(2) Calypso North Stars (46) v. (5) NNHS (53)

Playoff of upsets continues as championship favorite Calypso falls to relentless NNHS squad

The North Stars seemed dialed in at the outset of the contest, immediately sinking a couple threes to take a small but crucial 13 to 9 lead with half of the first half gone. The game tightened up from there as both NNHS and Calypso locked in defensively, with NNHS just scoring 2 points to cut the lead to 2 over the next three and a half minutes. Calypso went on a nice run from there, locking in on some issues in the NNHS defense to go on a 12 to 4 run over the next four minutes, taking a 25 to 15 lead that seemed like it would be tough to overcome given the relatively low level of scoring present in the game to that point. But NNHS fought back instantly, taking advantage of the short time left and scoring 6 points over the next couple minutes to cut the lead to 25 to 21 with thirty seconds left in the first, allowing Calypso to sink a single free throw in that final half minute to carry a 26 to 21 advantage into the break. Both teams had to be relatively pleased at that juncture, with the North Stars holding a lead but NNHS showing just how hard it would be to put them away in this one. 

The second half started as a bit of a slog, with both teams incredibly tight as they tried to grab the advantage. The first few minutes saw absolutely no scoring, with even some NNHS chances at the free throw line failing to produce any points at all. Defensively, Spencer Schneider starred, even showing out with a possession in which he locked down MVP Tony Caletti, blocking him two straight times to deny him chances in the paint. With fifteen and a half minutes left, Calypso finally cashed in a bucket, seemingly breaking the seal that had been put on at halftime. Just two minutes later they were up 32 to 23, forcing a NNHS timeout with thirteen and a half minutes remaining. The pause turned out to be effective, as NNHS immediately went on a run of their own, scoring 10 points to Calypso's 3 in the next three minutes to cut the lead to 35 to 33. But once again the North Stars put some distance between themselves and NNHS, going on a 6 to 0 run. NNHS finally tied the game up at 41 with just five minutes left in the contest. Matt Wood really took over the game at that point, hitting a three to go up 44 to 41 with three and a half minutes remaining. Then, Wood made a fantastic on-ball steal and raced up the court to lay in the ball and take a lead that NNHS would not give up. Calypso's Caletti and NNHS' Philip Barnett exchanged a basket each, keeping the NNHS advantage level. Wood hit a couple more free throws and Trevor Larsen hit a three to bring Calypso inches closer, but the game was all but over. Calypso's desperation heaves from deep refused to go down and NNHS walked away with a huge comeback win and a berth in the championship game.

Next up:
(5) NNHS v. (6) Furious Rim Ticklers - 11/30 Time TBA

Player of the Game: Matt Wood - 16 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Also: Spencer Schneider - 3 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 6 blocks

(6) Furious Rim Ticklers (56) v. (8) Lexington Steals (53)

Lexington's shocking run comes to an end as Rim Ticklers eke out second-round win

Drew DeBari had a blazing hot start for the Furious Rim Ticklers, as he hit all three of his successful triples in the game in the first eight minutes of the contest, helping the Rim Ticklers take a 14 to 9 lead early on. DeBari Andrew Pricto quickly answered for the Lexington Steals, going on a personal 5 to 0 run to tie the game up at 14 with seven and a half minutes remaining in the first half. The game remained tight from there, with the two teams heading into the break nearly knotted up, with the Rim Ticklers up 1 at 27 to 26. The second half saw FRT repeatedly creating some distance, only for the Steals to pull themselves back into striking distance. The game was tied up at 32 with sixteen minutes left in the second half, and the Rim Ticklers took advantage of Yancy Brown, Michael Rogosa, and Djordje Vlajkovic all making baskets to go on a 12 to 3 run over the next seven minutes. The Steals immediatley followed this up by working their way back into the matchup, turning to James Long, Thomas Finkenstaedt and virtuoso rebounder Scott Saveriano to cut the lead to 47 to 41 with six and a half minutes remaining.

