GARDEN CITY: Championship Game Prediction

By Anthony Leo | Garden City Co-League Coordinator

Shore Shack vs Threat Level Midnight

Tonight, one team will walk away fall season champions. Shore Shack led by team captains Chris Frey and Chris Pisciotta AKA Chris squared will take on the league’s leading scorer, Donte Howell, and Brandon Perez. All four have been teammates in the past for the Thundercats winning summer championships in Syosset, but now are split up and ready to face off for the fall season banner.

Shore Shack has won nine straight games since their season-opening loss. They remain undefeated when Frey and Pisciotta are on the court together. Threat Level Midnight has won four in a row since their last loss, which was to Shore Shack in Week 7. In that matchup, Shore Shack won the game 71-64 and Donte Howell was kept in check to his lowest point total of the season. Howell finished with 18 points and was outscored by Frey, who scored 24 points to lead Shore Shack to victory.

Tonight will be the rematch of that Week 7 game and I expect Donte to come out firing and ready to do whatever it takes to win this game. There is no doubt that Shore Shack is the stronger and deeper team. They have a versatile team with a strong starting five that has been good enough to win nine straight games. Shore Shack has been the best team in the league all season because they move the ball better than anyone. They play team basketball and don’t rely on one person to score the ball.

Threat Level Midnight is the exact opposite with their roster. They rely on Howell to score the ball and put up big numbers to keep them in games. Howell leads the league averaging 35 points per game scoring from anywhere on the floor. Opposing teams have tried everything to make it difficult on him, but he still finds a way to get the job done. Howell will need a big game and help from Brandon Perez and Donovan Jackson. Both need to rebound the ball and be aggressive. If they can score the ball and each put up double digits it will help this team tremendously tonight.

Both teams have had excellent seasons and it should make for a great game tonight. In the end, this game will come down to the depth of Threat Level Midnight and who steps up. Donte can’t be a one man show and expect to beat a much deeper and stronger Shore Shack team. Expect some double teams and different looks thrown Donte’s way. Nobody knows his game better than his college teammates that he’s playing against. Will that be enough to slow him down?

PICK: Shore Shack