Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Team Shooters Fall, Historic Streak Ends

Kettering (AP) - As Ben Kingsley once said, "All good things must come to an end." Team Shooters put their historic winning streak on the line against Team Two, but came up short in a heated battle. The loss snapped a 21 game winning streak for the squad. The absence of team stalwarts Sam Lechleitner and Dan Kimble was too much to overcome, as Team Shooters played a horrid offensive game that left them with just 34 total points in the 14 point loss as time expired.

The last time these two teams hooked up was the most legendary game in the history of Kettering Recreation Center. In a game that was close the entire way, the game came down to the final possession. Due to disqualifications by fouls, Team Shooters was down to 3 men with 20 seconds remaining. Zach Hensler who was in street clothes nursing an injury, checked into the game wearing jeans, with a ringing cell phone in his pocket to give them a fourth player. Down two, Team Shooters worked for a good shot, eventually finding John Beyer in the lane. Beyer received the ball, pump faked, got his man in the air to gain a foul and hit the lay-up to tie the game. This allowed for one free throw with a second remaining. With the weight of a national audience on his shoulders, Beyer calmly sank the game-winning shot from the charity stripe to complete the miracle finish. With that as the backdrop for last night's game, there was hope for another instant classic.

The game was heated right from the start and tempers flared after several dustups under the hoops in the opening minutes. It was clear that this game would not be one for the timid, as each team was in for a battle. With strong interior post play, Team Two led right from the beginning. Boasting a really strong, 35 year old man, they continually went at Team Shooters in the paint, scoring on a variety of post moves, most notably "Elbow your man in the face and shoot a lay up." However, Team Shooters stayed right with Team Two throughout the entire first half. Ben Sicnolf was getting to the paint at will and seemed to be on a mission to foul our his opponent's entire roster. Making a couple of "And-1's" and hitting his free throws, Sicnolf was determined to keep the game close. Team Shooters continually battled at each end of the floor to knot the score several times throughout the opening stanza, and even took a lead at 18-16 with a couple minutes remaining in the half. Team Two closed on a run to make it a 6 point lead at half time.

The second half was all Team Two, as Team Shooters just could not score the ball. No one was hitting their outside shots, and Team Shooters began turning the ball over. Team Two methodically worked the ball on offense until they could get a good shot in the paint. Frustrations for each team were boiling over and the game got chippy toward the end, as Team Two pulled away. The only real second half highlight for Team Shooters came with about a minute left. Walking to the free throw line, perhaps the worst player for Team Two (who was bald) made some joke to Sicnolf. Sicnolf retorted, "Ok, this bald motherfucker is talking now, he's got jokes." The bald man, replied, "Yeah, well, I have a beautiful wife and a son, I don't need to listen to you." All right then.

Eddie Marrinan and Tony Schoen were great to come out to help last night, though Tony left early for undisclosed reasons. Marrinan is a beast, and will likely be called upon again next time these two match up. If Team Shooters shoots better from the outside next game, and can somehow get Sam Lechleitner there, they'll have a chance for the win.

Approximated Box score

John Beyer - 0 points, 8 rebounds - Beyer didn't hit a shot from the floor, but that was pretty much the norm for everyone on Team Shooters. He did a good job taunting an opponent after a technical was issued.

Zach Hensler - 8 points, 5 rebounds - Remarkably, Hensler probably kept his cool the best out of anyone on the team. Spiked a big first half three.

Eddie Marrinan - 0 points, 8 rebounds - Marrinan played admirably in defeat. He will be needed to defend this team when they meet up again. His presence allowed Sicnolf to talk more shit than he otherwise would have because at least someone on the team wouldn't get their ass kicked with him being there. Also had an awesome play saving the ball from going out of bounds.

John Pallant - 8 points, 4 rebounds - Pallant was asked to do a lot on both ends of the floor tonight. His shot from distance was off, but if his shooting will be key the next time these two teams match up, so he needs to keep stroking.

Tony Schoen - 0 points, 5 rebounds - Schoen hadn't played since February, but did a really nice job defending one of the big men for Team Two in the first half.

Ben Sicnolf - 18 points, 5 rebounds - Sicnolf scored a ton in the first half, but struggled mightily in the second. Turned the ball over like five times in the half, and got tired too easily. He'll need to put together a full game to beat Team Two next time.

No one deserves a game ball - we scored 34 points, that's incredible.

