B2 5v5 MON Week 2 Write-Up
by Jason on
WEEK 2 Write-Ups
By DEVIN QUINLIN
Game 1 | Handler’s Handlers: 49 - SAUS: 55
SAUS Survive Handlers’ Comeback Attempt, Move To 2-0
SAUS jumped out to a big lead in this one, leading 18-6 with about 10 minutes left in the first half (which includes their 0-3 start for not having CAC jerseys). All the sudden, though, Handler’s Handlers turned it around with some swarming defense and efficient ball movement, closing the gap to a 24-21 lead for SAUS at the half. Kevin Toth went down with an injury in the first half, which opened the door for the Handlers to mount a comeback, but to SAUS’ credit, they fought off the second half push and held on to win 55-49.
Cam McCann was hot all game, finishing five for ten from three to the tune of 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 block. His catch and shoot was on point, and he finished a few nice layups and iced both of his free-throws at the end of the game to seal the game for his team in a clutch offensive performance. John Capin was equally clutch, as he scored only 2 points in the first half, but came alive to finish with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. He shot three of four from three, all in the second half, and handled most of the ball handling duties down the stretch with Toth on the bench. Definitely an excellent pickup for SAUS, as Capin’s smart play probably won them the game. Kevin Toth finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals in about 12 minutes of play, just getting whatever he wanted on both ends. Wishing him a speedy recovery. Mike Baker finished with 5 points and 9 rebounds, playing hard inside and finishing a few layups, while Gareth Goh was solid, hitting his only shot attempt to finish with 3 points and 3 assists. Griffin Haas added 4 assists and 2 steals, but I thought he played pretty well and had a larger impact than his box score indicates. Good win for SAUS without their two best players, as they move to 2-0 on the season.
Handler’s Handlers definitely found more of a rhythm in this one, but still struggled with their shooting, going five of thirty from three and ten of twenty from the line. Brian Horan showed up late, but still led his team in scoring with 12 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block. He’s shown a nice ability to finish on the drive, though he shot only one of seven from three in this one. Jack Gallagher added 11 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, hitting two threes and canning three of his four attempts at the charity stripe. He’s been very solid in both games this session, making plays on both ends and converting open looks. Ryan Kuchar played well at the point, finishing with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals. He couldn’t get the three ball to fall, but had some impressive finishes at the rim. Danny H finished with 6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists (game-high), 2 steals, and 1 block in a stat stuffing effort. He did a fantastic job facilitating and getting his team out in transition and he was active on defense as well. Ben Handler hit two threes to finish with 6 points, 1 assist, and 1 steal, while Sean Lovett added 2 rebounds and 1 steal, and Billy Christopher was extremely active to chip in 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal from the guard spot. Definitely some bright spots for the Handlers, who really just need to convert a few more open shots to get back into the win column.
Game 2 | Gino Time: 62 - Unreliables: 51
Gino Time Jump Out to Early Lead, Hold On for Win
Gino Time have cemented themselves as league favorites with a strong win over the Unreliables, dominating the first half to lead 35-17 at the break. Samir Shah went down early in the first, so David Pendergast (Mark It Zero) filled in for the entire game, but it didn't matter, as Gino Time dominated inside and came up with a 62-51 win to move to 2-0 on the season.
Captain Greg Eusden was a monster in this one, putting up an impressive 14 point, 12 rebound (6 offensive) double-double, plus 2 steals and 3 blocks. He did well to fill the lane on the break, but finished nicely in half-court sets as well. His length and athleticism on defense make him a matchup nightmare for any big, and he set the tone for his team in this one. Chris Cameron wasn’t far behind with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, showing off a beautiful jumper and a few nice finishes as well, while Max McKee added 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists, though he shot better last week. Regardless, both of these guys can light it up and will continue to get them up as the season progresses. Darren Hartwell finished with an efficient 10 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block, and while he didn’t reach double digit assists in this one, he played excellent defense on McDonough and had some nice attacks in transition. Erik Maynard had a relatively quiet game offensively, but still played well with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, while Jack Chen hit two threes to finish with 6 points and 1 assist. Jon Ross (2 points, 4 rebounds) led his team with 4 assists, while Bo Cramer added 4 boards, 1 steal, and 1 block. While the Unreliables did mount a pretty nice comeback, this game was never really in doubt, as Gino Time were a force on the interior and continue to cause matchup problems for opponents.
