Legacy Infinite: Resilience, Day 3

In game 1 of our double-header, Coach T.C. brought his undefeated Apocalypse to battle Coach LaLa and his underdog Dead Game squad.  And we found out early on that these dogs bite!  It appeared that the wrong team was favored as crisp, precision passing and a balanced scoring attack led by Heart-N-Soul (16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals) helped Dead Game maintain as much as a 12 point lead throughout much of the 1^st half.  Lil’ Bison had 14 points, Scrappy poured in 6 and Pitt Bull had 8; all in the first half.

But wait, as the 1^st half was drawing to a close, The Phenom (40 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block) found his range and we were treated to an electrifying aerial assault.  His 24 first half points kept his team in the game and Dead Game led at the half by only 6; 41-35.

Apocalypse controlled the 2^nd half from start to finish, taking the lead 47-46 at 11:48; they would not trail again.  Maybe it was the heat or the humidity.  Or, perhaps it was the lack of solid bench play that led to fatigued starters, but the double-team employed so successfully on The Phenom in the 1^st half, suddenly seemed to melt away.  But, ultimately the game was lost on the line as Dead Game missed 16 free throws.

And with 4-0-9 (10 points, 15 rebounds) and Bucktown (5 point, 11 rebounds) cleaning the glass and Billy-Ho (8 points, 9 rebounds) sinking clutch FT’s down the stretch, its another Apocalypse win, 73-66.

The 2^nd game pit TTTB against Hakuna Matata.  TTTB was without its coach.  Apparently The Gem was involved in some sort of altercation and it is unlikely he’ll coach anymore this season.  His presence was obviously missed as his team was without their usual energy, losing 56-48 in a lack luster performance.

Silk Money has a double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds) before fouling out.  Tone “Wild Thing” Loc has 10 points and fouled out.  The Carpenter is rebounding back into form nicely though after leg surgery, contributing (10 points, 18 GMBs, 1 assist, 1 block) and Hilltop (8 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block) definitely came to play.

But Hakuna Matata was solid from top to bottom.  Led by the Lil’ Giant, Young Frost (18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals). The kid is so lightning quick and freaky fast, he could deliver for Jimmy Johns!  E-Smoove had a steady (17 points, 9 rebounds) Geezy chipped in (11 points, 20 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, 2 blocks).  A good team win, after a disappointing last second defeat for Coach Chimmi and Hakuna Matata.

There were a lot of great performances this week, but none better than The Phenom; your Player of the Week.  Checkout these numbers for the week:  95 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists, 8 steals and 2 blocks!  Nuff said!

Mr. Blue

Copyright © 2013 by Paul Brown

Legacy Infinite: Longevity, Day 2

“The game is scheduled, you must play, you might as well win.”

Bill Russell, a.k.a. The Truth

Ballers,

This season has been BOFFO for death row basketball!  From preseason games until now, we are running on all cylinders!  Everyone plays an integral part to the whole of what we are trying to accomplish!  Let’s continue to gain ground gentlemen and put all the naysayers to rest.

Today’s first game featured TTTB (0-2) versus Dead Game (1-1).  Tone “Wild Thing” Loc was definitely on that “Funky Cold Medina” today.  Going for (14 points, 33 rebounds, 1 assist) in the first half while displaying an array of difficult shots that converted into buckets.  Not to be outdone, Lil’ Bison for Team Dead Game had 8 points at the half to help cut the lead 24-27.

Opening the second half, Dead Game went on a 13-7 run, giving them a 37-34 lead at the 9:14 minute mark.  With El-Concrete grabbing 16 monster boards and outrebounding TTTB’s ‘Twin Towers’ (Carpenter and 2Moons) who combined for 14 boards, and scoring (17 points, 2 assists, 2 steals) for his first double/double of the season.  He helped Dead Game stay in the mix to the end.  Silk Money helped his Team TTTB to tie the game at 42 all with 3:13 to play.  His (17 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steal) kept the game on the line when he buried two clutch free throws with 9 seconds to play. 

But, leave it up to the old veteran Pit Bull (8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal) to give his team Dead Game the upset of the day.  With 2.7 second on the clock, Pit Bull hits a left-handed lay-up in transition!  Dead Game wins 50-48.  Giving them their first win of the season.  Their unselfish ball movement and physical play was the key to victory.  The General, Heart-N-Soul and Pop-A-Shot for TTTB collaborated for (8 points, 13 rebounds 3 steals, 1 block).  Tone “Wild Thing” Loc finished up with (18 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist). 

