BAY PRO-AM
Basketball Summer League
IT'S THE PLAYOFFS...
The first round of the playoff games began with WUZ UP versus HARD WORK. The first quarter was not a scoring contest with HW 10-9 and at the end of the WU 22-20. A good game, but not much of a score the game broke open when HW went on a 9-2 run in the fourth and the game ended 47-41 HARD WORK the winner.
Game 2 on paper should've been a twenty or thirty point game BULL-IEVABLES over the BOLTS. 22 to 23 was the half-time score. This game was not to be close at all, but the BOLTS were hanging in there. A last minute push in the 3rd and the game was under control by the BULLS. BULLS were out scored in the last period 23-20, but it just wasn't enough. 57-51 the BOLTS went down.
Game 3 was the featured game because there were pro players playing. High powered POP CHAMPAGNE versus ALL NET that showcase two talented players, Mr. Freddie and Callaway. This was a ten point plus game from the very start, ALL NET down 18-5. The final score 62-50. The young guys got to feel what its like at the next level.
Last, but not least...STAY READY were up against Da KNIGHTS and "this is our year to the championship," said team captain T. Jefferson. 2005 champ, M. Borders had a different idea of how the out come should be. Da KNIGHTS 30 and 36 from STAY READY for intermission. The turning point like so many game that are won came in the third period and STAY READY was out scored by the opposing team 16-5 to make the game 46-41 Da KNIGHTS. Led by Borders' 14 and the team's total of 25 in the fourth sealed the victory 66-59 STAY READY.
THE SEMI-FINALS... And it goes a little something like this...
HARD WORK, who had the second best record in the league was up against POP CHAMPAGNE, who has a professional player and the league's MVP, Russell Brown. The game came down to the wire. It was so intense that former full time pro-am player, Marcus Bryant got to mix it up. This game was, PC, you win the first 18-10 then HW, I'll comeback and win the second 18-13. In the third, HW won it 10-7. PC won the last 14-12 to end the game 52-50 with a hail mary shot due to the fumbled pass on the throw in by Taylor. PC is going to the 2009 finals.
BULLIEVABLES are in the semi-finals for the first time since the pro-am re-assembled in 2004. Every year they have been the favorite and by three time league leading score, Kevin "KP" Perry a.k.a. Ten, but he is out with a broken thumb.
Thriving for respect in the league and maybe the most consistent is STAY READY and they were missing their leading score, Jeremy Black. The day before the game he signed and was summoned to play for a team in Germany. With both teams short handed, the first period ended with the BULLS up 21-19, led by shooting guard K. Orange and forward Dajan Smith. Point guard Barry Durosier with 6 points. The second looked pretty bleek for SR when Alleo Frazier went for 8 straight points to end the quarter with 10 and increased the lead 42-36. The game plan for the second half was let former 2005 league and playoff MVP, Mark Borders take over. Scoring six of the twelve points in the quarter and cut the lead to three 48-51, BULLS. Borders finished with 18. Eleven of the team's 29, while Dajan had 7 of the 20 for his team that ended in a loss. STAY READY 77-71 victory. The BULLIEVABLES are not believable.
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POP CHAMPAGNE v. STAY READY
The game was played Monday night, August 3 @ Bob Martinez Arena.
SR got off with a good start by winning the first quarter 21-17 and again in the second for intermission 43-38. It was like playing at home...o' yeah, it was home for Mark Borders, Chris Evans and Jeff James, who played at UT. They received a big boost from Chris Evans during that time with 10 straight points. Jared Jefferies kept the game close with 15 in the half. Both teams seem to have each others number during the third period by scoring 14 a piece. In the fourth, POP CHAMPAGNE cut the score 67-71 with 1:30 to go when from nowhere Hopkins hits a long two. At he other end PC missed a lay-up and two put back attempts and with a minute Hopkins fires a three that touch the bottom of the net. PC had all the chances in the world. They missed about 10 lay-ups and the regular season MVP, Russell Brown did not show up. He finished the game with 11 of 71. Borders had a game high 22, the game MVP was Tre Hopkins with the two shots to seal it. SR 79-71 over PC.
2009 BAY PRO-AM City League Champs
STAY READY
Mark Border, Chris Evans, Jeremy Black, Jeff James, Barry Durosier, Byron Adams and Tre Hopkins
INTER-LEAGUE GAMES:
Inter - League games are games played by BPA teams against the City of Orlando Pro-Am teams. At the half way point Tampa 10 - 6 and Orlando 6 - 10. Second half will continue this weekend (July 25/26) at the Corral on the campus of USF and in Orlando at the Smith Recreational Center. Game times at both locations are 1p, 2:30p, 4p & 5:30p.
The best record from these games will host the Inter - League Championship game between the champs from BAY PRO-AM and the champs from the City of Orlando Pro-Am. Date, time and location will be determined after the last game on Sunday July 26, 2009.
Team by Team Breakdown:
STAY READY (W2) 6 - 5 : 2009 BPA City League Champs
POP CHAMPAGNE (W3) 7 - 4 : No Russell and to many missed lay-ups
BULLIEVABLES (W1) 9 - 2 : They got farther than ever before
HARD WORK (E5) 8 - 3 : This is gonna help when it really counts, but I got to play against two of the best out of 450.
ALL NET (E6) 6 - 5 : You played against one of the best in the world out of 450. You won't play against anyone this talented, but I hope you learn from this.
DA KNIGHTS (E3) 6 - 5 : We just can't get to the championship.
BRANDON BOLTS (E2) 6 - 5 : We came together to later. We need to start with this team at the beginning.
WUZ UP (W5) 5 - 6 : More consistency
A+ TRAILERS (W4) 5 - 6 : It's not that serious. Ahh, don't worry, ya'll ready play.
PLENTY MONEY (E1) 5 - 6 : We were missing A. Brown, M. Bryant, R. Singleton and Stretch ...plus D. Jones came late.
SLAM DUNK (W6) 3 - 8 : It is always about the experience.
LEVERAGE (E4) 2 - 9 : This was a bad idea.