Shane Farley added 7 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 steal with a solid overall performance, while fill- in Chris Almodar (wrong spelling sorry) put up 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. Steve Lazarro also filled-in nicely with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, always playing intelligent ball on both sides and showing off some incredibly crafty finishes.
The Hartbreakers continue their string of cryptic regular season performances despite some impressive outings from individuals. Tucker Landy put up a 25 point, 11 rebound double-double, plus 1 assist and 1 steal. Always a dominant B1 player, Tuck rarely makes mistakes and can fill it up in a hurry. Devin Jensen is perhaps the most talented player in any CAC division, finishing with a near triple-double of 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, plus 2 steals and 1 block. He shot four of ten from three, imposing his will offensively at the end of the game, but it was too little too late. Oliver Hart went off in his shooting role, going a perfect five for five to finish with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block, including a clutch fadeaway with under 30 seconds left to keep his team in it. Impressive shooting display from him. Joe Kamataris chipped in 9 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 3 steals, and 1 block, showing his improved shooting and always stellar defense. Aidan Kanell and Sean Dempsey didn’t score, but combined for 7 assists and 5 rebounds. Sam Dowden’s absence played a role in this loss, and Phil has yet to return, so we’ll see what the Hartbreakers can come up with as the season progresses. Credit to Intramural Heroes for an impressive win without some of their best players, though.
Game 3: FCHWPO: 56 - Mid-Range Magicians: 45
FCHWPO’s Stifling Defense Put Them Over the Top
FCHWPO has some high level talent between the Sellew brothers and Johnny McCarthy, with others filling in different roles nicely, but their offensive attack has been lacking so far. Still, they pull out the win in week 2, leading 27-25 at the half and pulling away to win 56-45 with some excellent defense.
Xander Kirshen led the way on offense with 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block. With a lot of defensive attention on McCarthy and Chris Sellew after they knocked down some early 3s, Kirshen stepped up by canning three of his six attempts from deep and finishing a few buckets inside. Clutch performance from the lefty. Eric Sellew continues to dominate every aspect of the game except scoring, putting up 12 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block. He hit five of his six free throws and knocked down his only three, using his size to control the entire game on the defensive end. I still think he could put up 25-30 points every game if he were more aggressive, but he’s also much better than me so I won’t tell him how to play. Johnny McCarthy added 11 points of his own, plus 11 boards, 2 assists, and 1 steal while shooting three of six from deep. He’s always calm and never forces shots, moving the ball well after the defense keyed in on him as a shooter. Chris Sellew struggled with his shot, but still played well with 9 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists (game-high), and 1 block. He’s got a smooth shot, so I expect his one for seven game to improve. Aidan Cyr added 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and converted both of his free-throws. He took a tough shot early in the game, so hopefully his shoulder is ok and he’s good to go next week. Meech Ramirez hit a three and added some excellent defense to finish with 3 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, including 4 offensive rebounds to get his team extra opportunities on both ends.
The Mid-Range Magicians fall to 0-2 after another subpar offensive outing. They simply bring too many guys to each game and can’t find a rhythm or build any chemistry. Bogut King continues to play pretty well, getting an 11 point, 11 rebound double-double with 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block. He’s a great post presence on defense, but he’s not the guy you want leading your team in scoring if you’re going to win games. Someone else needs to step up and add more than 11 points. Zack Zahner has shown some nice shooting, putting up 11 points of his own, plus 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals. He hit his only three attempt and some nice middies as well, and with Clifford Bouchereau out, he needs to be their main offensive threat. Jack Albanese has been an impressive defender so far, getting 1 steal and 2 blocks, but also adding 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist and converting both of his free-throws. James Smith hit two threes on eight attempts to finish with 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist, but I expect him to continue to get shots up and make more in the coming weeks. Giannis Valoumas and Andrew Dodds each hit one three, Valoumas finishing with 5 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal. The points are too spread out among the whole roster, and the Magic will need a go-to-guy if they’re going to bring their offensive game up to par.
Game 4: Treys For Days: 69 - Bears: 63
Treys For Days Outlast Bears in Close Battle
Treys For Days secure their first win of the session in a tough game against the Bears. The return of Dana Flood and Wes Schroll boost Treys For Days toward the top of the league, as both guys have dominated A League in previous sessions. They led 45-39 at the half, maintaining their 6 point lead to end the game with a 69-63 win.
Dana Flood made his presence known in his B1 debut, finishing with 23 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. He was effortlessly getting inside and finishing over and around defenders, he hit three of his five threes, and as always, came up with a monster block. Smart all-around player who makes this Treys for Days team dangerous. Wes Schroll added 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 blocks, which is a good statline, but I expect better from him. Once he picks it up, he will be a force inside and on the break. Still, his 3 blocks was a game-high and he led both teams in rebounding as well. George Thissell chipped in 10 points of his own, plus 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. He’s another talented player whom I expect more from. He only shot two threes, which needs to go up, but his finishing inside and defense were on point as usual. Luke Davidson showed off his crazy athleticism, throwing down a dunk on the baseline and finishing with 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block. He’s fantastic getting past his man into the lane to get a nice floater off or dumping it inside to a big. Devin Santilli put up 8 points, 5 boards, 1 assist, and 2 steals, while Kevin McGovern added 5 points, with 2 boards, 2 assists, and 2 steals. He hit his only three-point attempt and played his smart game per usual. Rich Kruszkowski added 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist with some solid interior defense, and John Scola came up with 1 points, 4 boards, and 1 steal. Solid outing from Treys For Days, who will need to build on this momentum in the coming weeks.
The Bears fall to 0-2 on the season, but have faced two strong teams and kept it competitive with both. Danny Shapiro continues to impress, putting up 18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. He hits tough shots, moves the ball well, and has been their leader in shot creation this session. Sam Blomberg also had another strong performance with 15 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and a game-high 5 steals. He shot two of five from three, three of four from the FT line, and continually made tough shots in the lane. His quickness on defense makes him a pest, and despite his size, his 5 steals show his defensive impact. Will Ross continued his hot shooting, going three of four to finish with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. He’s knockdown, and moves well off-ball while Shapiro and Blomberg probe in the lane from the guard spot. Jake Tomkinson (please add him to the roster) found his shot this game, going a perfect three for three from deep to finish with 11 points and 2 assists. He makes some excellent passes, and would have more assists if his teammates finished shots. Tyler Blake also makes excellent passes, finishing this game with 5 assists and 7 rebounds, grabbing offensive boards and patrolling the middle on defense. I like the way the Bears play, and I expect them to rebound from their 0-2 start and finish in the top half of the league. Regardless, they will always come to compete and make things difficult for the other team.
B1 5v5 Week 1 Write-ups
by Jason on
By Devin Quinlin
Game 1: Treys For Days: 50 - Intramural Heroes: 68
Intramural Heroes Come Out Firing in Week 1 Win
Intramural Heroes make a Week 1 statement with a convincing 18 points win against Treys for Days. The big man combo of Cedric White and Tim Gallivan led the way on both ends, with other guys playing their roles well for a well-rounded team effort. White finished with a game high 25 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal on five of ten shooting from three. His jumper from deep and the midrange was automatic all game, including a devastating four bucket run late in the first half that essentially sealed the game. Gallivan put up 22 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, converting both of his free-throw attempts and hitting two of five from deep. His length underneath makes him a menace on both sides of the ball, but his reliable three-pointer makes him one of the most versatile players in this league. Expect plenty of double-doubles from him this season. Ian MacLean added 14 points, 4 boards, 4 assists, and 3 steals as the third scoring option. He showed a nice outside shot (three of six from three), but was quick to the basket as well. He used that same quickness on defense, cutting guys off on the drive and picking up 3 steals. James Levine added 4 steals of his own, and while he couldn’t find his shot, he did everything else to finish with 7 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists (game high), and 4 steals. His unselfish play got his team plenty of open looks and kept everyone involved. Nick Weber didn’t score, but also made a strong impact with 5 rebounds (3 offensive), 3 assists, 1 steal, and 3 big blocks. His defensive effort was impressive.
