Game 2: Worse Than the First

The exploits of my C-league recreational basketball team, continued ...

Game 2: June 10 vs. The Fighting Artichokes

Team Johnny's came out of the gate hot again, this time with a 9-0 start to open the game. Just as in Game 1, this blogger helped the cause with an early bucket in transition and a three. By controlling the glass on the defensive end and getting some second-chance baskets off of our own misses, we kept a fairly solid working margin throughout the half. The star, despite a calf strain that temporarily put him on the sideline, was my blogging friend Mr. Peterson. Well on his way to a double-double after the first 20 minutes. Halftime score: 22-14.

Unlike the season opener, we maintained momentum into the second half. We were quicker to the ball, knocked down a few shots and continued to hold a considerable rebounding advantage. My shifty little ass had gotten to the rim a few times for layups and also earned a couple of trips to the line for my efforts. After hitting two free throws with just under 5:00 to play, Johnny's held a seemingly comfortable 38-24 lead.

That's when things drastically changed. Our clearly inferior opponents started hitting shots and started pressing -- a lethal combination. (For those needing a University of Illinois reference, think 2007 NCAA first round vs. Virginia Tech -- double-digit lead quickly erased as non-ballhandlers such as Brian Randle, Warren Carter and Rich McBride committed repeated turnovers.) We seemed to turn it over almost every trip those last few minutes. And when we did break the press, it was like a mad dash to get the ball to the rim as quickly as possible rather than to keep the floor spread and take some time off the clock. I take some of the blame for committing one of the turnovers, but moreso for not getting to the ball enough. Maybe it's my ego, but I think we'd have been better off if I'd have brought it up the floor every time.

Still, we hit most of our free throws when fouled and seemed to control our own destiny in the closing seconds. But a three with under ten seconds left cut the lead to one, 44-43. That's a situation when I want the ball, and I got it. Fouled with 3.6 left, I was able to almost put the game on ice. Knocked down both to make it a three-point game, 46-43. The smart money says to foul before the shot in that situation, and that's what was briefly discussed. But somehow a Fighting Artichoke was allowed to slip behind his man, catch a high-arcing 65-foot pass, turn and shoot a relatively uncontested three at the buzzer. Nothing but net. You've got to be fucking kidding me.

After inexplicably being outscored 22-8 over the final 4+ minutes of regulation, I don't even want to talk about the extra session.

Final score: 56-51 in OT
SJI contribution (my postgame recollection of it): 13 points -- 4 FG (one 3) and 4-5 from the line. Not enough for a W.
Record: 0-2

Next game: June 17 vs. American Century