Our second game match-up featured Apocalypse (2-0) versus Hakuna Matata “No Worries” (1-1). 

Apocalypse opens the game on a (7-0) run.  4-0-9 (16 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals) was a force to reckon with in those early moments, scoring the game’s first five points.  The Phenom doing his usual had (14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assist) in the first half.  E-Smoove for Hakuna Matata had (10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) in the half.  But, I personally would like to thank El-Toro for taking me to Pamplona, Spain to see the RUNNING OF THE BULL! LOL.  His (6 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist) in the first half helped cut down Apocalypse lead by two (30-28).  LET THE BULL RUN…PLEASE!!!

In the second half, Frost, a.k.a, Lil Giant (12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assist, 3 steals) along with Human Eraser (6 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 steals, 1 block) helped will their Team Hakuna Matata to a 53-41 lead at the 3:09 mark.  With a 12-point lead surely they felt like they had ‘no worries!” Unbeknownst to them, The Phenom loves to play from behind in the closing minutes.  Going on a scoring tear by hitting a three pointer, getting a steal, then converting for another two points with (32 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block) before fouling out of the game.  He helps put Apocalypse in contention to win the game. 

With Phenom and Buctown sitting on the bench, Coach T.C. had all the confidence in the world in his young baller, Billy Ho to take the final shot.  With the game tied at 61-61 and 9.6 seconds on the clock, Billy-Ho went to work, catching the inbounds pass and pulling up from 18 feet out!  He shoots; cowhide straight through the nets; SWISH!!! Giving his squad Apocalypse the 63-61 victory and finishing up with (10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals).  E-Smoove finished with (27 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals).  El-Toro finished up with a double/double (12 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal).  His performance today was a complete 180-degree turnaround from his rookie debut last week.

Ingredients

2 – fresh nets

1 – cowhide pill

&

Heat index in July

= Equals the recipe for how you best describe today’s action…SUPERB!!!

I’ll catch you at the scorer’s table tomorrow gents!

Bigg Dogg

Copyright © 2013

Legacy Infinite: Longevity, Day 1

At last, we tip off the 2k13 death row b-ball tourney with temperatures in the high 80’s and a few sprinkles, which seemed only appropriate as we had a bit of everything today.

We pick up this year where we left off last season with the growing legend know as The Phenom controlling the action inside and out; finishing with (23points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals) pacing Team Apocalypse to a steady 53-38 victory over TTTB.

An uphill battle turned into the impossible for TTTB when team leader Silk Money had to leave the game at 5:01 of the 1^st half due to an appointment with his team trailing only by 3, 20-17

Apocalypse did it with “D,” logging 17 steals as a team, led by Bucktown, clogging the passing lane and triggering constant fast breaks leading to easy basket.  He finished with 11points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals and 8 swats!  4-0-9, last year’s rookie sensation and clearly the steal of this years draft, had 8 points, 11 grown man boards (GMB), 2 assists and 5 steals.  Billy-Ho put up 7 points, 3 rebounds 2 assists , 4 steals and a few primal screams for good measure.  Modest numbers, but a solid contribution.

Game 2 showcased Team Dead Game and Team Hakuna Matata (No Worries).  Heart and Soul (23 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals) started out on fire and led Dead Game to a 12-4 advantage at the 11:32 mark of the 1^st half.  But not so fast my friends, E-Smoove - All Business! With a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) in the 1^st half; finishing with (25 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals).  He made his pressure felt.

Scoop chipped in a double-double of his own (11 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 4 blocks).  Young Frost, Geezy and J-Dubb combined for (30 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 9 steals, 1 block) in a solid team effort.  Gritty performance from Lil’ Bison, Scrappy, The General, El Concrete (12 GMBs!), Pitt Bull and Big Nate for Dead Game.  However, they were undone by turnovers all game long, and had 3 players foul cut down the stretch.

Twenty missed points by Hakuna Matata kept it close until the end with Hakuna Matata prevailing 66-62 in a tightly contested, highly competitive and well coached game.

Not bad for starters.

Mr. Blue

Copyright © 2013 by Paul Brown