George's 31 points leads Say What to Baybrook Draft League Title
Say What - The Baybrook Fall Draft League Champions
Before the game started, it was obvious that there was something different. “Players” and real basketball fans know what I’m referring to. The clowning around and harmless trash-talking was missing. There was a “Playoff-Atmosphere” in the air. The participants were all out on the court together, but most of them seemed to be in their own world.
This was why they play.
Baseline struck first. The game plan was simple - and effective. Give the ball to Ledon Green and Bobby Rouse, then let them go to work underneath. It looked as though their plan was going to work. After 4-Minutes, Baseline led (7-0).
Say What made some defensive adjustments and made it more difficult for Green to score, while Brad George made some plays to help his team even things up. After 13-Minutes, the score was (19-19).
Then it was Baseline’s turn to make some adjustments. As “Say What” began “doubling-down” (a basketball term that is all too often misused in the political arena) on Green, Baseline started going “inside-out” and Aamir Kidwai was the happy benefactor of the action. During the next 5-Minutes, Kidwai took six (6) three-pointers and connected on five (5) of them. After 18-Minutes of play, Baseline led (33-28).
All the while, Baseline’s plan on defense also seemed to be functioning well. Kidwai was responsible for working on George and was getting early help from his teammates.
Baseline was devoting the same type of attention to George that Baseline was to Green. Fortunately for “Say What”, the Cornell Brown who played in the Semifinals had suited up for this game as well. Not to be outdone by Kidwai, Brown went 3-for-3 from “3” and the result was a (42-42) tie at Halftime.
Both teams lost concentration in the 2nd Half. There were too many turnovers and bad shots. The result was that after more than 12-Minutes each team had scored only 13-Points and the score remained deadlocked (55-55).
It was right about that time that Baseline’s defense hit a snag. The help was not coming, or it was coming too late. That may also be due, in part, to fatigue. Without McKenna Hunt and Donald Sloan, they were down to just 6 players, and the first half had required quite a bit of energy. George was scoring, as well as getting inside to draw fouls. Omar Smith was also making his presence felt in every phase of the game. (16-Pts / 8-Reb / 7-Asst / highest vocal db)
For “So What”, Brown continued to score as did Thomas Sowell, who made a huge 3-Pointer with 1:40 remaining in the game to give his team a (68-64) advantage.
Baseline had lost its way and began to rely too much on outside shooting (without movement). When they did get good scoring opportunities underneath, they failed to capitalize on them.
Nevertheless, they managed to tie the game (68-68) - then - Cornell Brown for “3” to make the score (71-68) … The teams traded baskets for a bit but Say What held onto their lead.
All that remained was the ceremonial, tactical march back and forth to the foul-line and Say What won that battle also.
The final score was (81-73). “Say What” is the Draft League Champion and Brad George is the League MVP.
Scoring:
Say What - Brad George "MVP" (31-Pts / 14-Reb / 5-Asst) .. Thomas Sowell (13-Pts / 11-Reb) .. Omar Becca Smith (16-Pts / 8-Reb / 7-Asst) .. Cornell Brown (15-Pts / 2-Asst) .. Jerome Williamson (3-Pts / 3-Reb / very solid defense) .. Steve Winters (3-Pts)
Baseline - Ledon Green (14-Pts / 8-Reb) .. Aaron Miller (17-Pts / 6-Reb / 7-Asst) .. Aamir Kidwai (21-Pts / 2-Reb) .. Bobby Rouse (13-Pts / 7-Reb) .. Casey Jones (5-Pts / 7-Reb) .. Sean Briand (3-Pts / 1-Reb / 2-Asst)