(A2) League
The (A2) league is similar to the (A1) league with the 2 differences of: the games are played a different night and this is an “enter your own team league.” This league was formally known as the (B1) league in the Winter. (A2) League playing level: The average (A1) player played for their high school team, started for a couple of years, and was a pretty solid player. Every team in this league will have one or two players that played at the collegiate level, usually division 3. The age range in this league is 22 - 40 with the average player age of 28. This league is very competitive with referees, scoreboards, complete stats, write-ups of games, interviews, message boards, jerseys, awards, trophies, and more. All players are welcome to join as many leagues as they wish – put yourself in the (A1) league, then get a team together and play in the (A2) league!
Spring 2005 Champions UCC
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| (From Left to Right): Eric Rollins, James Brown, Kevin Scott (holding the A2 Championship belt), Rogelio Stevens, Ramon Penrose, Matt West & Dave McLaren |
Finals
| UCC 65 SHOWTIME 51 |
| Final write up of the season, looks like I actually have to get the names right, cross my T’s and dot my I’s. I can’t say that I am surprised that UCC was able to pull off an impressive championship run. After all, I strongly believe that they were the most talented team throughout the entire league. However, their problems were never with their talent, it was with their cohesiveness and last night, they saved their best team game for the most important game of the season. The game started out poorly for UCC, as they looked disorganized and Showtime took advantage of it. Shandor Garrison (20pts) and Greg Poulos (18pts) were scoring at will, giving Showtime a first half lead. Midway through the first half, Kevy called a timeout and finally got some balance and structure going for UCC. Dave McClaren went off after the timeout. D-Mac scored 14 of his total16 points in the first half, basically carrying the UCC offense. Kevy’s timeout would prove effective as UCC went on a run that had them up 5 at the half. During the half it sounded like a domestic dispute in UCC’s corner as everyone was screaming at each other. The way that they were screaming, it sounded like they were down 15, rather than up 5. Showtime was realing going into the half too, having lost their lead, and now playing from behind. As the second half began, UCC made another run, this time led by Rogelio (18pts) and JB (13pts). This push had UCC up 10 with plenty of game to play. Showtime was getting plenty of open looks from the 3 point line, but just couldn’t convert enough to get over the hurdle. Plus with UCC controlling the boards, mainly Rogelio (15rebs), Showtime was only getting one look at the hoop, while UCC was getting more opportunities. The lead fluctuated, but UCC never lost control. To add the exclamation point, with 2 minutes left, up 10, JB threw down an emphatic jam that shook the court. The very next possession, he got a wide open lane again, maybe this time to windmill it, maybe a 360 reverse of some kind. Nope, JB went up, but forgot his hops at the free throw line as it seemed the rim played a nasty joke and jumped up a foot. (cue the trumpet Whau Whau noise). Regardless of the miss, UCC had the game already wrapped up. The most intriguing stat of the night, in my opinion, was that UCC out rebounded Showtime 37-18. Controlling the glass and playing team ball made UCC shine in their first champion ship game at the CRFC cage. Congrats to both teams for tremendous seasons. |
Semifinals Video - Wednesday July 6th
| Semifinals Video | |
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QuickTime Player is required to view the video
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Playoff Write-Ups - Semi-Finals - Round 2
| SHOWTIME 78 EVANS ELEMENTARY 63 |
| This is what I have been waiting for, Semi’s in the A2. The play has stepped up a level, and it was apparent watching the beginning of this game. Despite missing their big man, Steve O’Connell, Evans jumped out to an early lead behind, in my opinion, the best point guard in the league Joe Skerry. Skerry (31 pts 10 rebs 5 steals) opened up the game by giving Evans an early lead by slashing to the hoop. Then, Showtime called a timeout and made some adjustments. This was the turning point in the game because a completely different team came out. Shandor Garrison (12 first half pts: 21 total) and Jim Meldrim (14 first half pts: 23 total) just went bonkers in the first half. The two combined for 26 of Showtime’s 35 first half points. Facing a 12-point deficit in the second half, Skerry was doing all he could to keep the Evans boys in the game but there was nothing he could do that could stop what was about to happen. All quiet in the first half; Greg Poulos said, “flame on” in the second half. Greg came out and torched the Evans D, scoring 22 second half points, hitting almost every one of his shots (28 pts total). There was nothing Evans could do, they had a defensive mismatch every possession and Showtime exposed it. With the exception of Skerry, the rest of Evans struggled to get anything going offensively. GP’s second half explosion, plus the struggling offense led to Evans joining RedRum, Cambridge Medical, and the ODB’s in the loser’s lounge.
