Player | PTS | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | AST | 2PTM | 3sM | 3sA | FTM | FTA | TO | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Erik Johnson | 5.9 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
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Robert Wood | 21.0 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 9.9 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 8.3 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 0.0 |
MS |
Matthew Starr | 8.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 4.9 | 3.9 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
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Daniel Fraher | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
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Angelo Cerbone | 19.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 6.7 | 3.4 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 5.9 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 0.0 |
DB |
Daniel Barbour | 32.1 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 10.2 | 5.6 | 9.2 | 3.8 | 8.9 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 0.0 |
Player | PTS | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | AST | 2PTM | 3sM | 3sA | FTM | FTA | TO | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Emmanuel Okharedia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
JD |
Joe Dwyer | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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Damian Ruff | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
GH |
Garry Helm | 36 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
Team Total | 55 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 32 | 8 | 17 | 5 | 26 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
Subject: WIth so many contenders (4 teams 6-3 or better) it's no surprise that the playoffs were topsy-turvy. EJ emerges from the rubble with the SDL title after a hard-fought regular season and playoffs!
Video ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rX_0rismww
After an intense regular season and playoffs, Euphoria and Team EJ were set to compete for the championship. In my playoff predictions, I viewed Euphoria as the slight favorite, though this hinged on the performance and influence of Joe Dwyer, as well as the bench advantage provided by Trevor and his impressive skill.
Sadly for Euphoria, Trevor was unable to make it to the game, leaving Jamie Harriott as their sole option on the sidelines. This was bound to be a critical factor as the match progressed into the final moments.
Now, let's delve into the recap. Team EJ took an early lead, establishing an 8-point advantage (13-5) within the first six minutes. Although neither team was shooting particularly well, Team EJ demonstrated a more energizing and intentional style of basketball, while Euphoria appeared to be slightly out of sync.
For Team EJ, Matt S was causing his usual disturbances, setting solid screens and playing with a level of toughness that Euphoria wasn't ready for. While the focus, particularly from Emmanual, was on containing MVP Dan Barbour, Starr’s effectiveness in the Pick-N-Roll provided Barbour with just enough space (if only for a moment) to contribute.
As anticipated, Team EJ's early lead didn't hold for long, as Euphoria surged back with three minutes left in the first half, narrowing the score to 24-20. This comeback was spearheaded by rookie sensation Garry, who netted 16 of their 22 total points.
Despite Garry's impressive performance, Team EJ headed into halftime with a 29-22 advantage, leaving the outcome still very much in the balance.
Team EJ maintained their strong momentum into the second half, increasing their halftime lead to 10 points (43-33) after 10 minutes of play. Following a relatively subdued first half, Barbour began to make his presence felt on the offensive end, having chosen to support his teammates earlier. He went on to score 17 of the team-high 25 points in the second half. At this juncture in the game, Team EJ had never fallen behind following 30 minutes of play.
Just when it seemed that Team EJ was set to seize control of the championship, Euphoria, spearheaded by Garry (2 points in the second half) and Dwyer (8 points in the second half), made a strong comeback to level the score at 50. Together, they contributed 28 of Euphoria’s total 33 second-half points.With just three minutes remaining and the game tied, the championship was up for grabs, but Euphoria appeared to have the upper hand. Just when Team EJ's prospects seemed grim, Barbour successfully sank an improbable three-pointer that ricocheted around the rim before finally dropping in for a basket.
He then followed up his score with a steal and a quick runner, giving Team EJ a 5-point lead (55-50) after an impressive 5-0 run. Ultimately, Team EJ clinched the highly sought-after championship after a fiercely contested battle, while Team Euphoria experienced heartbreak in the final moments.
Who says MVPs can’t lead teams to victory? Congratulations to Team EJ on a remarkable season, and best of luck to both teams in the CAC Cup! I look forward to seeing you all for the upcoming Fall SDL session.
Player | PTS | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | AST | 2PTM | 3sM | 3sA | FTM | FTA | TO | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Ben Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Brian Civale | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
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John Harding | 29 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
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MICHAEL fraher | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Alan Orellana | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Team Total | 56 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 24 | 9 | 16 | 5 | 16 | 9 | 12 | 0 |
Subject: Team EJ survives late run to advance to SDL Championship
With Chas absent, we anticipated a challenging match for GGW as they faced the strong favorite Team EJ. True to expectations, Team EJ took an early lead, which they stretched to a peak of 17 points.
Thanks to their formidable trio of Rob, Angelo, and Dan, they efficiently converted their stifling defense into quick points, creating a significant advantage. The most impactful players were Dan B (who recorded 2 steals, 4 blocks, and 13 defensive rebounds) and Rob (with 2 steals, 3 blocks, and 13 defensive rebounds), who collectively amassed 4 steals, 7 blocks, and 26 defensive rebounds throughout the game.
Although the reigning champions were at a disadvantage, they refused to give up! With Harding leading the charge, GGW managed to chip away at the deficit, narrowing it by 5 points but still entered halftime trailing 42-30.
The key differentiator in this game was offensive output. While Team EJ’s defense was commendable, GGW, apart from Harding, struggled to convert easy layups at the basket. The difficulty continued into the second half.
The second half proved just as challenging for GGW, as they ended the game with a lackluster shooting percentage of 33% (21 - 63) from the fieldStarr contributed the bulk of his 12 points during the second half, helping Team EJ secure an easy victory and solidify their spot in the finals, where they will face off against the Ruff/Dwyer-led Euphoria team.
Team EJ
Team Girls Go Wild
Player | PTS | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | AST | 2PTM | 3sM | 3sA | FTM | FTA | TO | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Erik Johnson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Robert Wood | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MS |
Matthew Starr | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Daniel Fraher | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Angelo Cerbone | 21 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
DB |
Daniel Barbour | 36 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Team Total | 71 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Player | PTS | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | AST | 2PTM | 3sM | 3sA | FTM | FTA | TO | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Robert Wood | 35 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
MS |
Matthew Starr | 10 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Angelo Cerbone | 23 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
DB |
Daniel Barbour | 34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Team Total | 102 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 31 | 21 | 26 | 14 | 26 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
Subject: Team EJ pulls away late to beat undermanned 3-Dimensional squad
3D would be without Andre Jones and Keith Baranowski in this matchup against Team EJ. Despite the lack of availability of some key players for 3D, the game was tied at 13 after 7 minutes of play.
Dan Barbour got off to a slow start while battling flu-like symptoms, but still gutted it out in the matchup and managed to notch another triple-double (34 pts, 12 rebs, and 10 asts). He would lead his team with 20 1st half-points, but one could argue that his ability to facilitate the offense and create easy looks for his teammates was his most impressive contribution.
Team EJ led by Isak, who led all 1st half-scorers with 22 was not backing down despite being undermanned. Isak scored in various ways, including but not limited to the middy, from deep, and an assortment of moves in the post. Erik Euler was the biggest surprise of the day, he would finish with 21, but 13 of those points came in the 1st half. He played with a level of assertiveness, I hadn’t seen all season.
Despite the hard-fought effort by 3-D, Team EJ would go into the half leading by 11 (48 – 37), but the game was still within reach.
The second half was all about Team EJ and their arsenal of weapons.
Combined for an absolutely ridiculous offensively onslaught, which included a dominant effort on the boards. Wood and Barbour would combine for 9 consecutive 2nd half-threes before finally missing, as they would cruise to another victory in the 2nd as they continue to look like the team to beat prior to the start of the playoffs.
Fantastic win!