Week 6 Update

Week 6 was about big time shots by big time players, blowouts and lock-down defense. There is separation now from the contenders and the pretenders. Look for the new teams - High Fliers and Team DMV - to make a run in the playoffs if the veteran teams (Moose, Old School, and Night Cap) falter. Last season's top two seeds, 5 Guys and Swag, are falling behind and in danger of falling into the play-in game. The Playoff details will be finalized today and sent out Tuesday at the latest.

The opening game this week featured a short-handed High Fliers team get out to a huge half-time lead (42-20) that enabled them to beat the Sons of Travis Henry, 80-64. While the High Fliers only had 5 players, their balanced attack kept SOTH at bay. Andrew A and Katoe Chapman had 19 to lead the High Fliers. Andrew drained 5 of High Fliers' 11 threes. SOTH played without leading scorer David Shaw who is out with a foot injury. Jake Shuter scored 16 second-half points to lead SOTH.

The 12:45 match up between Balance Elite League giants, Moose and Night Cap was a stunner. Down by 2 points at 66-64, Moose guard Zack Fried found and passed to big time shot-maker Mike Hochman who's game-winning three with 4.6 seconds left gave Moose a one-point lead and the game. A desperation attempt by Night Cap was broken up by Chris Demulder at the buzzer. Down by three with under a minute to play, Moose's Frank "Hang-time" Perry tied the game with an impossible and-1 where he pump-faked, got fouled and threw an incredible shot while, true to his alias I just gave hime, hanging in the air to get off the shot. Night Cap came down immediately and took a 2-point lead off of Matt Vankoski's two free throws, which should have been 4 since he was fouled twice on the play and still managed to get a shot off. However, the 2-point Night Cap lead would vanish when Hochman's shot hit nothing but net. Moose were led by Hochman's 22 and Perry's 23 while Night Cap were led by "The Captain" Casey Craig's 24.

Team DMV dismantled a fast-falling Egg Nog 105-75 in the third game. Egg Nog, playing in their first season in the Balance Elite League, are having a tough time fielding a regular squad. On the other hand, Team DMV, also playing in their first season, have put together a solid squad with three big-time scorers in Brian Lewis, Carlton Phelps, and Garrett Thomas who scored 27, 26, and 25 respectively. Add the inside presence of Kenny Watson (15 points) and you have the makings a dangerous team come playoff time. Egg Nog played the game close in the first half, being down only 10 at half-time (49-39), but DMV's firepower was too much. Brian Lewis's 3 straight 3's at the end epitomized DMV's dominance in the second half. Egg Nog was led by three-point specialist Brian Reames' 30 points from 10 threes.

With the game tied at 71 and just 28 seconds to play, Swag was exactly where they wanted to be - the ball was in playmaker Keith Lymore's hands. As he drove to the hoop, he was fouled with 3.4 seconds to play - this would be just enough time for the Warriors. After making the first free throw, Keith missed the second. The Warriors snagged the rebound and made a quick outlet pass to George McCulloch. George took two dribbles past half-court and banked in the game-winning three to the delight of his Warriors teammates who mobbed him at half court. It was fitting for George to make the play as he led a late-game comeback with an array of offensive moves and shots that Swag could not defend. He finished with 30 and was helped by the deft shooting of teammate Jason Thomas who finished with 22, many with defenders draped on him. Swag was led by Lymore's 18 and Louis Stevens' 17. A fitting first win for the Warriors.

In the final game of the day, Old School used its trademark lock-down defense on 5 Guys to produce a 62-56 victory. 5 Guys scoring leader Sean O got 21, but he didn't much scoring help. Add to that Old School's athletic and talented front line of Mark Awantang (19 points), Randy Roy (17) and Khari Brown (13) and you have a Old School victory.