Winter Open Final Four Recaps
Semifinal Game 1
#1 Big Game Ballers (69) v. #10 SLGHTWRK (60)
The Final Four teams are set and in our first game we have the #1 seeded Big Game Ballers taking on the "Cinderella team" of the tourney in SLGHTWRK!
The Big Game Ballers were without key players: "Big Duke", Ryan Wessels and Will Overton but they felt that they had enough firepower to defeat the #10 seed! They jumped out to an early 17-9 first quarter lead. Behind 15pt efforts by Jason and team captain Isaiah Sandoval the Big Game Ballers had the lead at the half, 32-27!
The upstart SLGHTWRK squad felt they were playing with house money after going winless during the regular season! Mike lead the comeback with 20pts and Chris O'bannon posted a double-double (16p 12r)! They had their chance for an upset but their feee throw shooting was horrendous! They shot 5-14 fts (36%)! Team captain Simon Habtu also finished the game with 16pts and was smiling ear to ear after the game saying they'll definitely e back for another run at the elusive TDS championship!
Isaiah started off the final period with 3-3pt shots to give the Big Game Ballers a lead they would never relinquish! They went onto win, 69-60!
.
.
SLGHTWRK
26-62 42% fgs
3-17 18% 3pt
5-14 36% fts
Mike 20p 7r 2a 1s
Chris 16p 12r 1a 1s 2t
.
Big Game Ballers
25-64 41% fgs
12-33 36% 3pt
6-10 60% fts
Isaiah Sandoval 15p 5r 6a
Jason 15p 1r 2a 2s
.
Semifinal Game 2
#3 United Nations (73) v. #4 Gamble Team (70) F/2OT
In the second semifinal game (winner to meet the Big Game Ballers in the finals) we had #3 United Nations taking on #4 Gamble Team!
The United Nations doubled up on the Gamble Team 16-8 after the first quarter! Their defense really stood out! Holding the Gamble Team to 3-9 fgs shooting in quarter. While the United Nations shot, 12-21 fgs (57%) in the first half. Roy Giles had 10pts at the half and they used it to go up, 31-25!
The Gamble Team weren't going to lay down and play dead! They were going to fight for their lives! Bobby had a game high 26pts, 6rebs and 5asts and Alec notched a double-double (11p 10r) to keep the game close! They held onto a 7pt lead in the first OT but they let that slip out of they're hands!
The second OT, United Nations overcame the Gamble Team and sealed the game at the free throw line! The United Nations win a thriller, 73-70 in double overtime!
.
.
.
United Nations
25-55 45% fgs
5-18 28% 3pt
18-23 78% fts
Toby 20p 5r 2a 1s
AD 16p 3r 2a 1s
.
Gamble Team
25-50 50% fgs
7-16 44% 3pt
12-20 60% fts
Bobby 26p 6r 5a 1s 2t
Alec 11p 10r
.
Championship Game
#1 Big Game Ballers (82) v. #3 United Nations (87)
It all comes down to this! The #1 seeded Big Game Ballers taking on the #3 United Nations squad! A rematch of last season's championship is set for a battle royal!
The Big Game Ballers were ready to prove the last year was no fluke! They jumped out to a 21-14 lead behind the duo of Isaiah Sandoval (26pts) and DeAngelo (24pts)! Their lead was trimmed by one point but they still led going into the half, 39-33!
United Nations were just getting their second wind! They came out strong after the break! Out scoring the Big Game Ballers 20-16 in the third cutting into the lead. They were only trailing be 2pts going into the final quarter! Roy Giles led the comeback by scoring 16 of his team high 25pts but the big factor was the MVP of the finals Toby Merchant! Toby had a very pedestrian 2pts in the first half but had a total turnaround in the second half and overtime by scoring 21pts! Bringing the game to overtime tied at 76 apiece!
In the overtime, Toby and the United Nations
took over the game scoring 11-6 to win the championship in a thriller, 88-83 F/OT!
.
.
.
Big Game Ballers
25-60 42% fgs
10-26 28% 3pt
20-27 74% fts
Isaiah 26p 7r 5a 2s 1b 3t
DeAngelo 24p 8r 1a 1s 2t
.
United Nations
33-65 51% fgs
8-24 33% 3pt
12-19 63% fts
Roy 25p 2r 1a 2s 1t
Toby 23p 4r 6a 4s 1b
