Hard fought defensive battle results in a championship birth….

Coming into this game I had A Dwyer Situation (ADS) as a 1 point favorite over Eman Mentality (EM).  As expected ADS was missing Seth while EM had their entire team.

First half:

5 minutes into the game and it was tied at 2.  While both teams picked up some scoring this was a tough defensive game.  Not sure if it was good defense, bad offense, bad refing or something else but baskets were difficult to come by and at the half it was 24-22.

Halftime stats:

EM:

Jorge Morel 2 pts, 1 stl, 2 orebs, 1 dreb, 1 ast

Steve Rakusin 6 pts, 3 dreb

Charlie Maneval 7 pts

James Mulvehill 1 stl, 1 blk, 1 oreb, 7 drebs, 1 asts

Emmanuel Okharedia 9 pts, 2 stls, 4 orebs, 2 drebs, 2 asts

ADS:

Jamil Ball 6 pts, 3 stls, 2 drebs, 1 ast

Sami 1 drebs

Nate Elfassy 3 pts, 3 stls, 1 blk, 1 ast

Jason Escoto 5 pts, 1 blk, 5 drebs

Joe Dwyer 8 pts, 2 blks, 1 oreb, 5 drebs
 

Player of the half:

Emmanuel Okharedia
 

Second half:

While ADS did a good job of keeping the game competitive for the most part:

15 minute mark down 34-31

9 minute mark down 40-35

Once the lead got to 45-35 for ADS at the 8:14 minute mark.  The game never came into doubt. EM wins 53-45.

Player Grades:

Jorge Morel C+ I honestly thought he’d have more of an impact on the game.  I do think he played well though and fortunately for him his team only needed what he gave them.

Steve Rakusin C+ definitely had an A game going in the first half but in the second was pretty much nonexistent from a stats perspective.  Overall though I was impressed with his defense not being a liability out there.  I also liked that he showed support for his teammates and didn’t back down.

Charlie Maneval A- didn’t shoot it well from the free throw line but knocked down some shots.  His toughness especially on defense was what stood out to me.  Although statistically it didn’t necessarily show up, not many people would have continued playing after the hit he took.

James Mulvehill A- came alive in the second half offensively. The only knock to his game was his free throw shooting (maybe he should start jumping 😂).  Was great all around and anchored the defense.

Emmanuel Okharedia A his first half was better than his second in terms of his complete stats but he really played consistently well throughout.  Maybe it was because he got hit in the mouth or his bloody finger.  He played a solid game despite the tough defense he faced.

Andrew Marra A despite not accounting for any stats, he played extremely well.  Played good defense and his role in the limited opportunities presented to him.

Jamil Ball B- the 0fer from three and his free throw shooting percentage left more to be desired.  I did like his defensive effort though resulting in several steals.  I’m actually shocked he only had 1 oreb.  Bottom line is I expect more from a 2nd/3rd round pick 😂.

Sami Hameid C+ was able to get a rebound despite his limited opportunities.  He was a vocal supportive teammate throughout the game as well.

Nate Elfassy B- this was my first time seeing him score under double digits.  He busted his ass on the defensive end which may have been the reason he struggled on offense (0fer from three was shocking).  Regardless I still think he had a great first season and I hope he comes back next session.

Jason Escoto B I can’t even really point to what he did wrong.  I guess it was a combination of him needing to be more aggressive but also his team featuring him more.  He stuffed the stat.  I’m glad I got to play with him in the all-star game but would love an opportunity to play with him again as an official teammate.

Joe Dwyer B- I mean if you look strictly at the stats it looks like he had a good game but to me he didn’t.  I’m disappointed that he allowed the worst officiating I’ve ever seen to get to him.  Granted he did try to play just like everyone else but it clearly affected him.  With that being said I would love to play with Joe and he had a really good season.

Players of the game:

I have to go with both Emmanuel and James.  While Emmanuel was consistently good throughout, EM doesn’t win this game without the stellar play of James.  Congrats to you both and see you and the rest of EM in the finals.

The Spring 2024 season is right around the corner and sign-ups are now open! Sign-up information can be found here:

https://cacbasketball.playbookapi.com/programs/register/

All players looking to return must sign up and pay for the league by Friday, April 19th. Email Tibbs @ jason@cacbasketball.com with any questions

Subject: Eman Mentality lead from start to finish, as they move on to the second round 

Despite the obvious fireworks in which this game ended, It was a very enticing matchup between two very good defensive teams. Led by James and Emmanuel, Eman Mentality came out firing, as they would extend their lead 7 (18 - 11) after 14 minutes of play. They did so, with their usual well-balanced offense. James (6), Steve (6), and Jorge (6) would combine for 18 of their 25 first-half points.