For the Unreliables, Matt McDonough scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block. While his shot was a bit off, he was still effective on both ends and managed to lead the game in scoring. Eric Fleming wasn’t far behind with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, dealing in the midrange while going two of three from deep as well. Nate Koslof finished with 1 point, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal, while TJ Green added 4 points, 3 boards, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Samir Shah unfortunately got hurt very early in the first half going for a rebound, so David Pendergast filled in for basically the entire game and added 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block. Hard to judge this game from the Unreliables, who had only four of their own players and no subs, going up against the top team in this division. I still view them as a top team when fully staffed. Best wishes to Samir.
Game 3 | Mark It Zero: 36 - Thank You University: 55
Mark It Zero Secure Win in Battle With Thank You Uni
Mark It Zero jumped out to some big leads in the first half, but Thank You Uni continually fought back to keep this game competitive from start to finish. With the score tied 36-36 at the half, this was anyone’s game. Mark It Zero pulled away in the end behind some clutch free-throw shooting and strong rebounding, finishing this one off 64-55.
Cam Daniels led Mark It Zero in this one, finishing with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block. Daniels was highly efficient and consistently made the right reads from the point guard spot, and he knocked down all five of his free-throw attempts, including four to seal the game late in the second half. Brian Civale made his session debut with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks. Civale is a bucket, that’s really all there is to it. He immediately hit a three to start the game, and hit two more and finished four of five from the free-throw line. He also matched Thank You Uni’s physicality on defense, accumulating 3 blocks along the way. James Mulvehill was a force inside, finishing with 11 points, 16 rebounds (5 offensive), 1 assist, and 4 steals, constantly moving on both ends and causing disruption in Mark It Zero’s favor throughout the game, while hitting the final two free-throws to finish the game off. David Pendergast struggled with leg cramps in this game after playing nearly the entire game before, but still finished with11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. He still has a whole other gear to his game, as he transitions from the 4v4 to the 5v5 setup. Jeremey Levenson was extremely active in this game, finishing with only 2 points, but grabbing 10 boards (3 offensive), dishing out 1 assist, and garnering 1 steal in an awesome display of defensive intensity. Rob Lunder added 1 rebound, 3 assists (team-high), and 1 block in a solid effort, as Mark It Zero get into the win column.
Thank You University were led by Eli Vogel’s 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Vogel truly did it all for his team in this one, shooting three of seven from three, attacking the rim in transition, defending at a high level, just whatever it took to win. Very impressive performance from a versatile player. Ben Hayes shot a blistering four of five from three in the first half, finishing with 12 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal, but his gravity from his early shooting display opened up the game for the rest of his team after he drew so much defensive focus in the second half. Kevin Toomey finished with 8 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal, hitting a three and using some fancy footwork for some strong finishes inside, while Anthony Paolillo added 7 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in a well-rounded effort inside. Andrew Pratt chipped in 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block in the loss. Thank You Uni have looked solid in these first two games, and with a full roster I expect them to be competitive with most teams in this division.
Game 4 | First Team CAC Benchwarmers: 77 - Bricksquad: 45
Benchwarmers Come Alive, Dominate in Win
After getting absolutely cranked last week, the Benchwarmers came back with a vengeance (and some new players) this week, putting together a dominant win. With a 36-14 lead at the half, they never looked back, beating Bricksquad by a 77-45 final score.
Zack Gray was back, though he only used his signature behind the back move once in this game. Flash or not, he finished with 25 points, 8 rebounds (6 offensive), 4 assists, and 5 steals (league-high), and he’s proven he can score with anyone in this league. He hit three threes, but also followed up his 8 steal performance from the first game with 5 this week. Noah Colon made his season debut and was the best player on the floor with 19 points, 11 rebounds (5 offensive), 6 assists, and 1 steal. He hit all three of his free-throws, and was simply relentless attacking the rim for some strong finishes in traffic. He also led his team with 6 assists, really just getting whatever he wanted. John Z added 8 points, 11 rebounds (5 offensive), 3 assists, and 1 steal, showing off some smooth finishes and smart passing, while Jason (fill-in) added 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals while going about half speed. Bugra Akaktan hit his only three point attempt and some nice mid-range jumpers for 9 points and 1 assist, while Matt Mackay added 8 more points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist in the win. Joe Walsh grabbed 5 rebounds and 1 assist, and Chris Alphen put up 4 boards and 2 steals. Altogether, this was a dominant win for the Benchwarmers in which the whole team contributed. They finished with 20 offensive rebounds as a unit, stole the ball 14 times, and dished out 16 assists, while knocking down seven of eight from the line. Great team win for them.
