Winter 24 A 5v5 Preseason Preview

by Jason on Jan. 16, 2024

By Devin Quinlin

**__A League Preview for W24 session:__**

The new 12-team, same-day, different-gyms format is a unique idea, and I like it. With all twelve teams having already played in the CAC A League before, these teams are familiar with each other and I’m expecting some competitive, intense games this session. With only 8 available playoff spots, the #7 - #10 teams will be battling every possession for a chance at playoff glory in what I imagine will be some unforgettable battles. Below are the preseason power rankings, but anything is possible in a league stacked with this much talent, so feel free to ignore everything I’ve written here.

12.) Team Takeover → Plenty of talent but no chemistry or game plan. Jared Johnson has become one of the best scorers in this division and I love his consistency, but running mates Parker and Toney should be right there with him. Unfortunately, they’ve been too inconsistent, especially in the scoring department, to justify a higher ranking. They’ve added a few new names, with Nick Ritzo being a former D1 track athlete, but I just can’t see Team Takeover ranked anywhere outside of the 11 or 12 spot until they show me otherwise

11.) We The Ones! → Keith has once again added some new guys to the trio of himself, Stanowicz, and Carter, all of whom are solid but aren’t putting WTOs out of the bottom tier. Guy Pistone is a great pickup, as our team finally has a real point guard who will show up consistently, while Arinze Obiora is immediately this team’s best player and is the main reason I put WTOs over Team Takeover. Without Palmer next to him, Rinze will have a lot more freedom to operate, and I expect a stellar session from him. Obi Obiora and Dan Barbour are also new additions, and I might finally not be injured, but I’m not as familiar with their games and I’m heinously short, so we don’t quite move the needle.

10.) Bing Bong → The Wentworth squad is back to Thursdays, where they previously went 3-7. Last session they finished 6-5 on Monday, which is an improvement, albeit in a worse division. They also lose their leading scorer from last session, and while I see a few new names who previously played at Wentworth, I don’t imagine an enormous improvement. Keough will be their go to scorer, while Lennon runs the point and Jaynes and Azums operate down low. While I believe in all of these guys, they will need more consistency, and more assertiveness, if they want to improve on their previous results from the last time they played on Thursdays.

9.) Skelton’s Boys → When Skelton’s Boys first made the jump to A a few sessions ago, I questioned whether or not they could hang, and they decisively proved me wrong. Still, they bumped down to B1 last session and will need to readjust to A again (though I think they can). They kept their best players in Pettit, Horan, Anderson, and Bassett, which is a good core, and added four new guys, none of whom have played in CAC before. Tough spot for SB, who will be competitive with every team in this league, but I predict will lose several close games to some of the better teams in the division. We’ll have to see what the new guys bring, and if they have the size to match-up.

8.) Space and Pace →This is a crazy ranking for the team that just won Monday A League, so I apologize for the disrespect, but I also stand firm that Monday A was significantly worse than Thursday A. James Welch and Colin Bradenese are both excellent players regardless of division, and their chemistry from college certainly helps, but outside of them, I see a steep drop off scoring wise. Pellegrini can score but he’s an undersized big, the Marino brothers are solid but getting older (plus will face better bigs than in B1 or Monday A), and Steve Valacer passes too much. This team will need to grind out wins defensively, unless Welch and Bradenese combine for 45-50+ a game. All that said, this is a solid roster with championship pedigree and experience playing together, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they finish way higher in the final standings, though I don’t see a deep playoff run for them either.

7.) The Spida Men → The Spida Men are back after a session in which they lost almost every game, but had a positive point differential. They still have a lot left in the tank, but as the age creeps up, consistency becomes the main concern. Jamal can still go with the best of them, Danny Martin has showed no signs of slowing down any time soon, but they lose John Lithio’s absurd efficiency and smart play from last session. Tim Gallivan will need to be more consistent, as he sometimes scores an easy 20+, and other times scores 4 points on two putback layups, though this has a lot to do with the team’s gameplan. They added Martin’s younger brother, who, I believe, has only played in high school where he was listed at 6’0, 165lbs, which is exactly what I put on my MaxPreps page (I was lying). They also added Romario Lauriston, who is a 6’5 wing with Juco experience, averaging double figures for BHCC. They will need him to be that guy if they want to compete with the teams above them. Hard to know how good he will be, but some of the Juco guys can really go, so time will tell.

6.) Ronin Blood Warriors → The RBWs come back with a new look roster this session, as they lose Palmer, both Obioras, and Ray Miller. They do add Kevin Nunez, who had a successful showing in Monday A League a few sessions ago, former D3 national champ Allen Williamson, and Harrison Taggart, who played at U. Vermont before dominating at St. Anselm. These are all excellent pickups, as well as Dave Zielinski, who filled in for Zards in dominant fashion on several occasions last session. My issue with this team is chemistry and familiarity. I have no idea if any of these guys even know each other, and Zielinski, Taggart, and Williamson all fit well in the drive and kick, high level shooting, disciplined style of basketball that defines New England D3 basketball and rears success in CAC A League (look at the top 5 teams for proof). Can the rest of the squad fall into that playstyle, or will this team devolve into iso ball with no group identity? Hard to know, but I trust Dan’s recruiting and believe in them talent wise.

5.) FCHWPO → I covered Team Amherst in B1 a few sessions ago, in which they lost in the championship but were otherwise dominant. Without a doubt an A League level team, I’m hesitant to rank them above the top 4 teams, but wouldn’t be surprised if they were. Johnny McCarthy is an elite scorer, Eric Sellew will be a defensive stalwart, and the rest of the team rounds out nicely with Chris Sellew sniping threes, Fru Che doing a bit of everything, and Will Phelan bringing some size into the backcourt. I can’t say I know every player on this roster, but I expect them to transition smoothly into this division and will have the size to match other teams. I also think their chemistry, both in CAC leagues and from college, bodes well for them in close games. Their matchup with Zards might get a bit chippy, but I’m here for it.

4.) Suffolk → With Palmer out of the league, I am now confident that Bolden Brace is the best player in this division, which will always make Suffolk competitive in any game. George Grillakis has proven that he can go hard to his right against Michael Jordan himself, nearly a guaranteed 20ppg and a more confident jump shot as well. Sam Holtze is an elite two way guard in this league (though I would love to see him shoot more), and he added college teammate Will Jackowitz for some size and shooting. O’Donnell and Big Money Mike return for some interior size and shooting, while Yusuf and Bret Edwards add some shooting in the backcourt, rounded out by the versatile Rob Rizos. Good roster with clearly defined roles for everyone and the talent to compete, the only reason these guys aren’t higher is the consistency of the teams above them. With their Big Three, though, I would never be surprised to see them win the whole league.

3.) Not A Dime Back → NADB cruised through the regular season last session, losing only to Suffolk and locking up the #1 seed, but lost a close one to eventual champs WCS in the second round. My main issue with NADB was Jon Luster, who previously averaged 18.8ppg, 8.3rpg, and 4.7apg in W23, 20.5ppg, 8.9rpg, and 5.9apg in S23, and then inexplicably dropped to 12.4ppg, 5.6rpg, and 4.1apg last session, scoring in single digits four times and just not shooting the ball nearly enough for a player of his caliber. Kind of strange to do a deep dive on a player for a men’s league preview, but I’m a huge believer in his game and was shocked to see him look disinterested last session. Take over the game, Jon, you’re putting up my kind of statlines. Outside of Luster, this team has plenty of other talent, with Kontopidis dominating both ends inside and on the wing, Dom Black consistently among the league leaders in steals, assists, rebounds, two-pointers made, and free-throw makes and attempts, Chris Conner adding elite shooting, and other guys perfectly rounding out the roster. These guys end every game with A+ teammate grades and their chemistry and unselfish playstyle are unstoppable, but they will need Luster to be more selfish if they want to ascend back to the #1 ranking.

2.) Zards → I thought the Zards were finally going to win it last session, but they came up just short in the championship game. From a roster standpoint, I’m not sure there’s a better team, as Dan Wohl is a crazy scorer who repeatedly steps up in big moments, Sam Longwell is the most efficient player in the world, and the rest of the roster perfectly compliment both of their games. One issue I’ve seen with Zards is perhaps too much talent. Mike Kearney is happy to facilitate as a pure point guard, which he does well, but guys like Aronowitz, Flood, and Prodanovic have a lot more to offer in terms of offensive output. I’m a big believer in giving your best guys the ball and letting them make most of the decisions, but Flood can’t be shooting only 1.7 threes per game and getting most of his points off of offensive rebounds. Dan Aronowitz scored almost 1400 points in college and has previously put up like 18 and 14 in this division, yet he finished several games on the bench last session, why not feed him in the post? He had 10 points in the first half of the last session’s final game, he finished with 12. Former Ivy League Big Men Chris Egi and Matt LaBove are impressive down low on both ends, though they seem to alternate weeks and both of their attendance records have been questionable. Melillo is reliable and an excellent shooter aside from the occasional game where he can’t hit a three (happens to any shooter), but outside of him and the top two guys, this team gets inconsistent play from the others and could benefit from some shot diversity.

1.) West Coast Shooters → WCS honestly did not have a great session in F23, going 5-4 in the regular season and getting a bit lucky in the first round with Suffolk missing their two best players. Still, they have the talent and the chemistry, and I can’t say I’m surprised that they won the league. D’Aguanno has become a top player in this league, taking major strides in his game to become more than a shooter, as he’s now their go-to-guy. Jack Fay and Stephen Tam return as an elite backcourt pairing on both sides, while Matt Pattyson is perhaps the most versatile player in the league. Derek Retos is the best catch and shoot shooter I’ve ever seen in person, and Tom Wembanyama reminded everyone that he can do more than crack jokes by dropping 22 and 10 in the championship last session to lead his team to that victory. WCS bring back Hugh O’Neil down low and Andrew Jaworski on the wing, with Jaworski being right up there with Dan Wohl for most polished scorer in the league. They add two new guys in Mike Pusifer (couldn’t find much) and Colton Lawrence, who had a stellar Bentley career before moving to D1 UMBC, where played nearly 30 minutes a contest, averaging 12.2ppg with a few 20 point outbursts as well. Adding a guy of that caliber to your roster certainly cements this team in the #1 spot, and until I get a good reason otherwise, these guys are the team to beat heading into the W24 session.