Treys for Days were without their two best players in Wes Schroll and Dana Flood, and while they fought hard, they couldn’t keep up offensively. Kevin LaFrancis played well, putting up a team high 15 points and 7 rebounds, hitting five of seven free-throw attempts. Luke Davidson showcased his athleticism and strength to finish with 12 points, all on drives to the hoop. He added 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block. Captain Kevin McGovern chipped in 7 points, 5 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. He always plays well, but never takes enough shots for a shooter of his caliber. George Thissell and Mike Thorsen added 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal each, with Thissell scoring inside and Thorsen hitting two threes, the only guy other than McGovern to hit a three for them. Thorsen added 2 assists as well, but Treys for Days will need to step up their three-point shooting to keep up with the scoring prowess of some of the other teams in this league.
Game 2: Mid-Range Magicians: 55 - Mainely Love: 65
Mainely Love Pull Away in Second Half to Secure Win
Heading into halftime down 35-39, Mainely Love stepped up to control the second half, hitting some clutch shots and bringing the defensive intensity to ultimately come out with the win. Harrison Taggart came into the game with minimal warmup and was a bit shaky at first, but quickly established himself as the best player on the court. He put up 24 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal, shooting four of seven from three and four of six from the line. He’s an effective three level scorer and made some good reads out of the pick and roll as well. James Morse also played well, finishing with 17 points on two threes and five of five from the FT line, while adding 2 rebounds, a game high 4 assists, and 1 steal. He did well to control his team’s offensive attack and found his guys for some nice buckets throughout the game. Big man Tom Palleschi contributed well, too. He added 14 points, 7 boards, 2 assists, and 2 blocks, dominating the block while also showing some versatility by hitting a three and taking guys off the dribble. Matt McDonough added 5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block, but he’s a strong, explosive player who will bounce back offensively. Gabe Balzano-Brookes hit a three, grabbed 5 boards, and added 1 assist and 2 steals for a solid contribution, while CJ Jordan was all over the court, putting up 2 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals and making his presence felt underneath on both ends.
The Mid-Range Magicians were up at the half and generally played pretty well, but couldn’t hold on at the end. Clifford Bouchereau was the guy on offense, finishing with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block on a blistering four of five from three. His jumper is smooth and he’s strong inside. James Smith added 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal on an efficient three of five from deep. Look for him to be a three-point threat all season. Zack Zahner put up 7 points and 2 rebounds, and while he missed some shots, his quick mid-range pull up is hard to stop, and I see him bouncing back in the coming weeks. Captain Giannis Valoumas put up 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal, all three of his buckets on shifty moves to get to the hoop or hit a mid-range jumper. He played the point steadily, but could be more aggressive with his shot. Andrew Bogut King battled hard inside with 6 points, 7 boards, and 1 steal, while Max McKee chipped in 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.
Game 3: Men’s League: 58 - FCHWPO: 57
Men’s League Pull Out the W on Game Winner at the Buzzer
In a close battle all game, Men’s League was down 29-30 at the half and kept the game close until the end. A Johnny McCarthy three ball put FCHWPO up 57-56 with about 10 seconds left, but Men’s League quickly got the ball up court and called a timeout at half court to advance the ball with about 8 seconds left. Men’s League got the ball to their leading scorer on the left wing, and Tyler Seibring hit a contested stepback in the midrange as the buzzer sounded to secure the win for his team. Seibring finished with a 17 point, 10 rebound double-double, plus 2 assists and 1 steal. He hit two of his four threes and three of his four FTs, finishing well inside and showcasing a smooth jumper all game. Charlie Bagin also played well, putting up 15 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 4 steals, shooting three of six from downtown. He scored the ball well, but his smart, steady play led his team’s offensive pacing and kept them in the game when FCHWPO made a second half run. Captain George Schultz put up 14 points on four threes, plus 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. His quick jumper makes him a weapon from anywhere inside of halfcourt. Matt Goodwin added 6 points, 5 boards, and 1 steal, and Josh Salter chipped in 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist.