Team Shooters hopes to rebound - in more ways than one (hey-oh!) - next Tuesday night.  They are having a general team meeting on Saturday to discuss a few plans and basic plays that Sicnolf has that will help them in future games. We need to take better advantage of Beyer cutting through the lane for one, and we've got to not just get three point attempts for Hensler and Pallant, but rather get ones where they are in a position to actually hit the shot. Need to get Kimble back.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Team Shooters

Kettering, Ohio (espn.go.com) - Stop me if you've heard this before: Team Shooters pulls away in a hotly contested game to win by double figures. It seems like every week for the past few years you could start a Team Shooters game recap with that line. And yet again, using a balanced scoring attack that saw 5 members post double-digit scoring, Team Shooters defeated Team Red 64-49 on famed Charles I. Lathrem court at the Kettering Recreation Center.

Late roster addition Chris "Big Cat" Riner kept the team loose during pre-game. "It's hard not to smile looking at that person," said 2 time all-star John Beyer. However, playing without star post player Sam Lechleitner for the first time still left the team with a bit of uneasiness heading into the match. Team Red smelled a bit like cigarettes, but any team mostly comprised, definitively, of former members of the notorious East Dayton White Boys (EDWB) gang is going to be an intimidating sight. Nerves seemed to affect both teams, as the first few minutes was played as sloppy as any game played this year, with plenty of early turnovers and fouls. After 7 minutes of play, the score was just 7-5, and it seemed that stylistic play of Team Shooters that we have become accustomed to was nowhere to be seen. Frustrations took hold and reached a point of critical mass as Ben Sicnolf drove the lane, only to get knocked down as he attempted his lay-up. With no foul being called, Sicnolf slammed his hand on the floor in disgust. This earned him his first technical foul in his KRC playing career. And although  Team Red converted one free throw, the foul seemed to ignite the passions of Sicnolf and the rest of his Team Shooters teammates. They used that emotion to race out on a 7-0 run, prompting Team Red to use a timeout to catch their breath.

"Here's the thing - I've played with Ben a long time, both as a teammate and opponent. He is a heady player. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if he purposefully got that technical foul to fire up the team," said Zach Hensler. While it's difficult to gauge how that type of play can affect a team, it certainly did seem that from that point on, Sicnolf was as focused as he has been all season. He continually pushed the ball and drove the lane for lay-ups in the first half. However, the game was still tight at 20-18 with just a few minutes remaining in the half. That's when a trio of three balls were sent in from the wing by Zach Hensler. After the third in the series, Hensler even let out his patented "Woo!" as he ran back down the court. After another lay-up by Sicnolf with two seconds left in the half, Team Shooters found themselves up 11 heading into intermission, 32-21.

The second half was just a matter of playing good defense and finishing their opportunities, as Team Red never really threatened to close the game. John Pallant scored several tough buckets using dribble penetration, while John Beyer continued to put on a clinic in the post. No post player in the league has the off-the-ball vision of the former first rounder Beyer, and once he gets it, he uses his deadly pump fake to get his defender off balance, before banging in another 6 footer in the lane. The key play in the second half might have belonged to Chris Riner. Team Red did close the game to 10 at one point, and after a Team Shooter miss, 3 Team Red players found themselves around the rim for an easy defensive rebound. However, the failed to account for the box-shaped Riner, as he jumped in setting up a wild play under the hoop. As Riner and a Team Red player chased the bouncing ball toward the end line, the Team Red player got to it and fired it off of Riner's leg. However, Riner, being the agile player he is, purposefully used his thigh to deflect it BACK off the Team Red player and out of bounds. John Pallant scored an old fashioned three point play on the ensuing possession and the lead was back to 13 and the game was pretty much decided.

"The Streak" as it has come to be known on the Southside of Ohio's 6th largest city has now reached 21. However, perhaps no game in the streak will be as difficult as next week's match-up. Playing the team with whom they're tied for first place in the league, Team Shooters will be without both Sam Lechleitner and Dan Kimble. This team has pulled through adverse times before, but at some point the roster losses is bound to catch up with them.

Approximated box score and analysis:

John Beyer - 10 points, 2 blocks - Beyer continues to run the floor after all defensive possessions. While this game didn't see him on the end of as many transition lay ups as usual, his pressure down the floor created space in the lane for his teammates to finish on the break. Again, scored with tremendous efficiency, reaching double figures without a high volume of shots.