A 5v5 THU Week 3 Write-Ups

by Jason on Sep. 28, 2023

By DEVIN QUINLIN

Game 1 | Zards: 80 - Not A Dime Back: 85

NADB Stay On Top in Comeback Win Vs. Zards

It’s no secret that NADB have climbed their way to the top of the CAC A League through their defensive cohesiveness, lights-out three point shooting, and above all, their insane team chemistry. At the same time, though, there’s no shortage of talent on this team, and their top guys are as good as anyone’s. They entered this game without Connor, Black, and Coulter, finding themselves down 37-44 at the half. Zards had three fill-ins, but with all three playing at a high level, NADB needed to respond. They did just that, finishing the game shooting a staggering fourteen of twenty-five (56%) from deep, accumulating 21 assists as a team, and knocking down their free-throws in crunch time. They finished this one off with an 85-80 victory, moving to 3-0 on the season and boasting the league’s best defense through three games.

Even without three of their top players, NADB still boasts the league’s best point guard in Jon Luster, and he showed out once again in this one. Luster shot six of eleven from downtown to finish with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. After a relatively quiet first half, Luster hit a flurry of threes in the second to bring his team into the lead, and he proceeded to go a perfect eight for eight from the free-throw line to ice the game. He just doesn’t make mistakes, always limiting turnovers, shooting efficiently, and coming up clutch when he’s called on. Dre Kontopidis was also stellar in this one, dominating inside and in the mid-range as usual, but also going three of five from three. He finished with 23 points, 7 boards, and a game-high 6 assists, picking apart Zards’ zone defense from the free-throw line extended. Marcus Giese was solid inside, adding a 13 point, 12 rebound double-double, plus 1 block and 3 assists, and one thunderous dunk off an inbounds play. He does a phenomenal job on defense, especially keeping guys off the offensive glass, and he also drew a charge, a true men’s league hero. Mike Synott stepped up majorly on offense, hitting two threes and a crazy lefty floater to finish with 12 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks. His defense and ball movement are always top notch, complementing his teammates well, but he continues to step up his scoring when called upon. Chris Cusano missed his first three threes, in the first half, but distributed the ball well to finish with 5 assists before the intermission. In the second half, he hit some clutch threes down the stretch to hold the lead, and finished with an impressive 9 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, impacting both ends. Altogether a fantastic effort from all five players on NADB, with the stars showing up and the role playing rising to the occasion to keep the win streak rolling.

Weird outing for Zards, who had three players filling in, but all of whom played well. Dan Wohl led the scoring as usual, pouring in 25 points, plus 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. He shot six of thirteen from three, showing off his three level scoring ability and coming alive in the second half to keep Zards in the game amidst the NADB second half push. Matt Karpowicz had a stellar game filling in, dominating inside with an 18 point, 11 rebound double-double, including two threes and some strong finishes at the rim. He also came up with 5 assists and 1 steal, showing some impressive court vision and generating ample scoring opportunities with screen assists for shooters. Mike LastName filled in at the point, putting up 18 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, and 2 steals, getting to the rim at will with a shifty handle and quick first step. He hit a few threes and facilitated well, and he actually did a nice job keeping Luster in check for most of the game with steady ball pressure. Dom Mastascusa was the final fill-in, and he showed off some nifty footwork down low and a smooth jumper as well. He finished with 17 points and 10 boards (4 offensive), and was a force on the interior all game. Craig Melillo struggled in this one, finishing with 2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal, missing all seven of his three-point attempts. A longstanding elite shooter in this division, he will see better days and bounce back in the coming weeks, but he could not find the range in this one, as Zards fall to 1-2 on the season.

Game 2 | Spida Men: 81 - Team Takeover: 63

Spida Men Put Together Strong Second Half, Cruise to Victory

In our second 5v5, no-sub matchup of the evening, the Spida Men turned to their size advantage against Team Takeover’s four guard, one big lineup. With a tight 38-32 lead at the half, the Spida Men turned it up in the second period. They dominated the glass, finishing with 42 team rebounds to just 30 for Team Takeover, and with Jamal Brown back in the lineup, Team Takeover had no answer for for Spida Men’s fast paced offense. The Spida Men would go on to win this game, 81-63.

Danny Martin Jr. was the biggest beneficiary of Brown’s return, as he finished with a dominant 38 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. He shot four of five from the free-throw line, and he picked up tons of easy buckets by sprinting in transition, where his team always does a nice job finding him and rewarding his motor. He also displayed his signature righty hook shot, getting to his spots at will and finishing effectively as always. Jamal Brown returned with a triple-double of 14 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, making an immediate impact. He had some strong finishes inside and did a fantastic job distributing in transition, as he frequently pushes the break off of a defensive board. He still can’t shoot, but his return is a welcome sight for the Spida Men. Tim Gallivan had a strong game with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks. His defensive presence inside alters tons of shots, and he always comes up with a few blocks and tons of rebounds as well. His finishing on offense, paired with the threat of his long ball, opens up a ton of room for his team to operate and get to their spots, and his versatility as a player is a huge part of Spida Men’s success. Lucio Dahlstedt-Brown made his season debut with 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist, and he looked comfortable attacking closeouts off the catch, while Cedric White added 4 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block in a well rounded effort as a role player in this one. Without Mazz to jack threes, the Spida Men rely heavily on their old-school, low-post style of play, and it worked fabulously in this one. They pick up their first win of the season after some solid performances against two of the league’s best teams.

Team Takeover falls to 0-3 on the season, and their lack of size really hurt them in this game. Jared Johnson continues to score at a high clip, finishing with 24 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. He attacks effectively from the perimeter with some strong finishes and beautiful floater package, and while his shot has been off this session, he has proven to be a reliable shooter in the past. Michel Toney stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists (team high), 5 steals (game high), and 1 block. He knocked down three triples, facilitated effectively, and brought his usual defensive intensity with a nice chasedown block and 5 steals as well. Trevor Parker added 11 points, 9 boards, 1 assist, and 3 steals, playing decently but not quite up to his standards. Combined, these three shot five of twenty-four (20.8%) from three, which isn’t going to cut it against the shooting prowess of the other teams in this league. Sana Dahaba hit two of his five three-point attempts, finishing with 8 points, 5 boards, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Dahaba has been very solid this session, proving to be a solid shooter and reliable ball handler as well. Julian Beach did an admirable job down low in this game as his team’s only real big. He finished with 7 points, 9 rebounds (4 offensive), 2 steals, and 2 blocks, battling hard against Spida Men’s bigs and doing a lot of the dirty work on defense. There are a lot of positives on this roster, but Team Takeover will need to improve from three and on defense to pick up some wins as the season wears on.

Game 3 | Suffolk: 63 - West Coast Shooters: 88

West Coast Shooters Win In Another Offensive Masterclass

West Coast Shooters continue to run circles around their opponents in the regular season, shooting a ridiculous seventeen of thirty-five from three and tallying 24 assists and 12 steals as a group. Their offensive explosiveness paired with the defensive focus of guys like Tam and Pattyson from the Shooters Shoot squad make this a fearsome team on both ends. Suffolk was without Bolden Brace, and WCS took full advantage with a commanding 46-33 lead at the half. The second half was much of the same, as they expanded their lead, winning 88-63.

Jack Simonds made his session debut and was the best player on the floor in this one. He shot three of five from deep and I’m not sure I saw him miss a mid-range jumper all night. The stretch-big finished with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists (game high), and 2 steals in the win, doing a bit of everything to lead his team in points and assists. Jordan Rote is another guy who can go get a bucket at any time, as he put up 19 points, 7 boards, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Rote shot three of six from three, canned all four of his free-throw attempts, and used his lightning quick first step to get downhill at will. Matt Pattyson followed up his 19 point performance last week with 17 this week, plus 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. He shot four of five from deep and continues to show off his playmaking while maintaining his presence as an elite perimeter defender. Derek Retos hit another four threes to finish with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, while Stephen Tam was impactful, particularly on defense, with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. Tom Palleschi led the team with 9 rebounds and Jack Fay chipped in 7 points and 3 assists, and West Coast Shooters find themselves with the league’s best record and the largest point differential.

Suffolk were missing perhaps the best player in the league in Bolden Brace, and it showed, as they only recorded 11 assists as a team. Logan O’Donnell stepped up with 20 points, 12 boards, 1 assist, and 2 steals. The big man has shown off some impressive footwork over the last two sessions, but knocked down three triples in this one as well. His offensive outburst adds a needed interior presence to open up space for shooters and George Grillakis on the drive. Grillakis also had a solid game, finishing with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. WCS definitely put an emphasis on containing his drives, but he was still able to attack effectively, drawing fouls and finishing well inside. He leads the league in scoring, is second in made 2pt fgs, and is first in both made and attempted free-throws. Nick Budesheim was extremely active in this game, and his high motor effort kept Suffolk in the game for stretches. He chipped in 12 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block, and his 4 offensive rebounds were a game-high and a boost for his team. It wasn’t enough to pull out the win, but after showing some flashes in the first two games, it’s clear that Budesheim needs to be more active in Suffolk’s offensive game plan. Sam Holtze returned with 6 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. As one of Suffolk’s top players on both ends, he will need to shake the rust off and return to form quickly with so many competitors in this division, though I’m confident he will bounce back immediately. Yusuf Liban added 2 points and 1 rebound, while fill-in Blake LastName chipped in 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. As a group, Suffolk shot three of twenty from deep and five of fifteen from the free throw-line, which can be chalked up to a bad performance from them. Still, without Brace to control the flow of the game, Suffolk struggled on offense and will need to be better going forward to get back in the win column.

Game 4 | Ronin Blood Warriors: 83 - We The Ones!: 61

Ronin Blood Warriors Massacre We The Ones in Glorified Pickup Game

This game got out of hand quickly, as Ronin Blood Warriors went up 51-28 at the half. A completely one-sided affair, RBWs were implementing a trap press near half court for much of the game, applying too much pressure with their length and athleticism for We The Ones to handle. After the half, we ran out the time quickly, as things just got more ugly as time wore on. After probably only 32 minutes of actual basketball (if you can call it that), the refs called the game and RBW walked away with an 83-61 victory.

