Spring 2009: C League Champs: Silk Nasties

Commentary by Five Hard Fouls...

Hi Haters 47  Genzyme 49

Genzyme Wins...but Hi-Haters Move On

This is not a fun write-up for me to do, so let's just put the elephant in the room now. Genzyme did indeed win this basketball game after being down 35-15 in the second half to outshine the Hi-Haters in the clutch...but the Hi-Haters will be playing Tribe in the semis next week. Haters won the game as Genzyme had six guys, one of whom is MNicey (the B2 Defensive Player of the Year and B1 Resident Stud). Unfortunately, in good conscience and with our rules set-up the way they are, Genzyme did not advance because they could only get five guys that were on the original roster and/or played the minimum five games (MNicey unfortunately didn't meet the minimum, and he still shouldn't play in a meaningful game in the C League.) This was explained to both teams BEFORE the game, for the record. Haters pounded early on Genzyme as Ryan Chason (the RoY) was unstoppable as he scored 15 of his 23 in the second half. Nick Souza added eight and Justin Blackman also added eight with a potential killshot in the final minutes (the big coast-to-coast layup after a Genzyme bunny rolled off)Still, this Genzyme team fought hard as they get to say they won their last game. To come back down 20 with over 17 minutes to go is a testament to a "never say die" attitude. DLee and Tom Martin hit big threes down the stretch. Mike Miller (17 points, 9 rebounds) was a monster all game as he attacked the glass with great energy. Rob Krukowski hit a killer three late and yes, MNicey, Peredna himself, hit the biggest shot of the game to put up his team up by 1 with a little more than a minute to go. Still, the Haters almost won this game outright as they had a couple of great looks (Souza and Chason both had shots literally go in and out.) Miller made one of two free throws and Baby Scal ended up having a great shot (you take that shot every time, Nick) at the buzzer, but he couldn't convert it off the half-court inbounds play (kind of like Courtney Lee in the finals...a tough makeable shot). Major kudos to Genzyme for not quitting and executing down the stretch. A good season and a good core group has been established for this league. DLee, Krukowski, Bachtell, Tom Martin, etc...got there every week and they're the guys that Genzyme needs to build around for future success. Haters slide into the semis next week, however they have another shot at immortality and the rubber match against the Tribe next Monday.

Tribe 71  Grand Nationals 45

Tribe Sprints N' Shoots to the Semis

Tribe came to play in this one. Inspired by the ghosts of Larry Johnson, Greg Anthony, Anderson Hunt, and the Plastic ManÖthese guys looked like the true Runniní Rebels on this evening. By garnering 14 team steals and firing lots of shotgun-style passes down-court, Tribe used a huge second half to drop the Grand Nationals 71-45 in this quarterfinal matchup. Once again, The Switch was turned on as Franklin Salvador went off for 36 points (6-10 3PT), 6 rebounds (?), and 6 steals in probably his best all-around game of the year. Danny Teixeira came to play in this game as he had six assists and thirteen points as he looked rejuvenated out there. Jerry Alitdor may have been trying to McGrady some passes out there, but he grabbed nine points all in the first half, including a big step back three. Yet still, the feisty Nats were only down 34-24 at the break. Jeremiah Jordan actually hit back-to-back treys to give his team a 12-11 lead. Jordan scored all 13 of his points to keep his team in it gamely. But Salvador and crew just took off like bandits in the night on a big 10-0 run that offered the separation. And in spite of a big game from Grand Natsí wizard (and MG favorite) Dave Hartjes (7 points, big trey, smart decisions), Teixeira, Salvador, and Andrade were too much offense. Younger legs prevailed in this one. Tribe's Dave Cunha (good rebounding too) had a sweet play off the break as everyone joined the action for both teams as it wound down late in the action. Grand Nats can hold their head high as they went in undermanned and played hard to the end. A noble group of gentlemen that hopefully will be back for more next season. Tribe looks really tough right now and with the way the Hi-Haters looked in the 6:00 pm game, the Tribe has to be a heavy favorite to win in their semifinal clash next Monday with all factors accounted. Can Tribe win it all with their Sprint Ní Shoot version of basketball? We will find out in the next few weeks.