FCHWPO played well, but struggled from three and missed too many free-throws to secure the win. Johnny McCarthy missed a few shots early, but quickly got it going to finish with 20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. He shot three of five from three (really four of six but the court is small so foot on the line in the corner), but only one of three from the FT line. Still, his clutch shot at the end and his general play stood out this game. Eric Sellew also stood out, putting up 14 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks. Talent-wise, Sellew is as good as anyone in the league. His size and length are unstoppable on the defensive end, but he needs to be more assertive on offense. I don’t see anyone stopping him if he bullies his way inside. Xander Kirshen added 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks, while John Mulligan and Aidan Cyr added 6 points each. Mulligan added a steal, but missed all of his three point attempts, while Cyr added 5 boards, 2 assists, and 1 steal, but shot four of eight from the FT line. Meech Ramirez added 1 point and 3 rebounds in the loss. As a team, FCHWPO shot three of eleven from deep (all three by McCarthy) and ten of twenty-three from the free-throw line. I expect these guys to be one of the better teams in the league, and see them bouncing back offensively next week.
Game 4: Bears: 74 - Hartbreakers: 83
Hartbreakers Overcome Gritty Bears Team
The Hartbreakers are back looking to return to B1 glory and secure another championship, and are off to a good start with their Week 1 win over the Bears. They were up 40-33 at the half, and held off a strong Bears run to win 83-74 at the end. Devin Jensen is, without a doubt, the best player in this league, and he showed why from the start. Jensen put up 30 with 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. He shot six of nine from three (nice) and four of five from the line (his ‘miss’ was a lane violation on a teammate), and generally got whatever he wanted on offense. He even hit his signature bank shot three from the right wing, the ultimate form of basketball disrespect. There are other impressive players in this league, and I’m excited to see those matchups as the season progresses, but for now Jensen is the runaway MVP. It helps having other guys on your team who can play, and the Hartbreakers have no shortage. Tucker Landy put up 14 and 8, plus 3 assists and 1 steal with his usual efficient, well-rounded play. He’ll be a top player all season, as will teammate Sam Dowden. Dowden put up 13 points, 9 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, and while he missed all his threes, that will likely change in future games. Tim DeMatteo put up 10 points and 5 rebounds, always reliable on defense and strong down low and in the midrange. Sean Dempsey and Oliver Hart each had two threes to finish with 8 points, with Dempsey adding 2 rebounds and 2 assists and Hart chipping in 4 boards and 3 assists. Given that Phil wasn’t even here, this team looks dangerous, but as always, the biggest issue for them is attendance.
Bears were outsized here, no other way to put it. I expected them to get blown out, but these guys came to play. They can shoot, move the ball well, and get after it on defense. Danny Shapiro only got better as the game progressed, leading his team with 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. He hit a few threes, but his midrange jumper in transition was perfect. By the time the Hartbreakers started to focus on him, it was too late. Will Ross was hot as well, hitting four of his first five threes in the first half. He finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist, and played most of the game going hard on both sides of the ball. Look for him to be a sniper all year. John Bolland also had a well-rounded game with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. He was strong inside, but showed some finesse on his jump shot as well. His 4 assists tied for a team high, along with Sam Blomberg and Jake Thompkins. Blomberg was impressive at the point guard spot, adding 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal, and he also drew a charge in the second half, a category in which he now leads the league. Thompkins couldn’t find his shot this game, but put up 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals in addition to the 4 assists. I expect him to bounce back and be a shooting threat as well. The Bears might be undersized, but they were missing a few big guys, and they also have the best (and only) coach in the league in Jason Behrens, who, despite not playing finished with 2 fouls (no one will foul out in the regular season, but once playoffs start we will not be assigning fouls randomly to keep guys in the game). Behrens called a killer second half time-out and was active with the substitutions in the first half, but his energy was down in the second half. Hopefully he’ll bounce back for his guys next week.