Again, the effort and actual basketball being played in this game were questionable, but there were a few notable performances. Marcin Papla made his debut and started the game going a perfect seven of seven from three. He ended up shooting nine of thirteen, and while the defense wasn’t the best at times, there were some contested shots, and nine threes is nine threes no matter how you slice it. He finished with 27 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal, and I’m curious to see how he plays in a real game, though I think he’s made it clear he can shoot with anyone in this league. Deven Palmer added a smooth 22 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 steals, and 2 blocks, going about half speed. Not his best shooting performance at thirty percent from deep, but he was just a step ahead of everyone else on the court and will be able to get whatever he wants on offense, even in real games as well. Arinze Obiora was also impressive with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals, knocking down four threes, while Ray Miller added 8 points and 5 steals and Guy Pistone chipped in 6 points and a game-high 8 assists. It’s still difficult to place RBW in the rankings, as they blew out WTOs in this game, beat Zards in a forfeit and barely lost to defending champion NADB. Time will tell, but they certainly have the talent to go far.

We The Ones were outclassed in this game, plain and simple. Ty Moore was not, though, as he shot ten of eighteen from three for 33 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Even though full court pressure, double-teams, and basically the entire defense focused on him, Moore was phenomenal, hitting deep threes of the dribble, sprinting around screens for looks off the catch, and generally being the only player on WTOs who could compete in this game. Moore is currently fifth in scoring among players who have played more than one game, and has been impressive in every outing this season. Other than that, big man Akim Sanni had 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 block, while Kahreem Blake chipped in 5 points, 9 boards, and 3 assists. Jordan Carter hit a three for 3 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, but ultimately there just wasn’t much to write home about for WTOs, who were missing Jalen Bruce and Grady Levi sorely in this one. They move to 0-3 on the seaso

B2 5v5 TUE Week 3 Write-Ups

by Jason on Sep. 25, 2023

Week 3 Write-ups

By: DEVIN QUINLIN

WEEK 3 9/19

Game 1 | Splash City: 39 - Bear: 66

Bears Pick Up First Win in Dominant Fashion

After two fairly competitive games against the league’s top two teams, the Bears finally land a win against Splash City. Up 40-12 at the half, this game was never in doubt, and the Bears won by a decisive final of 66-39.

John Bowllan led the scoring with 17 points on three of five shooting from three, adding 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block. Bowllan has been extremely active on both ends for the Bears this session, but finally got his offense going in this game, making some impressive fade-away threes from the corner and finishing well inside on the break. Danny Shapiro put up 13 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists (game-high), and 2 steals in the win, going three of six from deep and facilitating well from the point guard spot. He also had a mean ankle breaker in the mid-range on a stepback, making his defender touch earth. Will Estes was on fire in the first half, finishing with another double-double of 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 assist. His offensive production has been a bright spot for the Bears this session, and his defensive rebounding has always been stellar. Will Ross still looked a bit rusty, but shot three of five from three to finish with 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Paul Cooley finished with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal with some nice passes and finishes inside (even though Mark took one away). Baris Durgun added 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals in the win, bringing solid defensive play, while Ted Blake was instrumental in the win with only 2 points, but 8 rebounds (4 offensive), 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. He facilitates incredibly well from the free-throw line extended and gets his team so many extra possessions with his offensive rebounding. Fill-in Rory Palmer added 5 points and 9 rebounds. Overall a strong game for the Bears, and the first win in the young career of interim head coach Sam Blomberg. It’s been reported that former head coach Jason Behrens shed a single tear upon hearing the news of Blomberg’s first career win.

Splash City just couldn’t get much going on offense in this one, going four of twenty-seven from three and generating only 5 assists as a team. Bryden Goings finished with 13 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal, shooting an impressive three of five from deep and hitting both of his free-throw attempts. Definitely a solid game from him in the backcourt, while point guard Mike Pang also played solid with 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. He had some crafty finishes at the rim, converting two and-ones and definitely providing a steadying presence for his team. Other than that, there wasn’t much production from Splash City. Matt Wulbrecht finished with 5 points and 3 boards, Colman Shea added 4 points, 7 boards, and 1 steal, and Ben Bennet chipped in 4 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal. Just not a lot of cohesion among this group, though there is some talent on the roster. They will see better days.

Game 2 | Team Ahern: 54 - Pirates: 47

Team Ahern Pull Out Strong Win Against Pirates

Team Ahern have seemingly found their groove, moving to 2-1 on the season and looking like one of the top teams in this division. With the Pirates making their debut, I wasn’t sure what to expect from them, but they look to be a solid team as well. Still, Team Ahern led 25-20 at the half and maintained their lead to finish the game with a 54-47 win.

Nick Martin was impressive for Team Ahern, using his size to dominate both ends. He finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds (5 offensive), and 1 steal, finishing well inside but also showing off some Dirk-esque one-legged fadeaways in the mid-range. He will be their key player going forward. Anthony Scanzo-Masiero still needs to be added to the roster, but he is a long-range sniper, going four of ten in this one to finish with 16 points and 5 rebounds. This guy is a professional chucker, and as a chucker myself I absolutely love to see it. Does he take terrible shots? Yes. Did he hit four threes when no one else in this game hit more than one? Also yes. Shooters shoot! Ethan Collins finished with 10 points, 8 rebounds (3 offensive), and 2 blocks. He couldn’t quite get his mid-range shot going, but he still had a major impact on both ends. Eric Bauman finished with 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal, and I would love to see him look for his shot more, as he’s proven to be an efficient three-point shooter, albeit on low volume. Cam Letalien finished with 1 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists (game-high), 1 steal, and 2 blocks, showing off his versatility and distributing well to cutters and shooters, while Zach Gordon was tough inside with 3 points, 10 rebounds (4 offensive), 1 steal, and 1 block. Dave Bonaiuto hit a three to finish with 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal, while Doug Watford added 4 boards and 1 assist in the win. Strong performance from Team Ahern, who definitely seem to be getting more comfortable playing with each other.

The Pirates had a lot of unforced errors in this one, which I will chalk up to first game jitters. Other than that, they looked like a solid group and I expect them to be competitive. Nick Fay was getting his all game, putting up 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals on some strong takes inside. He also hit a three and shot three of four from the charity stripe, establishing himself as his team’s main offensive threat early in the season. Patrick O’Loughlin had a strong 10 point, 13 rebound double-double, plus 2 assists and 1 steal. As a guard, 13 defensive rebounds is impressive, and he also had some nice drives to the rim. Mike Cellucci added 10 points of his own to go along with 2 boards, 2 assists, and 2 steals. He shot zero for five from three, but his form and the eye test tell me that he will be the main shooting threat on this team, and I expect him to start canning a few threes every game once he finds his rhythm. Ian Vieira finished with 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, but he should’ve had more dimes as his team missed some easy layups. Either way, he did well driving and facilitating. Tom Banks added 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, while Myles O’Loughlin chipped in 2 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block, with both guys making a strong impact on defense. A lot of bright spots here for the Pirates, who look to be a solid team but will need to show out against one of the other top teams to establish themselves as a top team instead of a middle team.

Game 3 | Plenty of Lotion: 65 - The Substitutes: 36

POL Move to 3-0 In Easy Win

Much like the first game, not much to say here. Plenty of Lotion are a top two team in this division and they just outmatched the Substitutes in every facet of the game. With a 43-14 lead at the half, this game was never close, and POL win by a decisive 65-36 final score.

Guy Pistone continues to do his thing, finishing with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. He shot five of nine from three, even though someone on the Substitutes kept yelling to let him shoot, which was just strange behavior given that they shot seven of thirty-four from deep as a team. Either way, Pistone is the clear second best player in this division, and he will continue to lead his team game after game. Drew DeBari got his three ball going, shooting three of seven to the tune of 13 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, always solid and reliable in the backcourt as a shooter and facilitator. Anthony McDaniels added 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Yancy Brown was active with 8 points (two of four from three), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Dan Ollquist and Garrett Vinett were in a rebounding battle with each other despite being on the same team. Ollquist finished with 4 points, 16 rebounds (4 offensive), 2 assists, and 3 steals, while Vinett came up with 3 points, 17 rebounds (5 offensive to get the edge), 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block. Even without the scoring, both guys were instrumental in the win, and absolutely dominated the glass. Solid performance from POL, who face off against Miyagi-Fang next week in the battle of the top top teams.

The Substitutes just didn’t have it tonight without Yianni Grupen. Doug Law stepped up with 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting four of thirteen from deep and making some nice passes from the top of the key to penetrate POL’s zone defense. Other than that, no one else scored in double figures. Matt West hit two threes for 6 points and 5 rebounds, Ryan Pitcher put up 5 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block in a well-rounded game. Gal Hulli grabbed 11 rebounds to go along with 4 points and 2 assists, while Lexi Kimball put up 4 points and 3 boards in the loss. M. Rutherford (add him to the roster please), was active with 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block, but the Substitutes will need more offensive production to win some games this session.

B2 5v5 MON Week 2 Write-Up

by Jason on Sep. 20, 2023

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.

A 5v5 THU Week 2 Write-Ups

by Jason on Sep. 18, 2023

By DEVIN QUINLIN

WEEK 2 9/14

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

Ronin Blood Warriors Get Free Win as Zards Forfeit

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

West Coast Shooters Hold Off Spida Men in Win

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

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

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

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

NADB Move to 2-0, Hold Off WTOs

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

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

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

Game 4 | Suffolk: 68 - Team Takeover: 65

Suffolk Survives Team Takeover Push

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

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

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

B2 5v5 TUE Week 2 Write-Ups

by Jason on Sep. 18, 2023

By: DEVIN QUINLIN

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

POL Mount Major Second Half Comeback To Overcome Bears

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

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

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

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

Team Ahern Pull Out Victory Against Gritty Substitutes Squad

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

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

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

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

Miyagi-Fang Dominate in Easy Win

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

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

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

B2 5v5 MON Week 1 Write-Ups

by Jason on Sep. 14, 2023

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.

A 5v5 THU Week 1 Write-Ups

by Jason on Sep. 11, 2023

By DEVIN QUINLIN

WEEK 1 9/7

Game 1 | Suffolk: 79 - Spida Men: 73

Suffolk Hold Off Spida Men in OT Win

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

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

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

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

Zards Return with Victory Over WTOs

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

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

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

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

NADB Best RBWs in Closely Contested Game

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

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

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

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

WCS Shoot A Lot, Win

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

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

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

B2 5v5 TUE Week 1 Write-ups

by Jason on Sep. 06, 2023

Game 1 | The Substitutes: 2 - The Pirates: 5

Pirates Win in Forfeit

Forfeiting the first game of the season is wild, immediately plummeting the Substitutes to the bottom of my Way-Too-Early B2 Tuesday Power Rankings. They also have no roster updates online, so I have no idea what to expect from them. The Pirates did have some guys show up to run pick-up, and they look to be a solid, competitive team. Frankly I’m not sure if they can compete with the clear top teams in this division, but you can never really tell until you see a team play a full game with a ref and an opposing team. Too early to tell how either of these teams will stack up this session.

