SATURDAY Season 23 is OVER!! The winners are crowned and the defeated go home empty handed! This season saw Mudflaps get another championship under their belt in Div 1 against Miami Vice, and Sneaky Prawns also return to championship glory in Div 2 vs CBT! Check out the Highlights, the stats and who stepped up for the biggest game of the year so far!
Division 1 season has been a drama filled one with the undefeated Haz Beanz sent home by Miami Vice to pave the way for them to meet the CHF Mudflaps, a super hungry franchise led by Carlson looking to stamp his mark on the league with a team of stacked ballers with alot of experience. Miami Vice had a great deal of momentum going into this game, it would be a battle worth watchin to crown A champion!
The game started, an the pace was immediate, Vice started with a 14-5 run in the first 8 minutes to open up the game. Mudflaps just not able to get their shots to go down and Vice were on fire. But Mudflaps stuck to their guns and kept at them pushing it inside and getting to the line. At the end of the 1st it was 14-9 with the lead still held by Vice. Todd R and Dan B both getting 7 each for their team to lead the way.
2nd quarter action started and so did Carlson who put in 6 points in the quarter to help the Mudflaps keep up the come back, knowing it was a long game. Mudflaps kept up the attack from 3 point land hitting 3 more threes than Vice, this would be the factor that got them back into the game. After the first half siren the Mudflaps had caught up and the score was even at 20-20. Carlson and Dan B leading their teams in scoring respectively.
3rd quarter was all Patty L on the attack as he put in 10 points worth of drives and buckets from deep, stepping up big time to push the team to new levels and snatch the lead back by the quarter by 4 points, setting up for an epic 4th quarter where Vice needed to try and get momentum back and the game in control. Todd also helped out bringing his total to 14 so far hitting some crucial run stopping buckets. Vice had Dan W score 7 and was a monster on the glass not letting any1 get boards. The 4th was up next, the final quarter to decide this one.
The 4th started out with some tight man on man defence being played, Mudflaps not giving up any ground and stuck with the Vice boys who were all getting in on the action trying to catch up. Mudflaps held the lead the whole quarter just out of reach from Mudflaps ice to take over again. Leading into the final minutes, the mood was tense with Vice gaining ground and Mudflaps still holding them off. On a crucial possession with 45 seconds left, Vice turned the ball over on a pass that went into the backcourt giving Mudflaps the chance to hold out and force fouls to which Carlson hit a single free throw to put he game out by 4 points, Vice had 1 chance to hit a three but with another point to get and no time, it was cooked.
Top performers this Finals showed some big time skills from both teams! Miami Vice had some playrs step up stat wise as Dan W gota solid double double with 13 points and 14 rebounds leading the team. Dan B the next highest scorere with 10 and threw in 9 rebounds too, almost a dub dub. Mark Whitto was the energy guys this game getting And1s and hitting all his free throws. Mudflaps had some good numbers this game 3 standouts being Patty L on 14 points 10 rebounds and 4 assists an unstoppable force on the drive, led the way for the Mudflaps with Vice trying to trap him at every turn. Todd R was great from all spots with his own double double of 14pts and 13rebs,Batley was big down low with 8 rebounds and Carlson was always in the right spot hitting the big shot with 11points to seal the win!
The stats between the two teams were very even wtih FG % and rebounds almost like for like, Vice won on blocks but the rest was indicative of the close game these 2 teams had this day. Well done to Miami Vice for getting through some tough opponents to get to Grand fInals, only to be taken down in the last minutes by a truly stacked team of Ballers that are now crowned champions for Season 23! The Mudflaps!
Div 2 saw two teams matchup, as they had before but this was different it was do or die and it was Prawns vs CBT, 2nd vs 5th! With the oubres being beaten in the Quarters by Prawns, it was time to get another chip to add to the franchise banners, but CBTs first finals appearance could mean dream run for them. 2 close teams! Only 1 can be made champion this season!
CBT came out in the 1st and took a while to get going with their usual free flowing small ball attack. Sneaky Prawns were warmed up and ready to go getting a few players starting the BBQ up and somewhat rising in heat, not many outside shots going down for both teams, the inside busy with Pascale clogging the lanes on both ends. The end of the 1st it was Prawns by 7 points, a fantastic start but it was early game, and basketball is a game of runs! Todd V and Karl P off to a great start with 7point for their respective teams, the game was set to step up the tempo in the 2nd.
The 2nd quarter was lit, With the Prawns up by 7 they seemed to go into cruise control. CBT saw the chance and jumped on every loose ball and went for every potential steal getting all the boys going and focused on the comeback. It wwent to plan as the guards did their job. T-jay getting 9 points and Todd with 7 to make a huge run and gets alot of stops and steals sending the Prawns into a frenzy, with many players playing point guard, the offense seemed withdrawn. With. 3 mins left in the 2nd and CBT took the lead by 5 on some flashy fast breaks and some big three bombs. Prawns outscored 25-7 by the end of the half giving CBT the leady by 11!
The 3rd quarter started with both teams having a good rest to collect their thoughts and to make a plan for the 2nd half…CBT came out with an 11 point lead and looked to keep pushing it, but Prawns were locked after the half time and picked up the pace and defence, smothering ball handlers and getting a few loose balls and calls going their way.. They went on a 24-13 run in the 3rd to bring the scores even at the 3rd quarter siren. TJay V providing almost all the scoring for his team with 12 points in the quarter whilst on the Prawns, everyone got active, Sam got 8 points, and Joel got 7 to push the game into an each way bet! With 2 minutes 30 left in the 3rd quarter, the Prawns finally took a 1 point lead on a Joel S jumper. From then on it was basket for basket until the final minutes. End of the 3rd the scores were even at 48!
4th quarter started with Sneaky Prawns having all the momentum after a great 3rd and looked to capitalize on that all the way to the end o
f the game. Prawns kept on getting the ball to Sam who was still hot from the rest of the game and dropped 11 in the quarter to bring the Prawns home. Tjay kept on scoring but they needed more from the rest of the boys but Prawns locked down on D and hustled for the lead. Garbage time started and it was a losing battle for CBT as the free thows were drained to seal the championship for Sneaky Prawns!
CBT didn’t have a great shooting night overall shooting 29% and lost in the rebounds category too having 16 less rebounds. CBT were big time on defence though with 19 steals to 6 and protecting the ball better than Prawns. T-Jay “the Glove”, was hungry for buckets with 40% shooting due to the defence but still getting 25 points and 8 steals, Gary Payton numbers! Todd V next best with 16 points 3 stls and 3 assists. And Emre with a near double double on 10 points 9 rebounds.
Prawns as a team shot 47% from the field outscoring the CBT crew by 6 in the last quarter to take the game.Top performers in this game were Sam B with 22 points 8 rebounds & 2 assists on 56% shooting, Karl P getting 14 on 83% from the field and Joel S getting a game closing 14. Pas was a monster on the glass with 17 rebounds and Kieran K almost a double double with 8ptr and 11rebs.
CBT ousted after a great season where they came into their own, beating big teams and equalling first, only to fall victim to the Sneaky prawns who just had the better shooting game and grabbed another championship for their strong franchise! Can they back it up next season? Or will CBT get revenge?!
A great season to all teams that took part, after a long season spanning from last year, it was a grind and all the ballers did well to show up and get buckets for their teams. Stay tuned for next season with more action and more teams competing for the title!
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