Bricksquad struggled in this one, though they had a few bright spots on offense. Big man Tenzin Pharachesur finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal with some strong finishes at the rim, while Nanu Adu added 10 points, 2 rebounds, and a league-high 7 assists, all while laughing at his own teammates’ airballs and turnovers. Even with the offense struggling, Adu was really distributing the ball well and getting his guys great looks all game. Julius Zuckerman had a solid game with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block, finishing well inside. I think he could look for his offense a bit more. Dahlha Cheshatsang hit two threes for 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists, playing pretty smart ball all around. Fill-in Clark added 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals in the loss. Bricksquad definitely have some talent, but they are not in shape and don’t really try to rebound, giving up plenty of easy buckets. Still, there’s some promise here, and I think they can put it together with captain Dahlha Cheshatsang back in action.
B2 5v5 MON Week 1 Write-Ups
by Jason on
By DEVIN QUINLIN
Game 1 | First Team CAC Benchwarmers: 30 - Gino Time: 83
Gino Time Rolls Benchwarmers in Season Opener
This game was never really in doubt, as Gino Time took a 49-20 lead into the half and just dominated the entire game from start to finish. To be fair to the Benchwarmers, they had no subs while Gino Time came with eight guys, but I’m not sure it would’ve made too much of a difference, as Gino Time was simply too dominant in this one, winning by a final of 83-30.
Erik Maynard and Max McKee led the scoring for Gino Time, hitting a flurry of threes early on and continuing their scoring throughout the game. Maynard finished with a league-high 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 steal, shooting four of nine from deep and dominating all facets of the game. McKee added 20 points on four of seven from deep, plus 5 boards, 3 assists, and 1 steal. He had some nice takes to the rim and was relentless in transition as well. Greg Eusden also added a double-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals, doing some damage inside, while Johnathan Ross played a very strong game on both ends, putting up 13 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals. Darren Hartwell scored only 4 points, but was perhaps his team’s most impressive player, hounding the opposing guard on defense and finishing with a league high 10 assists to go along with 6 rebounds and 3 steals, while Liam Abbott added 3 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in a stat-stuffing effort. Altogether, this team looks dangerous with their combination of size and athleticism, cementing themselves as the early favorites to win this division after a dominant win.
The Benchwarmers struggled in this one, but Zack Gray was a bright spot for his team. He finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and a league-high 8 steals. He shot three of seven from deep, showing off a nice looking shot and some impressive moves in transition, including his signature behind the back wrap off the dribble, which he did about seven times. Joseph Walsh hit two threes to finish with 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal, while Chris Alphen added 4 points, 4 boards, and 2 blocks in the loss. Matt Mackay chipped in 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, and Bugra Akaktan added 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Tough loss for the Benchwarmers, but it’s hard to play a full team with no subs. They will have better games in the coming weeks.
Game 2 | Thank You University: 34 - Handler’s Handlers: 31
Thank You University Pull Out Gritty Win in Low Scoring Affair
This game was either a defensive battle or two teams generating no offense, but it was competitive from start to finish. Thank you Uni held a narrow 17-11 halftime lead, with both teams shaking off some rust in their first game of the season. This game ended up coming down to the wire, but an Andrew Pratt corner three ball sealed the game for Thank You Uni by a final score of 34-31.
Pratt led the offense for Thank You Uni, going three of five from deep to finish with 11 points and 4 rebounds. After missing a few shots early on, he got going in the second half and ultimately won his team the game with the clutch three. Ben Hayes isn’t even on the roster, but he hit three threes to finish with 9 points and 2 assists, breaking out Jamal Murray the bow and arrow celebration on all three of his buckets. Electric stuff from the sharpshooter. Greg Palazzo added 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, making things happen on both ends, while Kevin Toomey finished with 4 points and 6 rebounds, playing well inside on both ends. Even with a lackluster offensive performance from both teams, Thank You Uni deserves their credit for coming up with some key stops down the stretch, with credit going to Eli Vogel (2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals) on the perimeter and Kelsey Cornwell (3 rebounds, 1 steal) inside. That effort, plus some clutch shotmaking from Pratt, and they pull out the hard fought victory in Week 1.
