Winter 2010: B2 League Champs: Pick Ya Poison

Commentary by Lindsay Graham...

Canal Park Posse 69  Witness Protection 68

Giorgio Leads Posse to Win Over Protection

The B2 West League kicked off with a solid game between the Canal Park Posse and Witness Protection Monday evening. But it was Peter Giorgio and his Posse that had the upper hand over Witness Protection as Canal Park walked away with the 69-48 victory.

While Giorgio led the Posse with a double-double tallying a game-high 21 points and 11 boards you can not over look the play of Adam Chopko. He was constantly everywhere when Canal Park needed him to be, falling a point and rebound shy of being the second player in the game to have a double-double, which is why he received the first B2 West League Tommy Point. Justin Oppenheimer rounded out the three Posses with in double figures with 10 points while recording eight boards as well as playing unselfish offense by dishing out four assists.

Despite the loss for Witness Protection, they had three players reach double digits. Kevin Parker led the way with a team-high 16 points including hitting two treys. Brian Hochman and Mark Hochstetler followed up with 12 points a piece. Hochstetler was solid with nine boards and two assists as well as picking the pockets of the Posse twice.

With the win the Canal Park Posse improves to 1-0 and will face CTC January 25 at 7:10 while the Witness Protection drops to 0-1, playing the Sons of Liberty at 8:00 sharp.

Off In Public 51  Heinsohn's Heroes 52

Heroes Starve Off Second Half Public

Finnegan Hanson of Heinsohnís Heroes made Tommy Heinsohn proud in the second game of the evening Monday as they narrowly escaped a come-from-behind victory by Off In Public with the 52-51 victory. Hanson kept Off In Public in check with a double-double, recording 11 poitns and 10 boards in the victory.

Heinsohnís Heroes had the game within their control as they ended the first half with a five-point, 26-19 lead. But Off In Public was not going to be denied as they came out flying after the brief intermission and outscored the Heroes 32-26 in the second. Not shy of ìPublic speaking,î Ryan Shevy put the Public on his back in the second draining six of eight from long range for 18 of his game-high 21 points.

It was not enough.

John Cintolo taught every a good lesson about hitting free throws towards the tail end of them. A free throw is exactly what it says it is. It is a free opportunity to score points after your opponents have committed a foul and you must take advantage of it and make them pay. Cintolo did just that hitting five of his seven free throw chances to finish the game with a team-high 13 points.

Along with Hanson, he was one of four Heroes to reach double figures. Dannon Stacer was  two boards shy of double-double and was in the running for the Tommy Point with 10 points but in the end the award went to tall, Irish center Luke OíSullivan, who was solid under the boards ripping down eight rebounds along with tallying 12 points.

When the Heroes needed OíSullivan the most he was there. Public had a brief two point lead, 40-38, but OíSullivan stepped up his game, drained a lay-up and converted the three point play. To take a phrase from the Red Sox, he was Dirt Dog who should his grit and determination underneath the bucket to lead his team to their first victory.

With the win Heinsohnís Heroes starts the season at 1-0 while Off In Public falls to 0-1. The Heroes will return to the hard-court next week when they face Group Techs on Monday January 25 in the final game of the night at 8:30. Off In Public will hit the court in the first game of the night against the Posse.

CTC 67  Pick Ya Poison 69

Pick Ya Poison Lives Up To Name

For the second straight game the third contest of the evening was tight battle that saw Pick Ya Poison come out on top in the two-point, 69-67, victory over CTC. Nigel Slack and Bobo Hill each recorded a double-double to pave the way toward victory for the Poison.  

After finding themselves down 30-28 at the half, Hill and Slack were a force to be reckoned with in the second half both offensively and defensively. In addition to his team-high 21 points, Hill ripped down another game-high 17 boards and dished out three assists while Slack added 10 rebounds of his own for his double-double. But no one can discount what teammate Ryan Shea brought to the table.

While he may not have scored like his teammates, Shea rounded out the three Pick Ya Poison players to reach double figures on the night. Tallying 13 points and doling three assists, Shea was two boards shy of a double-double. So here is a message to opposing players: beware of Pick Ya Poison, they really emulate their team name.

Despite the loss, Mike Baser led the way for CTC with a game-high 23 points while Mark Katz also reached the 20-point club following up with 21 points. Eric Spindt recorded a the third double-double in the contest, netting 17 points and pulling down 13 boards as well as being nearly perfect from the charity stripe (six-for-seven).

With the win Pick Ya Poison opens the season at 1-0 while CTC falls to 0-1. The Poison will square off next against Off In Public in the first game of the evening at 6:20 on January 25. CTC will immediately following in the 7:10 slot against the Canal Park Posse.

Sons of Liberty 48  Group Techs 37

Free Throw Key for Sons of Liberty

The Sons of Liberty picked up their first victory of the season defeating the Group Techs in the fourth and final game of the evening on Monday, 48-37. Dean Lawrence led the way for the Sons of Liberty with a game-high 23 points.

It was the all Lawrence show in the opening B2 West League finale. In addition to his 23 points, the Liberty big man was solid on defense ripping down 11 boards while converting seven of eight from the charity stripe. Does he still have any NCAA eligibility left? Boston College could certainly use him. They are horrible from the free throw line.

Brendan Younger followed up his teammate as the only other player from the Sons of Liberty with 17 points ñ three coming from long range. He too was also close to knocking down his first double-double of the season but fell two rebounds shy with eight in the game.

Once again Lawrenceís free throw clinic came into play later on in the game. While he was knocking down all but one of his attempts, Group Techs were a combined eight for 18 from the charity stripe.  Compare that to the Sons of Liberty who only missed two free throws (13-15). Sorry but you are not going to win many games with those stat lines when your opponent is practically not missing. Francis Reddick led the way for the Techs with a team-high of 11 points while dishing out three assists.

With the win the Sons of Liberty kick start the season at 1-0 while Group Techs falls to 0-1. Liberty will return to the hard-court January 25 when they square off with Witness Protection (0-1) in the third game of the evening at 8:00. The Techs tip-off against the 1-0 Heinsohnís Heroes at 8:50.