Nonetheless, it seemed like the game was over and done with as the clock sat at ninety seconds remaining and FRT had a 52 to 45 lead. The Steals didn't give up at all, however, and began to play the foul game to get back into it. First, Yancy Brown was fouled and for the first time all night missed some shots, going 0 for 2 from the line and handing the Steals the sliver of hope they needed to continue fighting. Eli Brick came down the court and hit a three, getting a friendly bounce to bank it in off the glass. Vlajkovic drew a foul when receiving the next inbounds pass and went on to hit 1 of 2 from the charity stripe, preserving a 4-point lead at that point, with less than thirty seconds left to tick off the clock. Thomas Finkenstaedt immediately followed in Brick's footsteps, driving down the floor and rising to hit another three and cut the Rim Tickler lead to just 1 point. FRT was able to inbound the ball to one of its top shooters, Brian Phillips, who drew the foul with just a second and a half left. He hit both of his attempts from there, grabbing a crucial three-point lead with practically no time left. Finally, the Steals inbounded the ball, but the buzzer sounded as Finkenstaedt threw the ball up the court to a shooter in the corner, leaving the Rim Ticklers breathing a sigh of relief and moving on to the championship round for the league.

Next up:
(6) Furious Rim Ticklers at (5) NNHS - 11/30 Time TBA

Player of the Game: Drew DeBari - 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals

(4) A Team Has No Name (44) v. (5) NNHS (45)

NNHS squeak out 1-point dub to advance in yet another tight matchup in first round of playoffs

NNHS started out strong, going up 11 to 3 early. The matchup tightened up quickly, with A Team Has No Name going on a 16 to 8 run the rest of the first half to tie the game going into the break at a low, playoff-suitable 19. The second half saw more of the same, as NNHS once again took a slight lead at 26 to 21 with sixteen and a half minutes remaining. The next two minutes saw A Team Has No Name immediately draw even once again, even taking a lead by the twelve minute mark, up 32 to 29 with little of the game remaining. The intensity of the game was evident throughout, with a chair being tossed on the sidelines and some clear anger and emotion being displayed on the court itself. NNHS fell behind to its biggest deficit of the contest with just eight minutes and forty seconds remaining, down 5 at 35 to 40, feeling the pressure and taking a smart timeout to regain their compsure. It worked, as they clamped down hard on defense, not allowing another point for the next four-plus minutes while they scored 4 points themselves, drawing the score to 39 to 40. The next two minutes showed even more resolve for NNHS, as they regained the lead with two minutes remaining, up 44 to 42.

NNHS managed to get themselves just one more point down the stretch - then, A Team Has No Name created a couple chances for itself to tie the game and send it into overtime. First, DPOY Mike Gately fouled three point shooter Michael Chroney on his way down, as Chroney missed the shot but had a chance to tie the game down 42 to 45 with just 6.6 seconds remaining on the clock. Chroney managed to sink 2 of 3, drawing the score to 44 to 45. Philip Barnett then attempted to inbound the ball for NNHS but couldn't find a suitable teammate to pass to, instead turning the ball over on a violation, giving A Team Has No Name one final chance to stay alive. Instead, their shot attempt went awry, and A Team Has No Name fell out of the playoffs, with NNHS hanging on by the skin of its teeth to move on to the next round.

Player of the Game: Mike Gately - 11 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

(2) Calypso North Stars (62) v. (7) Run and Gun (29)

Calypso absolutely dominate Run and Gun to seize firm hold of title as favorite of the league

It was domination from the get-go for Calypso, as they started the game on a 15 to 0 run, forcing an immediate timeout by Run and Gun. Every single player was clicking after their win the previous night in the B1 league, as they brought the same intensity to their game with lowly 7-seed Run and Gun. Run and Gun's timeout didn't help all that much, as their first basket came nine and a half minutes remaining in the first half, with the game already well in hand for Calypso. Run and Gun did finish the first half on a relatively strong run, managing to put up 14 points by halftime, still paling in comparison to Calypso's 35 at that juncture. Every single player for the North Stars had a strong scoring performance, with the team playing excellent team-focused basketball that resulted in each person getting open shots that they were often able to convert into points that dug Run and Gun deeper into an impossible hole. 

The real fireworks started in the second half, with Run and Gun well aware that their season was basically over. Star point guard Eduardo Deleon, after scoring 18 of the team's total 29 points, began to talk an incredible amount of trash to the opposition, seemingly blind to the fact that he and his team were eating a massive L. Calypso initially hardly reacted but by the time the final buzzer sounded, was talking right back to Deleon, wanting him to know exactly how badly he was losing and the state of his team. In the end, Calypso will move on to the next round while Run and Gun will lick its wounds and work toward a better regular and postseason next time around. 

Player of the Game: Lucas Rathjens - 14 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks