GREAT 8: Midseason Madness
1. Delta 9 (11–2)
Delta 9 opened as early favorites, and they haven’t taken that for granted. They’re pounding teams with the league’s most balanced profile: 100.2 ppg, elite rim protection (7.9 bpg, top-3), and a salty +20.2 margin. They force mistakes, rarely give them back, and their wings + bigs have posted some wild lines. They’ve handled every Great 8 opponent, and as the standings widen, so does the delta between Delta and everyone else. Home court is theirs to lose.
2. Wellington Warthogs (9–4)
Wellington is the “your spreadsheet says no, your eyes say yes” team. Middle-of-the-pack shooting and a modest differential…yet they keep knocking off contenders. The secret? They rebound like they’re getting paid per board—52.1 rpg, second in the league. Cisneros and Delmás offer takeover juice, and the Warthogs own one of the season’s best wins: a home W over the Nugs. Nothing flashy—just solid as bedrock.
3. Kiwi Sheep Pimps (8–5)
The Pimps are exactly what you expect: big pimpin' in hoop form. They score a ton, shoot well (45.5% FG, 41.6% 3PT), rebound well, and defend…when the vibes are right. Their games feel like elite pickup runs—deep threes, wild swings, and heat checks at questionable moments. Defensively, the red flags are glaring: they force fewer turnovers than almost anyone (which is saying something in our league), putting pressure on their offense to save them. They can beat Wasco, Innovatus, Ferth…or lose to Wellington or Anchorage. A playoff enigma.
4. Llama of Wall Street (7–6)
Llama’s season has been a masterclass in identity: mid-tier offense, quietly tough defense, clean ball movement, and a roster of guys who each bring a real skill. Their +12.5 differential is one of the league’s sneakiest, and they own the Great 8’s lowest turnover rate. When they win, they win BIG. But the ceiling is capped until they find a consistent wing scorer to pair with Lawson and Pollock. Find that guy, and they’re a playoff lock.
5. Wasco Tigers (6–7)
Someone had to be the league’s “6–7,” and of course it’s the Tigers—because nothing says Wasco basketball like perfectly embodying the record of teenage uncertainty. They’ve got one of II.4’s dominant bigs (Pisano), legit scoring punch (104.9 ppg), and a perimeter defense that can tilt a night sideways. The issue? They give up nearly as much as they score, polishing a humble +5.7 differential. Rebounding is fine—not great—in a bruiser division. Dangerous but volatile. A team you dread on the wrong night…or give a good 'ole "6-7 shrug" at on the right one.
6. Myopic Marauders (5–8)
The Marauders embody their name: heart for days, tunnel vision for weeks. Their win over the Worker Bees was one of the strangest box scores all season (115 points were scored...in total). Statistically, they’re bottom-third in almost everything with a negative differential to match. They defend decently, rebound alright, and shoot just poorly enough to make every game a grind. Too competent to relegate, unlikely to crack the top four.
7. Anchorage Allstars (4–9)
Anchorage is the Great 8’s fever dream: they lead the league in rebounding (55.0 rpg), block shots like a volleyball squad, pass well, and defend admirably. And yet…they’re 4–9. Why? Offense. They shoot a brutal 39.7%, which sinks them night after night. The upside is obvious—they can punch up—but when the shots don’t fall, everything collapses. Maybe they’re just one real scorer away.
8. Ferth Ozone (4–9)
Ferth is the Great 8’s lovable, bewildering mess. They score well (103 ppg), shoot well, rebound decently, and even made a respectable Cup run. But the defense is…let’s call it “participatory.” Opponents drop 106.2 ppg, and they sit bottom-three in field-goal defense. Fun, frisky, and capable of an upset on any given night—but not a threat t