Just 4 games this week, but some big match ups and results that decide Conferences or leave them in the balance with just 2 frantic weeks to go before the Christmas break and Divisional split.
Monday saw Suns host Evolution... Evo unbeaten so far and Suns with just the one win, it appeared to be a foregone conclusion, however Suns playing stronger basketball with improvements all round, kept Evo honest. 19-21 after 10 mins with J. Walker grabbing 6pts late in the quarter for the hosts. He then added 7 more to his tally to lead the Suns into a half time lead 37-34. A.Pudge lead the Evolution with 18 at the break.
Suns went quiet through the back end of Q3, giving Evo the oppurtunity to take the lead 58-53 with one to go. It was back and forth with Suns leading 68-67 before the Evolution iced the game from the line, going 6 from 8 down the stretch and grab the win 78-72. A. Pudge finished with 31pts and MVP honours.
Tuesday we had a double-header. Over in the West, Bandits hosted Oaks, but the green machine rolled on, with another win to take them to 5-0 and secure their (rightful) spot in Div1. That one finished 39-74.
The other game was closer, with Storm U18 travelling to New Milton to face the Blazers. Storm came out firing early on, and jumped to a 14-7 lead after Q1. Blazers stayed in the game but the Storm inside/outside game was working with 3 threes in the quarter, they had a 37-23 lead at the half. Q3 was an even affair and the Storm had a 19point cushion going into the last... but Blazers refused to lie down and chipped away at that lead and good D held Storm to just 11pts in the quarter... but it was just that too little, too late, as Storm held on to get the W, 62-56.
Spartans travelled to BCS on Thursday to face the Seahawks. Seahawks had speed and energy on their side, finding open looks against a slower Spartan zone D, but could not buy a basket. At the other end, there was very little the Seahawks could do to stop Big Ollie as he grabbed 10 early points. Seahawks settled and stronger inside D helped them settle the scoreline a little but this one was over, early on. 39-16 at the half and it was much of the same for the remaining 2 periods. Seahawks shooting was off, and couldn't get anything to drop, and Spartans relied on what they do. It finished 88-39 to Spartans.
Conference A
Evolution can not be caught and have secured a Div1 spot. They appear to go from strength to strength and were sitting 2nd in Div2 when the 2019-20 season was cut short. Congrats to them. Storm U18 have only played 2 games, face Evo twice and the other teams once each. With Evo hosting Storm on Monday, Storms fate is in their own hands. Blazers hosting Suns on Tuesday, we will know more from ConfA and who will still be in the hunt for that spot in Div1.
Conference B
The Seahawks are set for another year in Div2, that is decided, the rest is open. Spartans face Storm tonight. Spartans would need to overhaul their 27pt loss to take that head to head, to have a chance of taking 2nd, and then Storm to lose to Bears on Dec13th. Bears can beat Seahawks twice this week, and then it would be the Bears/Storm head to head that decides top spot, with Bears having a +18 lead.
Conference C
Conference C is all decided!! Oaks have secured top spot and Div1 honours. They have one game left vs. Tigers and cant be caught. Bandits face Classics on Wed 8th, and they and Tigers could finish equal on 3-3, which would then go to the head-to-head +/-... Bandits took the win +4 in game one, but Tigers overhauled that 72-45 in game two.
So Oaks and Tigers go up, Bandits and Classics head for Div2 after Christmas.
