Spring 2009: B1 League Champs: Count It

Commentary by Tibbs...

6 Foot 7 Rangas 51  Sullivan's Tap 40

Shorthanded Rangas Dispose of Tap

40 points in a playoff game?!? Who were those guys out there?  The Shepard and the Worm were sorely missed by the Tap, as time after time possessions came up empty against the towering Mulholland Trio.  You'd think if your D could help keep a team to 52 points, on 1-12 shooting from downtown, you'd have a great shot at winning the game, but not when you can't put the ball in the hoop yourself. 

As stated above, that'd be because of those gangly Lurch brothers. What, you don't see it?

I do, but anyway, they owned us on both ends of the floor as Brad and John had monster nights.  Well, as monster as you can get when both teams can't even combine to break 93 points.  A huge performance for the playoff rookie John, espeically, as his 17 points and 21 boards came up huge on both ends.  And let's not forget Scott's usual help defense and ability to knck down open looks.  The only 3 they hit as  a team, though, came from Evan, who put the game away with just under 3 minutes with a bomb that was just demoralizing to the Tap. 

It's fitting, really, that after a string of 3 solid playoff games, I'd go 1-8 from the free throw line.  Each time with the game within reach for the Tap.  All I had to do was hit an unguarded 13 footer, but came up empty 7 straight times after hitting my first.  Yea that didn't cost us or anything. Mother F'er.

Next week, the Rangas get Sunny D back into the fold against Count It, and if they can win that game, will face the winner of the West in the Unification game with Mr. Coffee, aka Reed Juckett.  Talk about a boost to both your offense AND your immune system. 

You'll all see the Tap next season, just as it was in the Summer as we'll be vying, once agian, for a B1 title!

Count It 74  Off In Your Face 62

The Wizard Works in Mysterious Ways - Leads Count It Comeback

Well that was a boring round of the B1 East Playoffs.  The top seeds are now 6-0 in games played, with only one more to go next week.  No upsets at all?!? Who would have thought that would be the case with the way the regular season played out.

Count It did NOT look like they were going to win this game early. Off In Your Face came out with all the energy and shot making ability they needed to build a 15 point lead at halftime.  15 points! That's a big hole, especially against a veteran team like OIYF. Hall was playing like an MVP, Rugga added a new floor burn to the mix and Polin was sufficiently Hulked up.  It seemed like this game was over.

But after a quiet first frame, Donahue got over his playoff yips to have a big night.  The big fella came alive when his team needed him the most.  With the Wizard of Aziz playing with a chip on his shoulder (idk, maybe it had something to do with the All-Star snub), Count It came roaring back behind a 19-4 run in the first 7 minutes of the second half.  Off only hit one bucket in that stretch.  Looks like we found one of the skeletons in their closet, as it became obvious that they're HUGE fans of the rim job they way they were shooting. 

Even still, the game was just tied, no biggie right? Settle down, get the ball to Hall, have DNyse knock down some shots, they'll be fine, right?!? Well the crisp ball movement of the first half never came back to them, and with just 3 minutes to go in the game, they had still only scored 10 points in the half.  Somehow, they were only down 5.  They had to start fouling, of course, but to help out, Hall started throwing up prayers.  After watching him hit 4 reDONKulous 3s in a row, I now believe in a higher power myself. 

But despite 14 points in the final 3 minutes, it wasn't enough. The Wizard waved his wand (sword? whatever) and knocked down all his free throws to seal the deal with Finny, who after a huge game last week, didn't score a bucket, but managed to still chip in with 9 crucial points.

Count It is back in the B1 East finals, is this there season to hang a banner? Only two more games to go! They'll take on the Rangas at 8:50 on Wednesday.  Off, meanwhile, looks like they're on a hiatus for a season.  Recharge those batteries fellas, maybe make a cameo appearance in A1, and we'll see you in the Winter!