Silk Nasties 76  Team Dynasty 50

Nasties Topple Dynasty, Seize 11-0

The Nasties cruised in this one and 'twas to be expected. The complete team that rolls eight strong (and every guy on this team chips in) showed why they are the best team in the league as they beat the young up-and-comers, Team Dynasty in a 76-50 rout. In spite of the best efforts from a 'one man gang' in Scott Nascimento, the Nasties broke this game open late in the first half with a 14-4 run to close the half as Dynasty was only down 21-17 with 5:00 to go in the half. And yes, Nascimento was brilliant again as he scored his team's first fourteen points on a mixture of drives and three-pointers. Still, Manny Chaves committed four first-half fouls for TD and, more importantly, there was no answer for 1st-Teamer and a spurned MVP's brother in Rob Taylor. Rob has been ballin' lately showing off his beastly inside producion as he got down with 17 points in the first half (27 points, 11 boards for the whole game). Couldn't be stopped. The other bigs were dominant too as Taylor, Kimball, and Taylor combined for 33 of the Nasties' 35 points. (Lots of close shots = lots of makes) However, the key plays were made on two consecutive assists by backup point, Jason Gellar. Gellar made an inside-out dupe to Taylor and then he fed Brian Kimball for an easy lay-up to get the Nasties' first half closeout run going. 35-21 at the break, Nasties. Second half was simply a continuance. Jay Lay got going with back-to-back jacks out of the gate and then Gellar followed suit with his own three. Gellar really stepped up big in this game with his smart play. This thing was over by midway through the second half, though, amazingly, Nascimento had 27 of his team's first 32 points, but his team was down 24 at that point. Scott ended up with 32 points and 11 rebounds as he ended a fabulous individual season, but something tells me he would have traded some stats for a few more wins. We'll see him again, for sure.

(Our 'Barack Obama teachable moment' for the night: if you are ever down 26 with less than 1:00 to go, you should not foul the other team. That would be considered unsportsmanlike. Manny, I'm saying that because I like you...get your shit together and don't be a jerk. Most important thing.)

This game was about the Nasties. Eleven-and-oh. Dominant all game long. But wait a minute, they have to play XJV next week for the third time. Each time, they have only won by three points. Will XJV solve the Nasties riddle to break up the undefeated season next Monday? In due time, we'll find out.

XJV 65  HotSteppers 56

Surviving + Advancing XJV Style

So many good stories in this game and the main theme in this one was: redemption. In this fantastic 4v5 matchup, there were a lot of surprises in this game and the first one was the return of BLau from the separated shoulder just to give HotSteppers five guys. And it was even crazier when BLau flushed home not one, but two threes right back-to-back to tie this game up at 10. Awesome. Still, XJV recovered for a spurt of their own with Steve Barbuto doing his usual song and dance and then Griffin Benelli hitting two crucial threes for eight first half points of his own. Talk about a guy who's gotten better every week out for his team right there. James Kopp also did business out there with eight more points in the half and XJV led 31-27 at the break. It would have been more if Sully didn't hit some key buckets to close strong for HotSteppers. Solid half, but the second half was absolutely wild. John Kopp hit two threes. Bugbee hit a nice jumper Barbuto banged home a big dagger from outside. Tom Layman hit one from beyond NBA range, it was silly. XJV started the half on an epic 26-9 run to take a 57-36 lead with just over 10:00 to go in the game. This thing had Saran wrap all over it, but then a funny thing happened. HotSteppers refused to roll over even with just five bodies down 21. Slowly, they chipped away at this thing as they got a few key baskets from 1st teamer Sully (26 points) and then Maria. With 7:00, it was down to 57-45. Frustrations mounting, Benelli kept mouthing off at Alberto and spiked the ball for a silly technical. Sully hit one of the free throws. Then BLau uncorked a three. Sully nailed a giant three. Five point game with 4:00 to go? 16-0 run for HotSteppers? Yes, the impossible can happen. XJV needed an answer and fast. And the guy who missed the game-tying shot last week hit a gigantic three and a big insurance lay-up to pad that lead back for the final margin. Tom Layman was the hero of the night. Steppers couldn't get closer than five. That was the ballgame. And what an excellent game played by both teams. For the HotSteppers, a phenomenal effort they should be proud of as they gelled well down the stretch to improve a lot as a team. Great season, guys. On the other side, XJV gets what they want. A shot at immortality and a chance to break the undefeated streak of Jay Lay's Silk Nasties squad in Round 3 on Monday night. Does it get any better than this?