Handler’s Handlers honestly looked much better than their 31 point output might suggest, but they ultimately just couldn’t hit their shots, going five of twenty-eight from three as a group and zero for four from the charity stripe. Brian Horan shot three of seven from three to finish with 11 points and 7 rebounds, while Danny H was active on both ends, putting up 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. Jack Gallagher finished with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists (game-high), and 1 steal, and Ryan Kuchar added 5 points, 7 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, though he had beautiful jump shot form and I expect him to shoot better than one for six in the coming weeks. Even with their dominance on the boards and defensively (2 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals for big man Sean Lovett), the Handlers just couldn’t convert enough shots to win this one, but I think they have a solid roster and can settle in nicely as the season progresses and they find their rhythm.
Game 3 | SAUS: 68 - Mark It Zero: 33
SAUS Dominate in First B2 Game
SAUS have long dominated Corporate League, rolling through opponents handily. They finally made the jump to B2, and things are no different, as they handled business against Mark It Zero. The scoring was nearly identical in both halves, as SAUS led 32-16 early on, and finishing this one with a final score of 68-33 in dominant fashion.
SAUS benefited from an incredibly well-rounded offensive attack, with four guys in double figures and two more barely missing out. Michel Nofal was dominant early on, finishing with 13 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks. He quickly hit two threes to start the game, which set the tone for this one. Cam McCann also hit three threes to finish with 13 points of his own, plus 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, while Mike Baker did some serious damage inside with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block down low. Kevin “Half Speed” Toth is far and away the best player in this division, and he did not disappoint with 11 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals. Even against some solid defenders, he’s just two steps ahead of everyone else, even with some questionable effort. Chin Kuo chipped in 9 points on three threes, plus 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, and Griffin Haas added 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal while rocking the Jason Williams Kings jersey. Captain Gareth Goh added 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 2 steals in the win, and I expect big things from a very capable SAUS team this session, even after moving up a division.
Mark It Zero struggled in this one, but they have no shortage of talent. I am on this team, and will hopefully be back by Week 6 or 7 to add some much needed shooting, as our squad went three of thirty-one from deep. Still, knowing these guys and having seen them all play before, I am confident that those shooting numbers will not stand. Cam Daniels was a bright spot for us, as he finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, coming alive in the second half and applying serious pressure on defense. David Ter-Ovanesyan added 7 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 steal, but these two each shot one of seven from deep. David Pendergast added 6 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists (team-high), and 1 block, but he will need to be more assertive on the attack if Mark It Zero wants to win games. Rob Lunder played solid, adding 5 points and 4 rebounds, while James Mulvehill struggled with his shot (zero for eight) but did everything else to chip in 2 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Tough game for Mark It Zero, but I see better days ahead later in the season.
Game 4 | Bricksquad: 33 - The Unreliables: 49
Unreliables Cruise to Week 1 Victory
The Unreliables put together a strong Week 1 performance, taking a 21-12 lead into the half and moving the ball well the entire game. This is a group with excellent chemistry, and the addition of Matt McDonough adds another go-to-scorer to take some of the offensive pressure off of Eric Flemming. The combination of shooting, passing, and defense put the Unreliables over the top in this one, as they pulled away with a 49-33 win.
Matt McDonough led the scoring effort, shooting five of nine from three to finish with a commanding 20 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, fitting in seamlessly and knocking down jumpers at an impressive clip. Eric Flemming also played a strong game, adding 15 points, 8 rebounds (5 offensive), and 4 assists, knocking down his signature midrange jumper and distributing the ball well in the half court. Nate Koslof showed off his dynamic game with 5 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists (game-high), and 4 steals, making plays on both sides per usual and finding shooters and cutters at will. TJ Green chipped in 7 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block in the win, rock solid as always, while Samir Shah came up with 2 points and 6 boards.. The Unreliables looked very solid in their first outing, and we’ll see if they can continue their momentum against the top tier teams in this league.
