Game 2 of the evening had two highly competitive teams facing off with the main difference between these sides being depth (or lack thereof), something that would seemingly contribute  in a major way to the outcome. 

Eastie Hoops started the game hot and in a similar vein to many of their games this year - incredibly active hands on defense (Shaq Murray leading the charge with a couple of steals and great finishes) as well as hot from three point land, again led by Ryan Willis who would go on knock 2 three pointers down for the game and finished with 17 points total as their leading scorer. Eastie Hoops had gotten out to a 20-16 lead when they took their first time out with 8:45 remaining in the first half. With only 6 players on the depth chart for the night, compared to Tune Squad’s 9 man deep roster, the timeout seemed crucial to sustaining the injury they would need.

The timeout ended up not being beneficial for Eastie Hoops, however, as from this point on the Tune Squad would go on a monstrous 27-6 run to close out the half. Joel Nkounkou had one of his best games of the season, massively contributing to the run with his activity on the glass, especially with some key offensive boards and put backs. He would finish the game with a double double -  15 points, 7 offensive rebounds (!) and 3 defensive rebounds. Will Eisner’s introduction to the game also seemed key to the newfound energy the Tune Squad found during the run, helping set up teammates as well as adding in his own scoring punch. And last, but not least, Devon Gomes hit 4 three pointers in a row - absolutely unconscious from deep there for a moment - and really helped lift the Tune Squad as they entered halftime up 43-26 after being down earlier in the first half. To add insult to injury for Eastie Hoops, Caden Bruce hit a buzzer beating halfcourt heave going into the half, closing out the 27-6 run in style.

Eastie Hoops would claw back into the game in the 2nd half, getting contributions from every single member of the team as everyone on the roster score multiple baskets in this game. With 13 minutes left in the 2nd half, they had chipped away at the lead and made it a single digit game once again, down 52-43. Strong play from the deep bench of the Tune Squad would make any gains Eastie Hoops made short-lived. Josh Fisher didn’t shoot often, but made a couple of dazzling plays, and Razz Green and Caden Bruce continued to help them sustain their lead. The lead was 13 with 3 minutes left, and ultimately, was too much for Eastie Hoops to come back from as Tune Squad’s depth and chemistry won out. That’s all folks - Tune Squad would win 71-59 final.

Eastie Hoops and the Clever Trevers met for Game 2 at Cabot Elementary in what started as a very competitive game, but eventually got out of hand. For Eastie Hoops - Ryan Willis’s three point shooting, Shaq Murray’s steals and speed, and Tighe Beck’s efficient finishing kept the game within reach in the early going. But the Clever Trevor’s intensity and skill proved to be too much as the first half ended. With five different players scoring in double digits, the Clever Trevors had serious scoring threats all over the floor. Add in two of the best defenders in the league in Brian Vogt and Trevor Britton and you have a complete team performance. Trevor, a guard, had 8 rebounds just in the first half and Vogt was doing everything for the Trevors on both sides of the ball as he had 2 steals, 1 block, 4 offensive rebounds, and even chipped in with three 3 pointers.

With 3 minutes left in the first half, Eastie Hoops took a timeout, at this point down by 12, a lead they would never really successfully chip away at. Torsten Anderson showed his inside-out skills for Eastie Hoops, rebounding and even knocking down a three pointer to keep Eastie Hoops in shouting distance, but the lead was still double digits as the two teams went in for the half.

Again, the lead proved insurmountable. Jack Fay led the way for the Clever Trevors, basically scoring at will finishing with 22 points. You knew it would be his day as he even knocked in a few backboard three pointers.

With 8 minutes left in the game, the lead had ballooned to 30 points. Eastie Hoops showed a lot of fight, getting the lead down to 20 with four minutes left, but this was as close as they would get in the 2nd half. The game ended 61-82 final, with the Clever Trevors bringing home the W.

Game 2 of the evening was competitive for the first 13 minutes of the game, with Team Ian Shang leading 26-18 going into a timeout with 7:20 to go in the first half, but from there on out the size and skill of the Ian Shangs started to become too much for Eastie Hoops. A spirited run going into the break gave Team Ian Shang the lead 48-33.

Leading the way for Team Ian Shang were standouts Victor Chang and Sean Guiry. #18 Victor, aka the Bionic Man, was rocking double ankle braces + a knee band and had a stat sheet that was as full as his health file at the orthopedist. Putting up 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, it is very clear he is still healthy enough to dominate and leave his mark on any given Wednesday. Sean Guiry was the recipient of many of his assists and also put on quite the show in his own right, completing the only dunk of the night. Sporting the #20 and doing his best Gordon Hayward (pre-Celtics) impression, he reminded us that white men can indeed jump. 

On the other side of the ball, #51 Shaq Murray was everywhere, doing his best to keep his team afloat, especially with his active hands as he ended up netting a game-high 5 steals, many of which he turned into dazzling layups. #14, Ryan Willis, put in a very good effort helping lead the scoring charge for Eastie Hoops, knocking down 5 three-pointers, but unfortunately had to bow out early with a minor injury, leaving Eastie Hoops that much more thin in the backcourt.

At the 15:40 mark of the 2nd half, the lead had ballooned to 24 points and ultimately became too much for Eastie Hoops to get over. Team Ian Shang closed the game strong, finishing with a 92-66 hard fought win.