Game 2 | Bears: 36 - Miyagi-Fang: 49

Miyagi-Fang Grind Out Win in Tough Offensive Outing

Miyagi-Fang is one of two teams in this division that I’m even vaguely familiar with, and unless Splash City prove otherwise, this team is the clear favorite to win this division. Still, they struggled on offense in this one, shooting a measly three of fifteen (20%) from deep and only ten of eighteen (55%) from the free-throw line, but their defensive effort and cohesion put them over the top. They held a 25-13 lead at the half, and helped off some runs from Bears to pull out the 49-36 win.

John Harding is an early MVP frontrunner, and even though I thought he played a mediocre game (by his standards), he was still the best player in this game. He put up 19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, relentlessly attacking the basket and handling most of the ball handling duties. He shot only two of eight from three and seven of ten from the line, both categories I expect him to improve in as the season progresses. Spencer Schneider added 8 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists (game-high), 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Perhaps the league's best defender, Schneider is also a capable offensive player. He airballed two threes and then stopped shooting, but he has the skills, size, and athleticism to dominate this division. Still, his defense was on point and he led the game with 5 assists, and I expect him to regain his confidence quickly. Beyond that, Miyagi-Fang got solid contributions from the rest of their lineup. Dan Lerner finished with 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 steal, but I think he could look for his shot more. Djordje Vlajkovic played a strong game down low with 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists out of the low post, while Greg Eusden added 5 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks and James Mulvehill chipped in 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal (another guy who should take more shots from deep). Harry Demakes is the mastermind behind the whole operation, adding 6 rebounds and 2 assists while managing subs and coaching up his squad. This team also has Jack Fay on the roster, who will immediately be the best player in this division for the games he shows up. Altogether, these guys have the talent, size, and chemistry to win the whole thing, so we’ll have to see if another squad can step up to the challenge.

The Bears got off to a brutally slow start, scoring only 13 points at the half, but these guys are a resilient bunch who will always compete. While they are undersized, there is definitely some talent in this group, and I expect them to get better as the season wears on. Danny Shapiro led the way with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, going three of five from deep from the point guard spot. Undersized or not, I’ve seen this guy light up former D1 players at the B1 level, and I expect him to finish among the league leaders in scoring. Will Estes finished two of six from downtown to finish with 10 points, 6 boards, and 2 steals, going hard on both ends and showcasing some strong finishing around the rim. John Bowllan finished with only 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, but he was much more impactful than his stats may indicate. He missed a lot of open looks, and having seen him play before, I know he can get going offensively and will add some shooting and slashing threats, plus his usual steady defensive play. Baris Durgun finished with 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals, while Ted Blake was a beast inside with 2 points, 9 rebounds (5 offensive), 1 assist, and 2 blocks, giving his team tons of second chance opportunities and holding down the paint well. Jason Behrens and Paul Cooley couldn’t get their three-point attempts to fall, but combined for four rebounds and will play a big role on this team as shooters. It’s also worth noting that the Bears were without Will Ross, who is arguably their best overall player. I personally have faith that the Bears can finish top 3 in this division, but they will have to prove themselves.

Game 3 | Team Ahern: 50 - Plenty of Lotion: 59

Plenty of Lotion Hold Off Team Ahern to Win Week 1

Plenty of Lotion (🤨) came out firing in this one, going into halftime with a 41-29 lead and looking like the far superior team. Team Ahern quickly got it together, though, raging a furious comeback to get the game to 55-50 with under 5 minutes left, in large part thanks to their ridiculous 18 offensive rebounds and some key stops down the stretch (7 steals, 8 blocks). POL held on, though, preventing Team Ahern from scoring another point and tacking on 4 points at the end to secure a 59-50 win.

For POL, Guy Pistone was a menace on both ends from the jump, as he either scored or assisted on their first 13 points. He finished the game with 19 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists (game-high), 2 steals, and 1 block. He was simply too quick and too shifty, and was able to break down the defense at will, either getting all the way to the cup for some tough finishes or creating for teammates. He could have had way more than 6 assists if his team had converted a few more wide open looks that he generated. I’m not sure if he’s better than Harding, only time will tell, but he is most definitely at the top of the MVP ladder after a stellar Week 1 performance. Jeff Yeakley added 14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block in a strong effort. He immediately started the game going three of four from deep, all on passes from Pistone, and hit another three in the second half, as well as two clutch free-throws to ice the game for POL. Definitely a great outing from a known knockdown shooter, who will undoubtedly continue to light it up from deep as the season progresses. Yancy Brown showed up late but immediately made a big impact with 9 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block, finishing well inside and in the mid-range and providing some excellent defense down the stretch. He shot one of six from the free-throw line, but other than that played a great game. Captain Drew DeBari added 7 points, 2 boards, 1 assist, and 1 steal, converting some tough takes at the rim. I expect him to shoot better than one of five from beyond the arc going forward, making this team that much more dangerous. Sam Seiwert looked good down low, finishing with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block, while Garrett Vinett also held down the paint with 1 point, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block, combining for a fearsome low post defensive duo. Anthony McDaniels hit a three and grabbed 8 boards, while Dan Ollquist added 2 points and 8 boards of his own, plus 1 assist and 1 steal. Overall a solid showing from POL, who look to be the clear #2 seed at this point in the season.

Team Ahern looked a bit out of sorts in the first half, but I thought they pulled it together nicely as the game went on and I expect them to be competitive against every team in this division. Ethan Collins led the way with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 3 blocks, using his athleticism to attack the rim and wreak havoc on defense. He also shot three of seven from deep, adding to his skillset since the last session I watched him play. As one of the best athletes in this division, I expect him to dominate for his team this session. Eric Bauman finished with 7 points and 3 rebounds, going one of two from deep, and I think he could look for more catch and shoot opportunities. Nick Martin and Cam Letalien both scored only 5 points, but both were highly impactful for their team. Martin added 9 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks, showing some great defensive instincts. He missed all five of his three-point attempts, but he’s got good form and hit some tough middies, so I expect him to find his scoring groove going forward. Letalien is an excellent passer, and he added 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks while knocking down a nice pull-up three on the slow break. I think these two players in particular can find their rhythm as the season progresses and bolster their squad’s offense. Doug Watford added 5 points and 2 rebounds, while Charlie Mitchell and Zach Gordon each added 2 points. Mitchell also came up with 2 steals, and 9 rebounds (4 offensive), while Gordon chipped in 2 assists and 7 rebounds (5 offensive). Dave Bonaiuto added 1 steal in limited minutes, as he showed up late and didn’t have a chance to warm up. Anthony Scanzo-Masiero was filling in this game, but played well with 9 points on three of eight from deep, plus a team-high 4 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. 

A 5v5 Fall 23 Preseason Preview

by Jason on Sep. 02, 2023

BY DEVIN QUINLIN

9/2/23

CAC A League (Thur.)

F23 Season Preview

Thursday A League returns to ACEC for yet another season with a lot of familiar faces running it back. This season looks to be one of the most balanced yet, as I would argue any of the top 6 teams have a shot at taking home the title by the time the playoffs roll around. With five teams returning from last session, plus two more from previous sessions and another transitioning from the Monday A League, all these teams know each other. Established dynamics and no surprises will make for some interesting matchups, and I’m curious to see how teams adjust to gain an advantage. Onto the previews!

8.) We The Ones! → I am once again putting my own team at the bottom of the league. Lots of progress has been made over the last few sessions, but with our two best players in Anthony Gurley and Sayvonn Houston both pulling out right before the start of the season, it will be difficult to make up that production. Still, captain Keith Baranowski will undoubtedly pull something out of his ass, as he always does. Garrett Stanowicz has been a proven scorer at this level, and Jordan Carter has always stepped up when called upon, while Keith himself provides very solid all around play on both ends. Other than that, I’ll be out until like week 7 or 8, and Keith keeps listing names of random guys who are “week to week” in the group chat. Pretty funny that I know more about every team in the league than my own. Still, this group is a mess, so unless we add someone with some serious firepower who can show up consistently, we are once again a bottom tier team.

7.) Team Takeover → Team Takeover returns to Thursday A League after taking a session off and then transferring to the Monday A League last session. They never have a shortage of talent, but frequently fail to close out games and allow other teams to go on huge second half runs. Still, captain Michel Toney is an extremely reliable floor general who can shoot and distribute at a high level, while Trevor Parker is arguably the most talented player in this league, though he needs to prove he can be consistent week to week. Jared Johnson is another very strong player, who has proven he can do much more than catch and shoot, while Joel Nkounkou is an athletic freak inside who can hold down the paint defensively. Other than that, though, guys will need to step up on both ends, and this team needs to prove that they can play together (especially on defense) before they move up in the rankings.

6.) The Spida Men → The Spida Men are difficult to gauge because they won the league only a few sessions ago and they have no shortage of talent and chemistry, but in recent sessions they’ve gotten rolled on multiple occasions and they’re getting up there in age. Jamal Brown has battled injuries recently, but when healthy is a perennial MVP candidate. Danny Martin Jr. is always steady down low, but simply had too many games last sessions in which he wasn’t aggressive enough. He’ll need to take (and make) more shots, while guys like Tim Gallivan and Nick Mazzeo will simply need to attend more games. Lucio Dahlstedt-Brown steadily improved during last session, and Cedric White is always ready when his number is called, but they also lost Hallvard Lundevall and Billy Battaglia, replacing them with John Lithio. Lithio can dominate the lower leagues and I expect him to have a solid session at this level, but I don’t think that makes up for Battaglia’s shooting prowess nor H’s athleticism and motor. The Spida Men have proved me wrong before, we’ll see if they do it again.

From here, it’s really a toss up, and any of the top 5 teams have a strong case as the best team in this division.

5.)  Ronin Blood Warriors → Putting RBW here is kind of wild on my end, but frankly I’m just less familiar with them than the others. They’re coming off a Monday A League title last session, losing a competitive game to NADB in the Unification Championship game, but they could honestly be the best team in this division (I truly don’t know). Deven Palmer is the type of guy who can just walk the ball up the court and pull a deep three and it’s a good shot, while Jacquil and Maurice Taylor both have a Division 1 background. Alonzo Cooper is very solid at the 1, playing strong defense and providing good pace on offense. Kerry Weldon abandons his Suffolk squad to bring his strength to RBW, and Guy Pistone has been dominating B2 and B1 leagues for a while now. Frankly I don’t know the other players, and I can’t say I even know much about the players I already listed, but RBW have been a force in every session they’ve played and I fully expect them to compete with the other top teams in this league.

