Velcro Arena – In a matchup where Peabody hoped to make a statement, I Volt delivered a scorching first-half performance, overwhelming the Hitmen 110-90 behind a barrage of efficient shooting.
Peabody entered the game looking to control the paint and slow down I Volt’s perimeter attack, but from the opening tip, it was clear that wouldn’t be an easy task. I Volt shot a blistering 58% in the first half, dismantling Peabody’s man-to-man defense before cruising to victory.
A First-Half Collapse
The game remained competitive early, with Peabody trailing just 34-25 after the first quarter. But the second quarter proved disastrous. I Volt outscored Peabody 31-13, pushing their lead to 65-38 at halftime—a hole too deep for the Hitmen to recover from.
“We just didn’t execute defensively,” Peabody head coach [Chris] said postgame. “When a team is shooting nearly 60% at halftime, you’re not going to win many games. We needed to disrupt their rhythm, and we didn’t do that.”
Cold Shooting Plagues Peabody
Despite running a “Look Inside” offense, Peabody failed to convert at a high level. Ye Tianxiang led the team with 21 points but shot just 8-22 from the field, while Patrick Rees (13 points, 5-14 FG) and Thomas Petty (10 points, 5-13 FG) also struggled to finish.
As a team, Peabody shot just 35.2% (37-105) from the field and 33.3% (4-12) from three, missing far too many high-percentage looks. In contrast, I Volt shot 46.9% overall and 44.0% from beyond the arc, capitalizing on Peabody’s inefficiency.
“We had open shots and good looks inside, but we didn’t finish,” Rees said, who pulled down a game-high 18 rebounds. “On nights like this, you have to create second-chance points, and we didn’t do enough.”
I Volt’s Backcourt Duo Shines
While Peabody struggled, I Volt’s guards put on a clinic. Leung Hop Hei (24 points, 3-7 3PT) and Luis Carlos Lucumí (22 points, 9-14 FG, 10 rebounds) dictated the pace and found high-quality shots all night.
Their ability to spread the floor forced Peabody’s defense to extend, opening opportunities inside for Thomasz Stüwer (17 points, 8-10 FG), who dominated efficiently in the paint.
Even as I Volt cooled off in the second half, Peabody never threatened a serious comeback.
Looking Ahead: A Chance to Bounce Back
With the loss, the Peabody Hitmen fall to [X-X] on the season, but a golden opportunity awaits in their next matchup. They face Carolina Elite (1-14), the last-place team in the division.
This could be a crucial game for Peabody to reset, regain confidence, and make necessary adjustments—particularly on the offensive end. Tianxiang and Rees remain key interior pieces, but the team may need to create more perimeter opportunities for Zhong Zongkang (15 points, 3-5 3PT) and Oscar Moore (7 points, 3-6 FG) to add balance.
Defensively, Peabody will need to reconsider its approach after I Volt’s hot shooting night. Their man-to-man coverage didn’t disrupt I Volt’s rhythm, and against teams that rely on outside shooting, a zone-based scheme may need to be considered moving forward.
“We have to move on and focus on the next game,” Coach [Chris] said. “Carolina Elite might be struggling, but we can’t take anyone lightly. This is a great chance for us to regroup and execute at a higher level.”
Peabody will host Carolina Elite in their next matchup as they look to snap this losing streak and get back on track.