After a while I wasn't sure if anybody was reading these since I stopped getting +1's. And so, I left off a little bit. But with CW47's encouragement, I figured I'd at least do a recap post of interconference play:
Great 8 Dominate Inter-Conference Play
As the teams of League IV.30 return to conference match-ups and began the final leg of the season, it's time for a look back at inter-conference play. By posting a combined record of 40-24, the Great 8 proved that they were the superior league this season. Even if Kung Fu Ninja Pirates had somehow managed to win all their games with 2 star guards and 5 scrubs, it would have merely brought the series even. Here is a recap of some of the important games from down the stretch.
Close, But No Cornballer Cigar
Cornballers took Murfreesboro into overtime on 7/7. The Cornballers guards went 9-24 from downtown, but the 71 Murfreesboro rebounds weighted the game too far in their favor. The Cornballers took a 6-pt lead into the 4th, and looked poised to pull off the upset. But a three minute 11-4 run put Murfreesboro up by 2 with two minutes left. Missed shots from both teams left the same picture when COR took a timeout with 28 seconds to go. The set play led to a layup from Graf to tie the game. Two misses from Butkowski sent the game to overtime. Murfreesboro came out shooting and went up 4 before COR scored on a Lucas free-throw. Graf tied it again with a three with 25 seconds left in OT. Eleven seconds later, an exhausted Booth was assessed a flagrant foul while trying to defend a Hardy jump shot. And when possession reverted to MM, COR had to keep fouling. Free throws added three more to the Murfreesboro total. And when three point attempts from Metcalf and Graf failed, the game was over.
Crestfallen Jazz Lose on the Road
On 7/7, Marin Magic added insult to injury when they successfully defended their home court against a Jazz team still reeling from their national tournament elimination. And although Lapidot scored a career-high 48 points it was not enough to carry the day. The Magic jumped to an early lead and managed to hang on until the final buzzer. Fueled by threes from Charry, London and Dobinas, the Magic took a 13-pt lead into the first quarter break. And the Jazz looked stunned sitting on the bench while their coach exhorted them to do more than just hand the ball to Lapidot (who was a miserable 2-10 at the time). The Jazz came back and slowly narrowed the lead to 4 with less than a minute. But the team was left with no option but to foul. And although Lapidot fouled out, the team kept trying - even getting a good look for Yip Ao Zong who made his 3-pointer. But 8 made free-throws put the nail in the Jazz coffin.
Jazz Edge Out Velvet
The Jazz got their feet under them the following game against Winter Haven back home at the Ulderico Arena. They were able to spread the ball around, especially to forwards, McKinnon and Podolinciak. And their defense stayed strong until the 4th quarter, when the Velvets made a late push led by Taffe and Zanesi. But the hole the Velvet dug themselves in the 2nd and 3rd was too big to escape. And they left the arena with a disappointing 2-pt loss.