PCTI 8, Game 4 Review
Memorable Quotations:
- “Somebody’s fuckin’ coming out!” – DK, after watching his team give up 3 layups to Beas
- “You farted!” – JT, to unknown opponent
3. “Way to squeeze that thing
in there, man!” – BC to JT after nice dish
- “If all else fails, throw it to Abe in the post. That’s always a good shot.” – Spot, giving his team instruction for half-court offense
- “I can show you that one!” – BC to referee, after an uncalled foul
- “Who’s got Joe? Noone? Ok, perfect!” – Beas, sarcastically to his team after an uncontested JT 3 ball
- “I’ve got a lot left in the tank!” – BC, coming out of 2nd half time-out
- “No! NOOOO!!!!!!” – Andy, after watching a Sabin mid-range jumper find the net
- “It’s time for Deuce to declare a side.” – DK, requesting a Deuce decision between QP and BORED
10. “I felt like our team gave
a shit. Now I’m done!” – JT, with the final words
of PCTI 8
Game Play:
Easily
the most statistically balanced game of PCTI 8, game 4 proved to be a slugfest
of two heavyweights, both throwing haymakers as much to survive as to win. The
final score came in a 66-62 for WLTB, but this doesn’t come close to telling
the story. This was the ultimate game of runs, with WLTB providing the final
run that pushed it over the top and mercifully brought the Diego chapter to a
close.
Saxx
started the game looking very crisp, sprinting out to a 12-4 lead on the backs
of three Beas layups as well as triples from Abe and Ben. This had to give the
team confidence and help it believe that it could both win the game and extend
the tournament to day 3. However, WLTB responded with a 10-0 run fueled by 4
points from BC, and claimed its first lead of the game at 14-12. Both teams
traded baskets in the next several minutes as Abe began to put his own personal
stamp on the game’s outcome. Halfway through the 1st half, he had
tallied 10 points and was in great rhythm offensively as his team pulled almost
even at 24-23. Sabin got out in transition for 7 quick points and helped the
team to re-assert an 8-point lead at 31-23. Not to be outdone, Saxx answered
with its own 9-0 run with 5 points from Beas and reclaimed the lead at 32-31.
DK, JT, and Abe all hit 3 balls to close the half as WLTB closed the 20-minute
session with a 37-35 lead.
Saxx and
Abe continued to assert itself offensively and opened the first 12 minutes of
the second half with a huge 22-9 run and earned a 57-46 lead. Saxx found great
rhythm with Abe as the lead scorer and creator, while WLTB floundered without
its transition game. For the first time, Saxx dictated the tempo by walking the
ball up the floor, taking one shot, and immediately getting back on defense.
With WLTB no longer able to find easy shots in transition, it struggled to
score the ball. With 8 minutes to go and WLTB in desperate need of energy and momentum,
JT came to the rescue. After a BC free throw, JT pulled a rope-a-dope technique
at the free throw line and found in Smo a willing dance partner. His quick
offensive rebound and layup pulled the game to within 57-49 and earned a “Good shit,
Actor!” affirmation from DK. The next possession JT shot the passing lane and
picked off an Abe pass and then converted a 2-on-1 with BC. At 57-51 and still
7 minutes remaining, Actor had given WLTB some much-needed life and helped trim
the deficit to a very manageable 6 points. After a lull from both sides in
which neither team scored, BC stepped to the plate a stroked a huge 3-ball with
4 minutes to go. Now with new life, WLTB had all the momentum. At that moment,
Ben hit a 25-foot bomb and pushed the lead back to 6 at 60-54. A quick deuce by
Sabin cut the score to 60-56 with just 3 minutes on the clock. Although Saxx
had several possessions to score, it was unable to convert, but also yielded a
DK triple with 2 minutes to go that trimmed the lead to 1 point at 60-59. The
next possession Beas had an uncontested layup but the ball took a funny bounce
off the rim and gave WLTB a chance to retaliate. Now in transition, Godon gave a
quick push that led to a Sabin triple in the corner and a WLTB 62-60 lead. Saxx
was unable to answer and began to foul to kill the clock. Bruise converted 2 of
4 free throws and widened the margin to 64-60. Hops responded with a quick
layup to cut the lead to 2, but Sabin answered with 2 free throws. With the lead
at 66-62 and just 22 seconds to go, Saxx needed a quick score but could not
convert and the game came to its conclusion.
Analysis
- Stats are super even with both teams making 25 FGs.
- Saxx with 47% FGAs and WLTB with 45%.
- Saxx with 41% from 3 and WLTB with 50% on 8-16.
- Rebounds were almost even at 33-32 Saxx.
- Turnovers were nearly even at 7-6 in favor of WLTB.
- Neither team shot free throws well, with Saxx at 43% and WLTB at 44%.
- WLTB missed a lot of front end of free throws. Would not have had such a severe drought in 2nd half with better free throw shooting.
- Saxx with 11-point lead and 8 minutes to go.
Top Players:
- Abe: 26 points, 6 boards, 5 assists, 10-17 FGAs with 4 triples
- Sabin: 18 points, 4 assists, 7-10 FGAs, 3-3 FTAs
- Beas: 16 points, 7 boards, 7-13 FGAs, 2 steals
- Joe: HUGE energy plays to kickstart us
Sabin
WLTB's legacy may always be that up 3-0 in the series and facing an 11 point deficit with 8 running clock minutes to go, they did not fold and in fact battled back and won. Not sure any other PCTI team to date would have had the mentality to get that done.
ReplyDeleteAnd I would know, I've been a part of three sweeps. Don't forget that.
Saxx had a great strategy for this game. If they had employed the same strategy for every game in the series, the outcome would've looked much different.
ReplyDelete