It was a good fourth season for Gremlins in League IV.54 with similarities of the first three seasons. Once again Gremlins started slowly and had to battle through early season adversity.
After starting 1-3, 3-4, and 3-3 the first three seasons, Gremlins started this season 3-3. Just like the previous 3 seasons the Gremlin players were seen walking off the court with sad faces and their heads handing down. The locker room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Once again the Gremlins coach called a special team meeting to be sure that everyone was on the same page. Gremlins responded by winning 7 games in a row.
Gremliins hit a bump in the road when they lost 3 straight games beginning with Thunder Lance, followed by Seaslugs, and then Nettoverbrennungsofen. In one of the most exciting games of the regular season Gremlins had an 8 point lead over Seaslugs in the 4th quarter but Seaslugs rallied to win 102-97. Gremlins had to win all 6 of their remaining games to have any chance of winning the Big 8.
The playoff race came down to the last day of the regular season. Gremlins were in 2nd place and had to beat Root Beer or finish in 3rd place. Gremlins also had a chance to finish in 1st place if BlazingSharks lost to Tsunami, but that did not happen. Gremlins beat Root Beer in front of the home crowd to clinch 2nd place on the last day of the regular season. Their loyal fans gave them a long standing ovation reminiscent of previous seasons.
In Round 1 of the playoffs Gremlins were matched against Nettoverbrennungsofen. Gremlins came out swinging and built a 13 point half-time lead. Nettoverbrennungsofen would not quit and rallied to send the game into OT. Gremlins had a 7 point lead in the final minute of OT but could not hang on. Nettoverbrennungsofen made a basket with 2 seconds left in OT to win the game 99-98.
Nettoverbrennungsofen players and their small group of fans who made the trip were ecstatic for such a thrilling end to a playoff game. Gremlins players and their fans on the other hand were crying in total disbelief. Gremlins had come to within 2 seconds of winning the playoff game.
Gremlins played their hearts out but it was not enough. Tears of joy and sadness filled the Gremlin locker room knowing that they all did their very best.
A group of loyal Gremlin fans waited for the players to come out of the locker room to congratulate them on their good season. Hopefully next season will be even better for the entire Gremlin organization and their fans.