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| UCC 60 STACKPOLE 59 |
| What more could us CRFC drama addicts ask for with this matchup. Arguably the two best, talent wise, teams matching up in the semi’s who, just so happened, slugged it out literally, 3 weeks ago. There was a record 13 people in attendance and were they not disappointed in the performance by both teams. Early on, StackPizzole was manhandling the UCC team. Holding UCC to 8 points in the first 12 minutes of the game, Stackpole had to be happy with their lead. The scoring for the Pole was balanced, as 5 players contributed 5 or more points. Down double digits and just plain struggling, UCC’s James Brown took it upon himself to light a fire under they over-paid, under-performing UCC team as he caught a pass inside and threw it down for the jam. I asked JB about the dunk after the game and he told me “our play stunk so bad, that I had to give everyone here a courtesy flush”. Thanks JB, I thought I smelt something. But no one appreciated it more than the UCC team, as after that they decided to play some ball. As the second half started, UCC was down 11 and this was after their first half run. Rogelio put on the daddy pants and began to ignite the struggling UCC offense. Ro opened the half with 9 straight points (21 total), giving UCC even more momentum. Stackpole began to crumble under the pressure as JB (18pts) and D-Mac (16pts) helped tie the game with 13 minutes left to play. Once we thought the game was in UCC’s hands, Stackpole’s Chris Hunter (17pts) nailed big 3 after big 3 to keep Stackpole tied or in the lead. Chris’ shots were ridiculous as he single handedly kept the Stackpole offense going. The lead would go back and forth for the latter part of the game. Then the drama unfolded at the end of the game. JB dropped a bucket to put UCC up 1 with 20 seconds left to go. Still up 1, Filosa gets fouled and sent to the line with 5.7 secs for a 1 and 1. He hits the first, Kevy tries to ice him and he hits the second, putting Stackpole up 1. The play was drawn up for UCC in their last timeout. It was no secret that they would go to JB with the Chise fouling out a minute earlier. They inbounded to Ro, who got the ball to JB. JB did something like a bucket shot, missed, got his own rebound, and as the time ticked…YES! He put it back in just before the buzzer sounded. Looks like the Saugus flags will be flying at half-staff for the rest of the week as both Stackpole and Evans get eliminated in the Semis.
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Playoff Write-Ups - Round 1
| UCC 66 REDRUM 58 |
| The two teams played so well last week that, this week they were at it again, only this time, the loser goes home. After playing last week, the two teams’ strategies were set. For RedRum, slow the game down with the zone, collapse on JB and close out on the shooters. For UCC, don’t let Steve Bruger get open at all and don’t let Kurt slash in the paint. The start of the game was as intense as it was LOUD. The UCC bench and players were all fired up in their usual way, contesting every shot, every pass and especially every call. UCC’s D-Mac (17pts) and Rogelio (2 bombs early on) gave them a head start, but the zone was effective in slowing the offense down as they only scored 29 first half points (in a 20 min half too). However, as it would be the story of the game, RedRum could not capitalize on offense. Luckily, Kurt Knepsheil brought the wood, leading RedRum with 19, and keeping them only down by 3 at the half. To UCC’s credit, they were all over Steve Bruger. Steve’s open looks were few and far between, as he was held to I think an all time low of 10 points. However, things looked good for RedRum going into the second half. Only down 3, they also managed to get JB and Rogelio in foul trouble (both with 3 at the end of the half). As the second half continued, UCC continued to hold onto the marginal lead. They continued to play tough at both ends of the floor, but it was only the calm before the storm. Midway through the second half, Eric Rollins, who was giving UCC a boost from their bench (12pts), thought that there should have been an out of bounds call underneath. He showed his disapproval quite verbally towards Commish. The Commish, being tired of the consistent heckling T’d him up not once, but twice as the argument would not be settled any other way. It got to the point where I think Kevy put him on Timeout in the corner. It’s tough love Kevy, I hear ya. This kept RedRum in the game. Danny O’Donnell proceeded to rally off a few takes to the hole, but it would be clear that UCC was not going to let lightning strike twice. UCC began passing right through the zone with about 3 minutes left and started to get easy layups. They made their run at the right time, as it proved to be too much for the scrappy RedRum team to overcome. In all 3 T’s and 1 ejection wouldn’t overshadow the incredible game both teams played as UCC outlasted RedRum and sent them packing.
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