B-ballers,
What’s good?
I was playing basketball long before Datsun became Nissan,
but I gotta tell you, this death row b-ball league never ceases to amaze
me. Today’s championship game was no
less than epic. I only wish the public
could see our games as I do. The
fanfare. The team chants. The cohesiveness and the rivalries, exhibit a
love for the game that’s universal. This
love isn’t exclusive to Cameron Indoor Stadium or the Dean Dome. The love that flows through those historical b-ball
arenas, exists right here on our rec yard.
If you don’t believe me, then keep reading.
The top seed, team Chaos (12-3), came into today’s game
slightly favored over the 2nd seeded, team QuietStorm (12-4). The QuietStorm has to win 2 games to be
crowned as champs. Team Chaos has to win
one game and the celebration can be on like a phone. Na mean?
The 1st half ended with team QuietStorm leading 29-27. Team Chaos recovered in the 3rd
quarter. They outscored the QuietStorm
24-11 and bulldozed their way to a commanding 51-40 lead at the end of 3
quarters.
Heart-N-Soul led all scorers with 23 points (11 in the 3rd). The league’s M.V.P. shot an impressive 11/22
from the field and 1/1 from behind the arc.
He also tallied 5 rebounds and 8 thefts (season high). Silk Money contributed 13 points (5/14 from
the field and 1/3 from behind the arc), 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2
blocks. The league’s top 6th
man, Frost generated 12 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals off the bench.
Everything was falling into place for team Chaos. It was merely a matter of 8 minutes standing
between them and triumph, but, team QuietStorm refused to throw in the
towel. The 4th quarter would
breed the perfect storm. QuietStorm put
the cuffs on the dynamic backcourt of team Chaos and limiting Chaos to 6 fourth
quarter points. Chaos shot one free
throw in the 4th quarter. The
QuietStorm was 4/5 from the stripe, in the 4th quarter.
The Phenom led the QuietStorm with 19 points (7/21 from the
field and 2/9 beyond the arc). He also
registered 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.
It was a tough shooting day for the Phenom, E-Smoove was an outstanding
5/8 from the field and 3/4 from treysville.
He finished with 13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 thefts and 3
blocks. Billy-Ho graciously picked up
the slack by tallying 10 points (6 in the 4th), 6 rebounds and 1
steal. Nasty Nas and Lil’ Bison combined
for 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.
Billy-Ho hit 2 clutch free throws and a basket to cut the
Chaos lead to 1. But, a stampeding Lil’
Bison would prove to be the difference for the QuietStorm. With seconds to play and down by one, Lil’
Bison elected to foul rater than allow team Chaos to control the clock, a
decision that proved to be defensive genius.
Frost missed the front end of the 1 and 1, but Chaos recovered the
rebound. Only to have Lil’ Bison’s
tenacious defenses force a turnover.
The QuietStorm’s next possession showcased more drama than
Mobb Deep at the Source Awards: The
Phenom drives right. He’s trapped. He goes baseline. Three defenders meet him under the
basket. He takes flight and finds a wide
open Lil’ Bison at the left elbow. Lil’
Bison steps into the pass. He stares
down the basket. He pulls up. He releases.
Nothing but twine!! The
QuietStorm wins game 1, 58-57!! Ya
heard?
It was a heart breaking loss for the mighty team Chaos, but
it was a victory that was sweeter than a Swisher for the QuietStorm. Stay tuned for the decisive game 2, next
week. That’s what’s up!
Live Well,
MannofStat
Copyright © 2012 by Leroy Elwood Mann
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