Pushin’ P’s offensive struggles would continue, as they would combine for a season-low 15 first-half points, as the frustration mounted as the trash-talking amplified. Josh led his time in scoring with 6 points, but their struggles were the result of stellar defensive play by Eman Mentality. 

Eman Mentality would go into the half with a double-digit lead (25 - 15) and momentum trending in their direction. 

Eman Mentality

• Jorge Morel: 6 points
• Steve Rakusin: 4 points
• Charlie Maneval: 3 points
• James Mulvehill: 6 points
• Emmanuel Okharedia: 4 points

Pushin’ P

• Chris Hanks: 4 points
• Dylan Costa: 0 points
• Dan Waldman: 2 points
• Joshua Gettings: 6 points
• Tim Preston: 3 points

After being down a majority of the game, Pushin’ P would find some offensive continuity. Huge 3’s from Dylan and some nifty driving baskets from Waldman would bring PP with 2 points (44 - 42) with 5 minutes remaining in the second half.

EM would go on a 7 - 2 run, as they would play suffocating defense to close out the game, killing any possibility of a first-round upset. Congrats on a hard-fought effort by both teams, but as expected, Eman Mentality will be moving on to the second round. 

Eman Mentality
 

• Jorge Morel: Continued his stellar play, as he is their Swiss army knife-type player who can do it all. 10 points, 3 steals, and 9 rebounds to go along with some fantastic passing. 
• Steve Rakusin: Played a fantastic all-around game finishing with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. He has been a consistent option for them off the bench all season. 
• Charlie Maneval: Didn’t have his usual offensive production, but did a great job on the defensive end and set the tone in what was a very physical game. 
• James Mulvehill: Had a great all-around game. Was stellar defensively, but also led his team in scoring. 
• Emmanuel Okharedia: Did a fantastic job defensively against Pushin’ P’s Tim Preston. He didn’t have a huge game offensively but did enough to help his team win. 

Pushin’ P

• Chris Hanks: Took exception to the physicality with which the game was played. Despite not performing with his normal production, he still played well with 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals in a low-scoring game. 
• Dylan Costa: Was stellar defensively and hit some huge threes down the stretch. I would’ve loved to see him more assertive offensively, but he was magnificent defensively.
• Dan Waldman: Despite his poor shooting from 3, Waldman had some fantastic drives to the basket and helped his team by scoring in bunches off the bench. 
• Joshua Gettings: Played well, but his team needed more from him offensively as they struggled mightly against a very stout Eman Mentality defense. 
• Tim Preston: Had a tough game on both ends of the court, as Emmanuel got the better of him in this matchup. We all know what he’s capable of, but today wasn’t his best outing for sure.

The Spring 2024 season is right around the corner and sign-ups are now open! Sign-up information can be found here:

https://cacbasketball.playbookapi.com/programs/register/

All teams looking to return must sign up and pay for the league by Friday, April 19th. Email Tibbs @ jason@cacbasketball.com with any questions

Subject: Pushin’ P overcome losing streak with a huge win over number 2 seed Eman Mentality

Despite being without the # 2 pick in the draft James Mulvehill, Eman Mentality jumped out to an early double-digit advantage. Led by Emmanuel who had a monster first half offensively with 22 points, this game was trending towards a blowout. After locking up their seed the previous week, Eman Mentality was just playing for pride, as the outcome of the game would have no impact on their final seed.

Tim Preston got off to a slow start but started cooking during the final 6 minutes of the first half. At that point facing an 11-point deficit (27 - 16), he (16 Points) and Hanks (8 points) were the catalyst for a 14 - 7 run, which would cut the deficit to 4 heading into the half with Eman Mentality enjoying the slight edge 34 - 30, 

Pushin’ P

• Chris Hanks: 8 points
• Dylan Costa: 0 points 
• Dan Waldman: 2 points 
• Joshua Gettings: 2 points
• Tim Preston: 16 points 

Eman Mentality

• Jorge Morel: 3 points 
• Steve Rakusin: 0 points
• Andrew Marra: 2 points
• Charlie Maneval: 7 points 
• Emmanuel Okharedia: 22 points 

Eman Mentality controlled the first half from start to finish, but the second half would be all about Pushin’ P. Shrugging off their early offensive challenges, Pushin’ P would have 3 guys score double-digit points in the second. Tim would lead all second-half scorers with 12 points, but Josh’s 11 and Hanks’ 10 would be huge factors as well.

Jorge, Charles, and E kept the game close but ultimately could keep pace with momentum on Pushin’ P’s side. These teams will face off again this Saturday, I can’t wait to see this rematch. 
 