Like most other teams in Week 1, Bricksquad struggled offensively, but they showed some flashes. Tenzin Nanglo finished with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, and while his shot wasn’t falling, he displayed a nice offensive arsenal and hitting a few shots in the second half. Tenzin Pharachesur also showed some flashes, adding 10 points of his own, plus 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 2 steals, while Nana Adu chipped in 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Julius Zuckerman also added 5 points, 4 boards, 1 assist, and 1 steal. This team definitely lacked some offensive firepower, but I think they have solid pieces who will find their rhythm as the season progresses.
B2 5v5 MON Week 4 Write-Ups
by Jason on
BY ALEXA S
Game 1 - We Have Fun (42) vs Gino Time (67)
Gino Time easily dominated this game for all of the 40 minutes of play and it was never really close. Greg E. took advantage of his matchups all game and was crafty in the paint, going for a team leading 17 points, 8 boards, 3 assists, 3 steals and a block. Gino Time had a good balance of the inside-out game with most of their shots from 3 point range dropping in the second half. Jack C. contributed 13, 9 and 2 while Darren H. added 10, 6 and 2. Going into halftime, Gino Time held a comfortable lead 32-17 and would only increase that margin into the second. Despite the score not being in their favor, credit goes to We Have Fun for still playing with effort and hustling to try to get back in the game. Marc N. for We Have Fun was a scoring threat early on and he finished with 16 points and 8 boards, including going 4/6 (66%) from deep. Tom also did what he could for his squad putting up 17 points and 7 rebounds in the loss.
Game 2 – Brick Squad (54) vs Eastie Hoops (78)
Eastie Hoops came out the gate launching triples and although they were not falling at first, they were still able to maintain the lead for almost all of the first half. Brick Squad was able to keep up for the most part getting as close as down 5 but couldn’t convert open looks, getting themselves into a 9 point deficit at halftime. Adam G. put up 6 threes before seeing one go down but was not discouraged as he would go to attempt 23 3 pointers in the game. Adam ended up with 26 points, 9 rebounds while shooting 26% from 3PT. Ryan W. and Lucas F. took on much of the offensive load in the 2nd for Eastie Hoops as they started to run away with the game. Ryan attacked the rim often and got himself to the line, making 9 out of 10 FT’s. He was also able to get his teammates involved going for 24 points, 5 boards, 6 dimes, 2 steals and 3 blocks. Lucas F. got hot from beyond the arc, cashing in 5 treys and chipped in 19 points and 7 boards. Brick Squad didn’t have the offensive juice to keep up on this night, however they did get solid play from Zach M. who had 14 and 14 as well as 3 assists. Andrew M. and Chris D. also scored in double figures with 13 and 12 points respectively.
Game 3 – Tomahawks (46) vs Wyld Stallyns (42)
This matchup brought some much needed excitement on this Monday night with the Tomahawks pulling out a win in the closing minutes of the game. The Tomahawks jumped out to an early lead, courtesy of Sam B. who couldn’t miss to start the game as he scored his team's first 11 points. The Wyld Stallyns managed to keep Sam B. in check for the rest of the half and after a few ties and lead changes, they took the lead 30-24 at the end of the 1st. Wyld Stalllyns would stretch the lead to 10 shortly after the start of the 2nd but that would mark their largest lead of the game. The Tomahawks responded by going on their own 8 point run to cut the lead to 2. Zach S. had some important buckets for the Tomahawks and he would end up with 12 points. Sam B. added to his quick start by totaling 18 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. The score would remain 34-32 for a long 6 minutes with no baskets made and the Wyld Stallyns holding on to their 2 point lead. Many turnovers for both sides would ensue and bodies were falling all over the place revealing the intensity of the game at that point. Anthony S. on the Wyld Stallyns (5 assists on the night) was finding his teammates with smooth no-look passes and helping his team get easy buckets to maintain a slim 3 point lead. The momentum shifted when Zach S. on the Tomahawks converted a huge 3 to put them up 43-42. The Tomahawks sealed the deal with another clutch triple this time by Pat with less than 1 minute to go. Patrick G. on Wyld Stallyns would miss a point black layup and the Tomahawks eked out the 46-42 victory.
Game 4 – It Doesn’t Matter (68) Vs Thank You University (39)
It Doesn't Matter put away their opponent early in this one and took a commanding 17-5 lead in the game. Although there were moments where Thank You Uni seemed to be just in reach and about to go on a run, It Doesn’t Matter squashed those opportunities. Ryan was the star in this contest and was lights out from mid range. There seemed to be one specific spot on the right elbow that he couldn’t miss from. He stacked up 21 points, adding 11 rebounds and 2 assists. Taiye and Miguel M. were throwing dimes with 5 apiece. After Ryan’s scoring barrage in the second half, Thank You Uni were down big and ultimately it turned into the night’s 3rd blow out. A few guys that showed up for Thank You Uni were Eli V. with 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block. He was the only one on his team to manage double figures, but Andrew P. had a close 8 points and 4 boards. Kevin T. managed 6, 9 and 2 assists.
B2 5v5 MON Week 3 Write-Ups
by Jason on
BY ALEXA S
Game 1 - It Doesn’t Matter (66) vs Gino Time (96)
Gino Time could not be denied on this night getting huge contributions from several players in what may have been some of their best games so far this season. Erik M. could not be stopped going 8/11 (72%) from three point range and had 30 points. Gino Time had the lead for the most of the first half until It Doesn’t Matter came back to tie it up 24 apiece. After regrouping with a timeout, Gino Time pushed back to regain the lead once again into halftime 39-31. Gino Time dominated on the boards all game, especially Greg E. who had a monster game with 18 points and 14 rebounds, 4 of them offensive. The second half was when Gino Time took over, hitting 3 after 3. Max M. went off for 21 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists and Darren H. did a little bit of everything with 17, 13 and 6 assists, 3 steals and a block. Tauren on IDM was swiping people pocket’s with 7 steals as well as adding in 11 points. Those turnovers couldn’t be converted as well as his team giving up too many offensive rebounds and ultimately IDM ended up losing by 30.
Game 2 - Wyld Stallyns (30) vs Thank You University (39)
This was a low scoring one and the pace was pretty slow for most of the game. However, the teams were evenly matched with multiple lead changes throughout the first half. Late in the first, Patrick G. had back-to-back And-1’s that cut the Wyld Stallyns deficit to one. The game remained close and Thank You University was up 20-18 at the half. For most of the second, neither team could get the ball to go through the hoop. Shaun H. did his best to keep Wyld Stallyns in the game, putting up 12 points, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Despite the effort it wasn’t enough as Thank You Uni never gave up the lead and won by 9. Eli V. led his team with 12 and 6. Kevin T. and Ben both had 6 points. Greg P. added 5, 7 and 4 assists.
Game 3 – Eastie Hoops (67) vs We Have Fun (40)
Eastie Hoops came out attacking the basket relentlessly and using good ball movement to get wide open shots. They went up 15-5 to start and the game was in their control until the final buzzer. Lots of turnovers by We Have Fun led to easy transition points and stat padding for Eastie. Although We Have Fun showed moments of life, it looked like Eastie Hoops had better conditioning and more team chemistry. With an 18 point lead after one half, Ryan W. hit consecutive 3s out the gate and crushed any momentum for the We Have Fun squad. Ryan ended up with 26 points, 5 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals and 3 seats while shooting just over 40% on 3PT. Lucas F. chipped in 14, 8 and 4 assists in the win. On the other side of the box score, Marc N. had a solid 11 points and 9 rebounds, while Chris A. and Rob Moran each had 8.
Game 4 – Tomahawks (44) vs Brick Squad (34)
Brick Squad got off to an early 8-0 start with all points coming from Malik R. The Tomahawks started to get going and after tying a few times the score was knotted up at 17 apiece. Players started talking some trash to each other and complaining of missed calls. The Tomahawks stayed poised and took the lead with around 7:00 minutes left in the 1st half, never trailing after that. They scored 11 straight points to lead 31-22 at halftime. Four of the starters managed to hit double figures with Sam B. leading the way with 13 and 8 rebounds. Brick Squad did indeed put up a lot of bricks and had trouble putting numbers on the scoreboard. Malik B. on the Brick Squad was able to get some production with 13 points and 12 rebounds.