4.) Zards → Again, Zards at 4 is wild, but they haven’t updated their roster so I don’t even know who’s on their team, and they fall short in the playoffs in every session because they only have 3 players who show up to every game and then find random fill-ins. Still, Dan Wohl is perhaps the most polished scorer in this league, and he’s shown time and time again that he will torch any and all defensive gameplans, you just have to hope he misses. Again, no roster updated at the time of writing, but I’ll assume they have Mike Kearney, who’s a solid point guard and high IQ defensive player, Craig Mellilo, who is one of the most reliable shooters in the league and a high energy defensive guard, and Dan Aronowitz, who will likely find himself towards the top of the league in rebounds while adding a strong offensive arsenal. Other than that, I don’t know who these guys will bring. Maybe Nick Pagliuca, who can shoot, or Chris Egi, who’s a strong big, but the Zards history of questionable attendance has them fourth in the power rankings. Still, this is not a team you wanna see in the first round of the playoffs.

3.) West Coast Shooters → WCE has rebranded themselves appropriately, as Derek Retos and Eric D’Aguanno are two of the best shooters I’ve ever seen in person, and their offense caters to their skill sets perfectly. In previous seasons, WCS have generally decided to play minimal defense and just run and gun, relying on their high powered offense to simply outlast other teams. This season, though, it seems they’ve merged with Shooters Shoot, adding Stephen Tam, David Reynolds, Matt Pattyson, and Jordan Rote, all of whom will thrive in this offense, but who will also play defense. Add in Jack Fay at the point, Tom Palleschi down low, and newcomer Jack Simonds, and this team may have the most talent top to bottom out of any group in the league. My only question is chemistry and dynamics, as every player on the roster is capable of scoring in double digits. Retos and D’Aguanno often shoot 10+ threes/game each, but guys like David Reynolds and Jordan Rote can get going at any time, as can Jack Simonds. With Tam, Fay, and especially Pattyson, I’m not really concerned about their defensive effort anymore, but they may have too much of a good thing on offense. Still, this is a good problem to have, and I am excited to see a WCE(S) squad that tries on defense.

2.) Suffolk → Suffolk were impressive last season, and while their loss in the finals against NADB was a disappointing end to their season, they still made it to the finals and finished with the top seed. Bolden Brace is a triple double threat every game, though he needs to be more aggressive to put his team over the top. Still, he’s the highest level player in the league, and when he’s locked in I don’t see many teams beating Suffolk. George Grillakis also had a stellar session, finishing top 3 in scoring by going right every single time. Sam Holtze is a menace on both ends, and I expect him to once again be among the league leaders in steals and assists, while providing reliable scoring as well. Mid-Range Mike McEneney and Logan O’Donnell provide interior size on defense as well as reliable scoring on offense, even though both of them have said that they only care about their own stats at the end of each game. Bret Edwards and Yusuf Liban are both knockdown shooters off the bench, and Nick Budesheim has college experience, so I fully expect this roster to finish as a top seed and make a deep playoff run.

1.) Not A Dime Back → NADB are the reigning champs (of Unification, too), losing only one game last session to Cobras in which they didn’t have three of their best players. Total domination all season, with clinical ball movement, connectivity on defense, and high level shot making. These guys have 99 overall chemistry, which is insanely annoying to play against in a men’s league, but they also have top level talent to back it up. Jon Luster and Dom Black are a devastating backcourt, with Luster being one of the best off the dribble shooters I’ve ever seen as well as a league assist leader, and Black relentlessly attacking the rim and getting to any spot he wants while being a hound on the defensive end. Dre Kontopidis is a monster inside on both ends with a reliable midrange jumper and great court vision out of the high post, while Chris Conner continues to elevate his game, shooting over 50% from deep on 7.4 attempts per game (wtf???) while adding some size inside on defense. Jeff Coulter returns with his swiss-army-knife game, doing everything on both ends and cementing himself as the best cutter in the history of men’s league basketball, and Marcus Giese is a solid big man who can finish inside, hit jumpers, and defend the best bigs in the league. Chris Cusano and Mike Synott are the ultimate glue guys, moving the ball quickly, knocking down open shots, and playing strong defense to help make the NADB engine run as smoothly as it does. Until proven otherwise, these guys are the favorites to repeat.

A 5v5 THU Week 2 Write-Ups

by Jason on May. 16, 2023

BY DEVIN QUINLIN

Game 1 | Suffolk: 106 - West Coast Elite: 91

Suffolk Beat WCE at Their Own Game, Drop 106 in Win

I didn’t think I would see the day where West Coast Elite play a solid game offensively and simply get outshot and outran by an opponent, but Suffolk did just that in our first game of the night. These guys came out in attack mode, and while they didn’t shoot particularly well from three, the downhill pressure and mid-range shot making got them out to a 60-38 lead at the half. WCE are an offensive juggernaut, and got the game a bit closer in the second half, but the result was never in doubt, as Suffolk won by a final score of 106-91.

It’s hard to even start with someone in this game, as four of the five players for Suffolk went crazy. Sam Holtze had 24, 6 boards, 8 assists, and 2 steals, Steffon Mitchell had 25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals, George Grillakis had 26 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, and Bolden Brace had 26 and 13, plus 7 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block. Some overall strong statlines obviously, but I was impressed with the chemistry and pace from a team with only five guys. Holtze has to be the quickest mf on the planet, him breaking my ankles last session put me back on IR. He did a fantastic job getting downhill for finishes and mid-range turnarounds, but he’s a fantastic passer as well, finishing with a game-high 8 assists and consistently making the right decision after collapsing the defense. Grillakis also makes great decisions getting downhill, mostly because he just goes to his right and makes a layup every time. I can assure anyone reading this that he’s going to his right and that he will finish high off the glass through contact, but he did a nice job distributing in this one as well. Steffon Mitchell was a fill-in today, not sure how valid it is to have a guy averaging 17.3ppg in Norway this season fill-in, but Mitchell showed up and controlled the entire first half. He was hitting shots from all over the court, finishing four of twelve from deep, though he was like four for nine in the first half. Just a very controlled, smart player who got what he wanted offensively, not surprising that he’s a pro. Even with Mitchell filling in, Bolden Brace was still the best player on the court, shooting four of seven from deep and adding 7 assists. I can’t tell if he’s going half speed and not trying or if that’s just his game, but either way it works. Total dominance on both ends, WCE had no answer for him, and he’s the MVP frontrunner at the moment. Bret Edwards added 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block, shooting one of seven from deep. That said, he’s a football player, but he can definitely hoop. He’s got a nice looking shot, and as he gets more reps with his team, I think he’ll hit some big shots in close games when he’s left open. Suffolk is easily the early favorites to win it all, even without Mitchell in the lineup.

West Coast Elite played a decent game, just got outgunned in this one. Jack Fay led the way with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, shooting three of seven from deep and attacking well inside, even against Suffolk’s size. Collin Sawyer added 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 assist, attacking well and hitting two threes. Eric D’Aguanno added 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, playing a decent game but shooting only three of eleven from deep. He’s a top three shooter in the league, and will undoubtedly bounce back in the coming weeks. Derek Retos got going in the second half to finish with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals, going four of seven from deep on some deep bombs. Holtze did a nice job denying him the ball, but like all great shooters, he eventually found his spots and capitalized. Tom Palleschi added 11 points, 7 boards, 4 assists, and 1 steal, missing a few shots he would normally make but still playing solid and throwing dimes from the low post. Colin Richey made his session debut with a very solid performance of 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, finishing well on the attack and throwing some solid passes as well. He’ll be a nice addition to this roster. Tough game for WCE, but I still consider them a top team in this division, and I expect them to bounce back. 

Game 2 | Cobras: 67 - Not A Dime Back: 75

Cobras Hold Off Shorthanded NADB in Solid Win

NADB entered this game without their two main creators in Jon Luster and Dre Kontopidis. Everyone on the roster can play, but with clearly defined roles I was curious to see how guys would fill in, especially for Luster, who initiates the entire offense. The Cobras took a 41-37 lead into the half, and while NADB kept the game close, Cobras capitalized on the zone to maintain their lead and pull out a 75-67 win. Great team effort defensively, and some big shotmaking from a few guys helped them pull away at the end.

Warfa Abdillahi showed up right at the tip, and with no warm up, he started pulling immediately. He finished with 17 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block, going four of six from deep and pulling up for some tough makes in transition. DeAngelo Alston also went four of six from three to finish with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, but he brought tons of energy on the defensive end, organizing his team and acting as a clear vocal leader while backing it up with big shots on the other end. Carter Burruss hit three threes to add 15 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 big blocks, using his athleticism to find space, lock guys up, and patrol the whole court. Great to see him get aggressive on the offensive end, but I still think he should drive more. Ray Miller added 12 points, 3 boards, 5 assists, and 1 block, going two of four from deep while penetrating the zone well off the catch. I still think he has a lot more to give on the offensive end, despite a strong game in which he initiated great looks for his team. Yusuf Liban hit two threes to finish with 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal, and Jamal Fiin added 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal. Will Rowe finished with 5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block, struggling to find spots in NADB’s zone and failing to convert on his threes. Still a top player, who will bounce back. Kevin Querusio added 1 rebound and 1 assist in the win.

For NADB, Chris Connor finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal, going five for nine from deep, including some heavily contested threes down the stretch. He’s a great three level scorer, but he stepped up majorly in this game without Luster in the lineup. Jeff Coulter also stepped up, putting up 22 points, 8 boards, 2 assists, and 2 steals, showcasing his insane finishing skills. A few people in the gym noticed that this guy can finish anything, putting him at the top of the A League with 99 overall layup. Marcus Giese stepped into the facilitator role at the center spot without a true PG, finishing with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in a super well-rounded effort from the big man. I think he could look for his shot a bit more, but he does a lot for them defensively as their only true big, while also just being extremely reliable on offense. Chris Cusano added 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Mike Synott chipped in 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in the loss. Despite the shoddy attendance, decent outing from these guys in the loss, but credit to Cobras for closing it out at the end with some strong defense.

Game 3 | DRBL: 82 - We The Ones: 73

DRBL Pull Out Close Win Against We The Ones

As one of the league favorites, I did not expect DRBL to play a close game against WTOs. Credit to WTOs for improving significantly and making this a close game, but DRBL secured an 82-73 win by pulling it all together at the end on both ends.