Pushin’ P

• Chris Hanks: despite some struggles from deep, Hanks had a solid all-around game. He didn’t get as many rebounds as I’m accustomed to, but nonetheless, he was a force on both ends of the court. 
• Dylan Costa: another quiet game for Dylan. I’d love to see him get more involved on both ends of the court. His team won, I know that’s all that matters to him, but if they’re going to win in the playoffs, they’ll need more production from him. 
• Dan Waldman: had a really quiet game from Waldman. The microwave scorer had a few nifty plays, but the fans want to see more. 
• Joshua Gettings: overcame a slow start with a strong second half to help his team win. Defensively he was a night mare with 4 steals and 1 block. 
• Tim Preston: was fantastic and efficient on both ends of the court. 30% from beyond the arc isn’t too shabby, but his ability to drive and get easy buckets in the lane was a huge factor.

Eman Mentality

• Jorge Morel: had a vacation hangover. Aside from a couple of incredible passes, this performance missed the mark from his regular production. 
• Steve Rakusin: per usual, Steve grabbed a bunch of rebounds, but lacked his usual offensive output. To be fair, he didn’t take many shots and was effective with his limited opportunities. I give credit to the defense. 
• Andrew Marra: gave a solid effort and provided his usual energy on both ends of the court. Another guy who was effective and efficient with his touch and opportunities. 
• Charlie Maneval: got frustrated pretty early with the officiating, which I believe led to kind of an up-and-down performance. Getting in foul trouble early will do that to you. I look for Charlie to return to form next week and bounce back with a strong offensive performance. 
• Emmanuel Okharedia: was the only consistent offensive threat for Eman Mentality. He scored a game-high 30 points on very efficient and effective shooting from the field including 6 of 12 from deep (50%). Another fantastic performance for him.

The 2 seed isn’t the only thing they locked up…..

As a quick reminder before I get to it, league sign ups are open for the Spring 2024 Season.  If you haven’t yet signed up click on this link: https://cacbasketball.playbookapi.com/programs/register/

Coming into this game I had Eman Mentality (EM) as a 15 point favorite.  Admittedly I thought James was in but knowing after the fact he wasn’t I still would’ve made EM double digit favorites.  Hoops and Dreams (HAD) got a much needed impressive win last week.  Prior to that they lost 4 straight.  EM on the other hand was on a 3 game winning streak and looking every bit like a team ready to make a playoff run.

First half:

10 minutes into the game it looked like HAD was poised for the upset up 16-15.  A few minutes later a quick 4-0 had EM up 19-16.  This little lead seemed like it was exactly what EM needed.  Going into the half EM was up 32-26.

Halftime stats:

EM:

Steve Rakusin 12  pts, 1 blk, 2 orebs, 7 drebs, 3 asts

Andrew Marra 4 pts, 2 orebs, 1 dreb

Charlie Maneval 2 pts, 2 orebs, 3 drebs, 2 asts

Emmanuel Okharedia 14 pts, 2 stls, 1 oreb, 5 drebs, 4 asts

HAD:

Andre Jones 7 pts, 1 blk, 2 asts

Erik Johnson 2 pts, 1 dreb

Keith Baranowski 12 pts, 1 oreb, 7 drebs, 2 asts

Musse Kassa 5 pts, 1 stl, 4 drebs, 2 ast s

Player of the half:

Steve Rakusin

Second half:

For 9 minutes and 40 seconds only 8 points were scored by both teams.  I seriously couldn’t tell if it was just good defense or bad offense.  EM was still up 35-31.  I’m not going to lie HAD did a solid job of keeping the game respectable for almost the entire time.  Unfortunately for them a bit of fatigue and reality set it and EM went on to win 52-41.

Player Grades:

Steve Rakusin A- I have to knock his grade for his three point percentage but outside of that he played extremely well.  To me he was the second best player on the court.

Andrew Marra B took advantage of the opportunities presented to him and managed to play well.

Charlie Maneval C- he just didn’t make shots, it happens to the best of us.  He was able to pick up some other stats however he knows he can play better m.

Emmanuel Okharedia A- gonna be picky here and deduct from his grade for not making at least 1 of his two free throws but was the best player on the floor in this game and what’s scary is he can play better.

Andre Jones B+ he missed a free throw but I thought this was his best all-around game on the season.  I do think he’s capable of playing better and doing more too.

Erik Johnson C- his three point shooting was awful but he still managed to have a good rebounding game.  I will call this an outlier game because prior to this Slick was a cash money millionaire from three.

Keith Baranowski B of all the times he should’ve been yelling and selfish this was the game to do it.  I wanted to see him come out and play aggressively and dominate a team that was missing two key guys that would definitely have given him some trouble.  Anyway he did play good just needed to do a lot more and probably could’ve.

Musse Kassa B- I can’t ignore his three point shooting percentage and that Eman made him fall (maybe he got pushed slightly or lost his balance or just got crossed to hell but who cares 😂).   He did a nice job of getting a bunch of different stats.  Unfortunately for him his team needed more.

Player of the game:

Emmanuel Okharedia was just playing levels above everyone else.  His three point shot was falling efficiently and he did everything really well on the day.