Mike Thompson led the way with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal, showing off his dynamic game and shooting two of six from three and four of five from the line. Strong outing from him, as he will be their go to guy in crunch time when his team needs to generate a good shot. Luka Vlajkovic was a bit less aggressive in this one, but still played a strong game with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal, moving the ball well and hitting a few threes in the process. I expect him to get better looks as he gels with the team, but he’s a bucket either way. Anthony Colozzo hit two threes to finish with 12 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 1 steal, operating well in the P&R, and I expect him to hit a few more threes in the coming weeks. Lasse Gummerus added 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. He’s a knockdown shooter on offense (two for three) while providing some serious interior size on defense. Will Brodnitzki and Jonah St. Clair added 10 points each, with Brodnitzki chipping in 8 boards, 3 assists, and 2 steals and St. Clair adding 1 rebound and 1 assist on two of four from deep, both playing strong interior defense and finishing well, too. Salim Belkebir hit two threes as well, putting up 8 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 2 steals. These guys are a dynamic group, gambling on defense, pushing the pace on offense, and using momentum to their advantage at all times. Definitely one of the more exciting teams in the league, who are still among my favorites to win it all.

We The Ones have made a big leap this season with the addition of the Belhouchet brothers, and now Josh Bonnie in the backcourt. Bonnie showed up late to the game, but made an immediate impact with his energy alone. He finished with 22 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal, going four for eight from deep, attacking well in transition, and finding open guys for good shots. He doesn’t add much size, but his activity on defense more than makes up for that, and I expect him to take on a huge role for this team. Garrett Stanowicz continues to get buckets under any circumstances, putting up 25 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks. He’s lethal in transition, has a strong mid-range catch and shoot, and busts his ass on every play. I expect him to make big plays on both ends for these guys and lead them in scoring. Karim Belhouchet really struggled shooting in this one, going zero for seven from three. That said, he’s still an excellent shooter (five for five FTs) and the threat of his shot allowed him to have a big impact regardless. He grabbed 3 rebounds, accumulated 3 steals, and led the game with 8 assists, finding guys for open looks even when he couldn’t hit himself. He will be their most important player, but has already shown his ability to play winning ball. Keith Baranowski added 8 points and 10 boards, plus 1 assist and 1 block. Keith was finishing well inside, and his 1 assist doesn’t reflect his solid passing either. Still, he’ll need to hit more jumpers to keep the defense honest and open things up for everyone. Jordan Carter chipped in 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist, while Aidan Stanowicz added 4 points, 8 boards, 1 assist, and 1 steal in the loss. Still, admirable effort from WTOs.

Game 4 | Bing Bong: 44 - Spida Men: 60

Spida Men Power Through Bing Bong with Defense, Size

In a game in which neither team shot particularly well, Spida Men capitalized on their interior presence and chemistry to pull away in the second half. They took a 32-26 lead into the half, expanding it to a 60-44 win as they pounded the ball inside. Ultimately, though, their strong defensive effort (eight steals, five blocks, thirty-one Drebs) put them over the top in this one.

Jamal Brown led the scoring with 14 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals. While Jamal still doesn’t quite look like himself, he played a strong overall game, attacking well inside, hitting a few threes, and throwing out 5 assists. A few of his 5 steals were timely defensive stops that got his team four or five point swings, and I only expect him to find his groove as the season progresses. Billy Battaglia hit two threes to add 12 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 2 steals, showing off his versatility on the offensive end and using his shooting threat to find openings in the defense. Tim Gallivan made the first left handed layup of his career to finish with 10 points, 13 boards, 2 assists, and 3 blocks, simply dominating inside on both ends. He also went zero for four from three, so he has plenty more to contribute, as his long ball is one of the best parts of his game. Still, a lefty layup from Gallivan is a storyline in its own right, and I’m proud of him for even attempting one. Cedric White once again showed up late, and once again entered the game, immediately got buckets, and subbed out. He hit his only three point attempt and three lefty hooks (probably) to finish with 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, showing off some nice touch inside. Danny Martin Jr. added 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block, not his best game but still a solid outing down low. Lucio Dahlstedt-Brown hit a three to add 5 points and 2 assists, and Hallvard Lundevall finished with 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block, also showing up very late to this one. A solid effort from the Spida Men on defense, and I think their offense will pick up over the course of the season.

Bing Bong are still a strong team in my opinion, despite their offensive struggles. Griffin Perry got off to a hot start, finishing with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block. He’s strong inside and hit two threes as well. He was pretty frustrated late in the second half after a few defensive lapses by his team, noting that “these mfs got out of bounds plays,” always a disheartening realization in a men’s league game. Aside from Perry’s 15, no one else scored in double digits for Bing Bong. Gavin Keough finished with 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block, hitting only one of his seven three-point attempts and getting some unlucky rolls on the rim. Tyler Lennon also couldn’t find the range, but hit three nice floaters in the lane to finish with 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals. I fully expect both of these guys to bounce back offensively. Aaron Jaynes added 4 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, bringing the energy on both ends, while Steve Azums came up with 4 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal, both guys rebounding well. Mike Boaheng hit a three to add 3 points and 3 rebounds, Andrew Frazer  also hit a three for 3 points and 1 board, while Dante Duncan had 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in the loss. Bing Bong have the pieces, but will need to figure out their substitutions and lineups to allow guys to find a rhythm.

A 5v5 THU Week 1 Write-Ups

by Jason on May. 07, 2023

BY DEVIN QUINLIN

Game 1 | Bing Bong: 68 - Cobras: 60

Bing Bong Impress in A League Debut

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

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

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

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

Suffolk Bring Balanced Attack to Overcome We The Ones

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

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

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

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

West Coast Elite Outlast DRBL in Fast-Paced Shootout

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

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

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

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

Not A Dime Back Hold Off Late Spida Men Comeback

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

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

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

Spring 2023 A 5v5 THU Preseason Preview

by Jason on May. 04, 2023

By Devin Quinlin

SPRING 2023 A 5v5 THU Preseason Preview

West Coast Elite:

West Coast Elite returns after a dominant regular season and disappointing first round exit last session. I fully expect these guys to make a deep playoff run, as they will be back with a vengeance. The shooting tandem of Eric D’Aguanno and Derek Retos combined for 11.6 threes per game last season, with D’Aguanno shooting 45.8% on twelve attempts per game and Retos shooting 48.4% on twelve and a half attempts. With their offense tailored around the shooting prowess of these two, WCE is insanely annoying to defend. Jack Fay adds his own shooting threat while being one of the top passers in the A League, while Tom Palleschi has shown some impressive touch while picking defenses apart from the low and high post, which only makes their shooters more dangerous. Collin Sawyer is their primary attacking wing, who can light it up from deep while slashing through the lane for tough finishes in transition and in half court sets, while Sam Dowden acts as a versatile stretch big who can do it all. Devin Jensen is arguably the best player in any CAC division, and if he shows up consistently these guys will be among the favorites once again.

We The Ones:

Keith has once again returned with a mishmash of players who have never met each other, so I am expecting 0 organization from this group initially. That said, Keith himself is a solid stretch big/wing who can consistently hit shots and defend, and Garrett Stanowicz returns as a 20ppg scorer with a high motor on both ends who can finish as well as anyone in the league. His brother Aidan returns after a season off, adding some interior presence on defense and a capable mid-range shooter and passer, and Jordan Carter is back in the guard spot as a knockdown shooter. The addition of brothers Karim and Marat Belhouchet add some much needed guard depth, but their skillset is unknown as of now, though Keith says good things. Sayvonn Houston is a huge addition to this team, as just a few sessions ago he had a monster season for Mambas, and he will look to plant himself firmly among the league’s top bigs by the end of the season. A lot of unknowns here, but past records make me hesitant to rank these guys too highly.

The Spida Men:

The Spida Men are coming off a lackluster season after winning the A League the session prior. The talent and chemistry are always there, but attendance has been an issue and guys will need to be more consistent going forward. Jamal Brown leads the offense at the point, using his strength to make himself a constant triple-double threat and a perennial MVP candidate. He will need to bounce back after last session if these guys want to get back to the top. Danny Martin Jr. brings his signature hook shot and insane motor to the front court, providing a double double average and a go-to scorer outside of Jamal. Tim Gallivan brings his interior size as well, holding down the paint defensively while adding a lethal three-point threat as well. He’s never taken a layup on the left side, but still finishes well anyway. Billy Battaglia has one of the prettiest jumpers I’ve ever seen, adding a facilitating threat from the guard spot as well. He will need to find his shot more consistently to balance the inside-outside attack on this team, but he’s been a steadying backcourt presence for these guys the last two sessions. Hallvard Lundevall has been a versatile threat as well, bringing his athleticism, defensive prowess, and pure shooting stroke to the backcourt. Cedric White brings his signature lefty hook and mid-range bank shot back to the table, with new addition Lucio Dahlstedt-Brown making his A League debut from the guard/wing spot.

Suffolk:

This Suffolk squad has some familiar faces, though they seem to have split from Cobras. Captain George Grillakis returns from injury looking to only drive to his right, though I don’t know if anyone can stop him from doing that. He might not be the tallest, but he’s definitely one of the strongest, putting tons of pressure on defenses in transition and on any kind of perimeter attack. Sam Holtze has moved his BC squad over to Monday A League, but will be a welcome backcourt addition to this team. He will be vying for defensive player of the year again, and I’m curious to see how aggressive he is offensively. He’s shown that he can lead a team deep into the playoffs as the #1 option, but with other players of his caliber on the team, we’ll have to see how that dynamic plays out. Logan O’Donnell, Kerry Weldon, and Mike McEneney all played D3 ball and should be good additions to this roster, especially with O’Donnell and McEneney both standing at 6’10”. Bret Edwards will be interesting, as he had a strong football career at UNH, but can he hoop? Or is he going to embody this video? Only time will tell. One thing I do know is that Bolden Brace rounds out this lineup, and he would be my preseason pick for MVP. A high level player who can score at all three levels and defend well, I’m curious to see how other teams match up with him while Grillakis and Holtze attack the rim and other guys provide serious size down low. Definitely some unknowns here, but Suffolk looks to have a strong roster.

Not A Dime Back:
The WPI squad return with the exact same roster that found them some good success last session in their first run in the A League. Jon Luster leads the way at the point, where he’s as good as anyone in this league. Luster always plays the right way, as he’s unselfish and intelligent, but for NADB to take the next step, he will need to be more selfish, either looking for his shot or attacking lanes more often. He’s just too good not to. Chris Connor returns after a stellar season beyond the arc, shooting 45.7% on over eight attempts per game as a capable stretch-4. He also showed off some good court vision in the high post, making him a key in their offensive attack. Jeff Coulter is another guy coming off of a strong season, where he established himself as one of the league’s best defenders and continued his strong finishing inside off of backdoor cuts. He also showed off some range, shooting the three ball well on low attempts. Marcus Giese slots in at center, patrolling the paint defensively and causing tons of turnovers through his blocks, steals, and deflections. He’s also an excellent mid-range shooter and a reliable finisher inside. Chris Connor and Mike Synott add shooting from the guard spot, plus some very solid defense and ball movement to fit nicely with the others. Dre Kontopidis will be the x-factor for this group, as his size and skill make him a devastating offensive threat when he’s in rhythm, but his three-ball is inconsistent. Regardless, I expect these guys to be competitive in every single game.

DRBL:

DRBL returns with a very similar roster to two sessions ago when they finished the regular season with only 1 loss and made it all the way to the championship before falling to the Spida Men. Mike Thompson has that superstar flair, as he’ll pull from halfcourt, explode through the lane for a crazy finish, and throw a pinpoint behind the back pass in three consecutive possessions. When he’s hot, he’s a top player in this league, but some ill advised shots may cost his team some possessions. Avery Davis won DPOY a few sessions ago, as a fearsome perimeter defender who can also get inside at will on offense for floaters or quick shovel passes for easy finishes. He’s an excellent decision maker, and the more he’s involved on offense, the better this team plays. Lasse Gummerus and Will Brodnitzki add some size down low, with Gummerus finishing well inside off of dishes, but mostly being a three-point sniper with his high release point. Brodnitzki is an early candidate for strongest player in the league, who has provided some clutch performances for this team in key games while battling anyone and everyone inside on both ends. Anthony Colozzo adds a serious deep threat with his lefty long ball, plus some strong facilitating skills and shit talk to match, while Jonah St. Clair and his strange three-point form bring one of the most well rounded skillsets in the league to the table. Think Shawn Marion, he can make shots but his defensive presence, rebounding, and passing make for an great all-around player. Unfortunately, DRBL has parted ways with my guy Hassan Paige and have replaced him with Luka Vlajkovic and Salim Belkebir. Don’t know these guys, but I’ll give them and their team the benefit of the doubt. I think DRBL will be among the favorites to win it all once again.

Cobras:

The Cobras return after a lackluster regular season, followed by an impressive playoff run last session. Warfa Abdillahi will be getting his shots up from the point guard spot, and much of their team success is predicated on his shooting splits. He’s more than capable, and I’ll be curious to see if he can facilitate more consistently. He had a few games last session with 5+ assists and he makes good reads out of the P&R, but a few games where he didn’t get much ball movement going. Jamal Fiin had a stellar performance last session, averaging nearly 15ppg on 42% from three, plus his steady defensive presence and tough rebounding. He showed a lot of progress as a slasher last session, and I’m hoping to see him in attack mode putting pressure on defenses once again. Carter Burruss also returns with his crazy bounce, and I would definitely like to see him get more aggressive on offense. He’s a decent shooter, but is at his best attacking the rim, he just needs to get more looks and get aggressive. Yusuf Liban is a sniper, so he’s either going six for eleven or one for eight from deep, but has shown off some strong passing skills as well. Curls will need to find his rhythm early, and he’ll be a fantastic bench guy for them, as will Kevin Querusio, who has shown he can battle with bigs down low and stretch the floor on offense. Will Rowe will be the key for these guys, as he’s a super skilled big man who has excellent footwork and touch, but can also extend the defense with a respectable three-ball. His defensive presence is key, and with his Suffolk season over, I expect him to be in attendance for most of the games. Cobras did lose Mike Gillespie and Chris Cardoso, who were perhaps their two most talented players last session, but they added DeAngelo Alston who had a solid run at ENC, and Rayshawn Miller, who played the 1 at UMass Amherst. Two good players on paper, but we’ll see what they bring to the table.

Bing Bong:

I don’t know a single one of these guys, and I like that. Instead of doing research, I’m just going to let them play and make my judgments from there. I also forgot to do this and am now rushing to finish. Regardless, this is a young team, with no one over the age of 27, and making the jump right to CAC’s top league tells me that these guys are confident and ready to compete. They’ll have a good test against Cobras in our first game of the entire session.

Pre-Season Power Rankings:

N/A: Bing Bong → don’t know these guys, let’s see what they got.

Middle Tier:

7.) We Them Ones!! → Keith! I’m sorry my guy but have no choice other than to put you here after the last two sessions. Also tough as this is the team I play on when healthy, but they need to secure some wins before they move up.

6.) Cobras → Curious to see what Alston and Miller bring to the table, and I’m confident that this team will remain competitive in most, if not all games. Just need to see that consistency on both sides first, as they’ve shown some serious disinterest on the defensive end the last few sessions.

5.) The Spida Men → these guys won it two sessions ago and could easily be higher, but they looked a bit too sloppy last session. I expect them to rise as the season goes along, but can’t give them the benefit of the doubt after their first round exit last session.

4.) Not A Dime Back → These guys are as solid as they come, playing smart, skilled hoops at all times, plus their chemistry is unreal. I put them at #4 as I question their size against some of these other teams, but if anyone can overcome that, it’s probably a team with their shooting and chemistry.

Top Tier:

3.) West Coast Elite → No shortage of talent as always, but need the defensive effort to turn up and want to see guys showing up consistently. Still one of the favorites in my opinion.

2.) Suffolk → A LOT of unknowns here, but the combo of Brace and Holtze is a scary one for opponents. Throw in Grillakis on the relentless attack, plus some of their interior size, and these guys could be pretty damn good.

1.) DRBL → I feel like there are probably better teams on paper, but one thing I learned with DRBL is that they will find ways to win games. They always bring the energy, they go hard on defense, everyone knows their role, and everyone is confident in their role. I expect these guys to come out firing and have no doubt they can get back to the championship.

A 5v5 Week 2 Write-Ups

by Jason on Feb. 02, 2023

WEEK 2 Write-Ups
By DEVIN QUINLIN

Game 1: West Coast Elite: 97 - Bormes’ Disciples: 78

West Coast Elite Cruise On Elite Shooting

West Coast Elite continue their stellar start to the season, this time with some unbelievable shooting splits against a much stronger opponent. As a team, WCE shot twenty-five for forty-three (58.14%) from deep and totalled twenty-six assists in an offensive masterclass against Bormes’ Disciples. After jumping out to a huge early lead, WCE led only 45-37 at the half, but exploded late to pull away with a comfortable 97-78 win.

Eric D’Aguanno started off hot, hitting his first three threes early in the game to finish six of nine with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. His off-ball movement allows him to benefit from WCE’s excellent movement and passing. Derek Retos is another beneficiary of his team’s offense, showing off his elite catch-and-shoot game in the second half, finishing an absurd ten of sixteen (62.5%) from downtown, including an and-1 three (which he converted). His final statline was 31 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal. The rest of the group all played well, largely in supporting roles to get D’Aguanno and Retos their shots. Collin Sawyer made his season debut with 14 points, 4 boards, and 4 steals, getting to the rim well and knocking down two of his four three-point attempts. Andrew Mayleben and Devin Jense had 12 points each, with Mayleben adding 6 rebounds and 3 assists and Jensen putting up 10 boards and 7 assists on four of eight from three. Jack Fay scored only 5, but added 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and a game-high 8 assists to get everyone involved. Tucker Landy chipped in 2 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. Not a single player on WCE shot under 50% from three, truly an absurd shooting display from them against a solid opponent. They will be tested even more next week against a strong Shooters Shoot team.

Bormes’ Disciples played a decent game, but simply couldn’t contain WCE’s shooting well enough to stay in the game. Sam Holtze led the scoring with 18 points, shooting three of four from the line and three of five from three. He also added 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals for a solid all-around performance. Jack Beck finished with 17 points, 3 boards, 5 assists, and 1 steal, converting all of his free-throws and hitting three threes. He did well to facilitate once he hit a few shots and garnered more defensive attention. Charlie Mather was missing his jumpers early on, but got going as the game went on to finish three of eight from three with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, hitting some tough shots and generally playing solid. Garrett Ganley came up with 11 points, 16 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block, adding some much needed size inside on defense and showing off some nice moves on the offensive end as well. Mac Bohuny chipped in 8 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals, and I think he should look for his shot more often. Mike Cerulli showed up late, but played pretty well with minimal warmup, adding 4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Bormes’ Disciples will really be tested next week against a Zards team that’s been dominant in their first two games.

Game 2: Skelton’s Boys: 79 - Spida Men: 83

Spida Men Outlast Skelton’s Boys

The Spida Men haven’t exactly looked like the defending champs so far this session, but they escape a close game against Skelton’s Boys despite having no subs. Down 35-36 at the half, Jamal Brown and Billy Battaglia stepped up down the stretch to pull away at the end to secure an 83-79 win.

Cedric White led the scoring for Spida Men this week, stepping up down low in the absence of Gallivan and Martin Jr. He finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block, operating well in the low post and showing off his ambidextrous hook shot. Billy Battaglia was off in the first half, but hit three threes in the second to finish with 21 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. He’s proven that he’s much more than a shooter, getting into the lane consistently with a nice pull-up jumper and the ability to hit shooters and bigs on some nice passes. Jamal Brown added 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, and while he’s looked a bit sluggish to start the season, I fully expect him to pick up. Soon enough he’ll be a triple-double threat, and no one wants to see his bully ball in the playoffs. Alan Williamson added 13 points on some nice mid-range shots while adding some nice physicality with 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. He’s a good pick-up for them. Hallvard Lundevall still hasn’t quite found his three since dropping 41 on his own team last session, but he impacts the game in every other way. He finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists (game-high), and 2 steals, and his athleticism on both ends makes him a constant threat and a defensive menace. A bit of a sloppy game from the Spida Men, but they pull out the win and look to keep it going against Not A Dime Back Next week.

Skelton’s Boys looked a bit lost last week against Zards, generally a step or two behind, but they quickly adjusted to the A League pace and looked much better this week. Erik Pettit continues to impress, finishing with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. He shot three of eight from deep, but got to the rim well, too. His rebounding and defense are underrated parts of his game as well. Doug Horan took the biggest jump on his team this week, returning to form as his team’s lead guard. He put up 17 points, 4 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, showcasing his signature floater/runner in the lane on the break and converting three of his seven attempts from downtown. Jon Bassett has also been playing pretty well, hitting four threes to finish with 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. His quick trigger keeps opposing defenses honest and opens up lanes for others. Brendan McNamara has also been playing really well as his team’s only real big, putting up 16 points of his own, plus 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. He converted four of his five FT attempts, and his relentless effort on both sides drives his team’s energy all the way up. Elijah Anderson chipped in 2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block, but needs to get up more shot attempts to make his team competitive. Fill-in Nate Howard added some serious interior size, finishing with 4 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks while altering plenty of attempts at the rim as well. Skelton’s Boys will continue to improve, but will have to bring their best against a strong Cobras team next week.

Game 3: Not A Dime Back: 80 - So You’re Telling Me There’s A Chance?: 58

NADB Easily Handle SYTMTAC

No stats for this game unfortunately, as we had three people rotating on the table and I ended up doing most of it, so we didn’t even keep track. Apologies to NADB, as they will be missing stats from a game that would probably have boosted all their averages across the board. Still, a dominant performance from them that was never really in doubt. SYTMTAC hung around for a good bit during the first half, but NADB exploded to take a 41-21 lead into the half. From there, the game was essentially over, as NADB ran away with this one to win 80-58.

Everyone on NADB played well, as they have a balanced roster and no trouble sharing the ball. Jon Luster led the way at the PG spot, hitting several threes, a few layups, and generally controlling the pace of the game. Chris Connor was hitting his shots as well. He’s a versatile wing/stretch big who can hit threes and operate in the mid/high-post. Dre Kontopidis was in attack mode early on, hitting several mid-range shots (four in a row at one point) and bodying his way inside for some strong finishes. Marcus Giese uses his length well on both ends, grabbing offensive and defensive boards and patrolling the paint on defense (forced me into two turnovers on the baseline) while finishing well inside. Jeff Coulter is a fantastic off-ball cutter and he finishes well through contact, and he hit a three or two this game as well. Mike Synott is always reliable, finishing a few buckets inside, but he should look to shoot more threes, as the defensive attention on the others will get him open shots. They will be tested next week against the Spida Men, who are the defending champs but have been struggling early on.

SYTMTAC has some talent, but we have minimal chemistry. Terrel Newton is as good as anyone, but our lack of offensive planning often hangs him out to dry. Garrett Stanowicz has been a bright spot for us this season, constantly going hard on both ends and finishing well inside despite being smaller than a lot of opposing bigs. His motor and competitive spirit are one of the few things we have going for us. Matt Connelly has been formidable on defense, blocking shots and interrupting passing lanes, and his court vision on offense will be a huge plus once guys get on the same page. Moses Lynn has been a bit sluggish to start, but as one of our most talented players he will only improve as the season progresses. Keith and I need to shoot more threes to keep pace with the other teams in the league, and the return of Jordan Carter next week will add some much needed hustle and shooting. Still, things are not looking great for us, as we match up with the other bottom tier team in Take The Under next week.

Game 4: Cobras: 67 - Shooters Shoot: 57

Cobras Upset Shooters Shoot With Tough Defensive Effort

Last week I put Cobras 7th in the power rankings, questioning their seven point win against a weak opponent and the effort of some of their better players. They clearly took that personally, upsetting Shooters Shoot in a close but convincing win. They led 30-21 at the half, and kept up the defensive pressure to win 67-57.

Never afraid to take over offensively, Warfa Abdillahi led the way for the Cobras with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. He hit three threes and had some smooth finishes inside, while controlling the offense late in the second half and finding his guys for open shots to lead the team in assists. His defensive discipline is questionable, but he always manages to get at least a few steals to garner easy buckets and momentum for his team. Chris Cardoso added 14 points of his own, plus 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. He shot two of nine from three, but his nice form and confident shot make me think that he will find his rhythm and start to explode as a scorer for Cobras. Yusuf Liban made his season debut with a bang off the bench, hitting three threes at a 50% clip to put up 11 points, 2 boards, and 1 assist. Every good team in this league has one guy who is a solid role player but ends up being essential to their team’s success because of their shooting ability. Look for Liban to get hot and routinely put up 7+ threes a game, converting at a solid rate, too. Jamal Fiin continues to use his strength on both ends, finishing with 9 points this game in addition to his 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. He’s physical on defense and doesn’t back down from any challenge underneath, and he hit some tough shots in this game as well. Gabe Granberry is really the Cobras’ only big man, and he did a nice job underneath with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals. He finished some big shots inside down the stretch and was suffocating on defense as well. Carter Burress chipped in 7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, but his strength and athleticism on both ends always make him a threat. I expect him to start hitting threes, too, and add in Mike Gillespie and this is a strong roster who can compete with the top teams. Worth noting that Cobras finished with 26 team assists, doing a nice job sharing the ball and converting open looks.

To be fair to Shooters Shoot, they did not shoot the ball very well, missing a lot of open looks even with the Cobras playing good defense. Andrew Jaworski returned this week with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, shooting three of eight from three. Not his best performance, but he’s still one of the best players in the league and will produce as the season goes on. Stephen Tam added 14 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, hitting two of his four threes. He scored the ball well, but his assist numbers weren’t quite there, as guys were missing shots and the ball wasn’t moving as cleanly as usual. David Reynolds added 14 of his own, but he shot four of thirteen from deep. He was the main guy missing open looks, and after his 35 point explosive in week 1, I fully expect him to bounce back. Even on an off shooting night, Reynolds still added 6 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks for a solid all-around contribution. Hugh O’Neil chipped in 7 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block, and they will need more from him going forward, especially against smaller teams like Cobras. Pat Racy added 4 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block, while Matt Pattyson added 3 points, 3 boards, 1 assist, and 2 steals. The absence of Adam Lindhorst was noted, as he’s a great defender, hits open shots, and moves the ball really well from the wings. Shooters Shoot will be tested again by West Coast Elite next week.

Game 5: Zards: 82 - Take The Under: 54

Zards Dominate Take The Under in Final Game

Zards haven’t had much competition yet this season, but they have taken care of business in both games. This game was never really close either, as they led 42-29 at half and exploded to start the second (as they always do) to pull away with a clean 82-54 win.

Sam Longwell continues to assert himself as the best player in the A League, putting up 36 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block, shooting four of seven from deep. Longwell’s game isn’t forced at all, getting all of his looks within the offense or by simply running well in transition. Both he or Dan Wohl can go off at any time, and it’s because the whole team plays intelligent ball and simply look for the best attacking option. Still, Longwell has no weaknesses in his game and continues to light it up. Dan Wohl added 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, and his game is as smooth as anyone’s. Look for him to compete with Longwell for the league scoring title. Craig Melillo continues to impress as well, putting up 13 points on three threes and some nice pull-up jumpers in the lane, plus 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Everyone knows about his shooting, but his defensive pressure is underrated. Dan Aronowitz returned with his usual double-double, 12 points and 11 rebounds, plus 1 assist and a made three. These guys almost never have a big man, but DA’s rebounding ability and strength on defense more than make up for it. Dana Flood added 7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks, including two back to back blocks in one possession. He fits perfectly with this Zards group and will knock down shots, move the ball, and play defense at a high level all season. Mike Kearney finished with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal, but his excellent defense, unselfish passing, and high IQ play make him an indispensable piece for Zards. Zards face a similarly undersized but smart, skilled team in Bormes’ Disciples next week.

Take The Under were simply outclassed this game, and along with my team, they look to be towards the bottom of the league. Still, they have solid players and could easily turn it around. Stephen Valacer finished with 12 points,10 rebounds, 6 assists, and a game-high 5 steals. As their best player, Steve definitely needs to look for his shot more, especially early on when the game is within reach. Still, his passing and defensive IQ are impressive, and he played a solid game in spite of the blow-out. Matt Turkington made his session debut this week with 10 points, 3 boards, 1 assist, and 1 block, hitting one of his two three-point attempts and bringing some much needed size and physicality to his team. Matt Krol shot two of five from three to finish with 10 points and 1 rebound, and he will need to increase his volume to keep his team in games. Nick Pellegrini isn’t the tallest, but his strength and touch around the basket make him a very good interior offensive threat. He added 9 points and 1 rebound, but will need to do more for his team to be competitive. Sam Wamakima added 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals for a decent performance, while Corey Huerfano’s 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal were solid as well. Kordell Harris added a rebound and shot zero for six from deep, but he’s got a quick trigger and isn’t afraid to let it fly. I expect him to get hot in the coming weeks and provide a much needed three-point threat to his team’s offense, as they shot four of twenty-five this game (16%). Take The Under will face off against So You’re Telling Me There’s A Chance in a must-win game for both teams, who look to avoid the dreaded last spot in the rankings.

B1 5v5 Week 2 Write-Ups

by Jason on Jan. 31, 2023

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.

A 5v5 Power Rankings Week 2

by Jason on Jan. 23, 2023

by DEVIN QUINLIN

W23 A League Power Rankings (Overreactions) After Week 1

Bottom Tier Teams

10.) Take The Under --> Good players but not sure they have the firepower to compete with other teams.

9.) So You're Telling Me There's A Chance? --> Brutal putting my own team here but we have no chemistry and got smacked by a team going half speed.

8.) Skelton's Boys --> Need to adjust to the faster pace and deeper talent pool, but have the players to compete.

Middle Tier Teams

7.) Cobras --> Beat a weak opponent by only 7 points, but could definitely be higher if their guys are more engaged.

6.) Not A Dime Back --> Same as Skelton's Boys but they have better talent.

5.) Spida Men --> They get the benefit of the doubt as defending champs, but not a great showing in week 1 for them.

4.) Bormes' Disciples --> Great week 1 showing, no doubt about talent, shooting, or chemistry, but they lack the size of the top 3 teams.

Top Tier Teams

3.) West Coast Elite --> Beat a weak opponent going half speed, but should've won by more. Attendance issues are always a question with them until they prove otherwise.

2.) Zards --> As good as advertised, could be #1 but faced a weaker opponent

1.) Shooters Shoot --> Same as Zards but beat a better opponent, so they get the nod.

A 5v5 Week 1 Write-ups

by Jason on Jan. 20, 2023

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.

B1 5v5 Week 1 Write-ups

by Jason on Jan. 19, 2023

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.