Zach Hensler - 14 points, 7 rebounds - When Hensler is spiking threes, this team is all but unstoppable. Following the game, Dan Kimble said - "That play where we sprint down the court and Hensler trails and gets a back pass as he steps into a three is literally unstoppable. If Zach hits those, the game is over." Hensler continued his strong play on defense as well. Definitely his most complete game of the season.

Dan Kimble - 12 points, 6 rebounds - Kimble drove the lane time and time again, using his unstoppable angled bank shot to demoralize his defender. As Kimble will, literally, often tell you, "This team knows how to step on their opponents throat. Once we smell blood, we go for the jugular." No person exemplifies that more than Kimble - once the opponent is on the ropes, Kimble somehow reaches for something extra within and pushes even harder to put the game out of reach.

John Pallant - 10 points, 4 rebounds - Pallant rivals Hensler as the best finisher in traffic. He keeps the ball high, out of reach of his opponents, and seems to move only his hands with the ball at the absolute peak to shoot it in the lane. No movement from the rest of his arms are required, below his bent wrists. It's amazing to see in person. When Pallant diversifies his game, he's the best offensive player on the team because he can finish so well in the lane.

Chris Riner - 0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 unbelievable double out of bounds play to earn possession for Team Shooters - While Riner may not show up much in the box score, I think most in attendance would admit that Team Shooters would have had a very tough time winning the game without him. Riner was willing to take reduced minutes, but also could substitute in to defend any opposing front court player. (It's funny - for years, I always thought giving Huelsman credit for using his body to get in the way of defenders so that other guys could sky in and get it was STUPID. But I kind of got it a little more last night. Like four times, I would jump in for a rebound, and look to see Riner have his man sealed off. I mean, honestly, you try to get around a 5'5" refrigerator sized mass of human muscle.) Riner will be a welcome addition any time he can make it.

Ben Sicnolf - 18 points, literally like 10 steals - Sicnolf had active hands tonight, getting steals on 3 of the first 4 possessions. We finally got to see a glimpse of his former self in the scoring column. Really had the old drive and kick working with Hensler, which is his favorite thing in life.

The Las Americas Caribbean Cuisine Game Ball: Zach Hensler - An easy selection, Hensler busted his team out of their three point slump in a big way, connecting on three long distance dial-ups in the first half. He hit another at the start of the second, and also hit both of his free throw attempts. It wasn't until after the game that we discovered Hensler's cat had suffered a stroke and may be on her last legs - literally, as two of her legs are no longer working. In hindsight, it was easy to see a greater sense of urgency in the inspired effort from Hensler. Additionally, while the big men from Team Red weren't terrifically skilled, Hensler was once again asked to guard a HUGE bald man.

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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Team Shooters Makes it 20 Straight

Kettering, Ohio (SI.com) - As legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, "As Gandhi once said, it's easy to do well when everything is going just the way you want it. But the truest test of character is how you respond when everything isn't falling into place." This point was made over and over again last night as Team Shooters played a grueling match using a balanced scoring attack to earn the victory over BW3's, their 2nd win in as many tries to start the season, and their 20th straight winning mark overall. The first place squad lived up to their team name, and showed why they are not called Team Shot-Makers, hoisting an agonizing 40 three point attempts, converting on only 6 (15%). But it was their play in other aspects of the game that earned them the victory.

Team BW3 came out in a 2-3 zone, hoping to slow the notorious fleet-footed attack of Team Shooters. Normally, this doesn't bother Team Shooters, as it provides their long ball threats the room to spray three pointers from all over the perimeter, and it appeared that the strategy would be playing right into their hands as Sam Lechleitner would hit the first three point attempt for the team on the night, knotting the game at 7 early on. However, following that shot, the team would go colder than a Wisconsin Winter. The poor percentages played right into the hands of Team BW3, as their Sasquatch-sized center gobbled up every rebound as it came off the glass. Luckily, Team Shooters knew that even when shots aren't falling, they can always control their effort and defensive intensity - things that have become trademarks during their unbeaten run. Hanging tight with their opponents by pushing the ball for lay-ups off of turnovers and long rebounds, Team Shooters found themselves trailing by only a point with 9 seconds remaining in the half. After calling a timeout, Ben Sicnolf diagrammed a play to get Hensler a three point attempt from the wing. Just as the huddle broke, he reminded Lechleitner to hustle to the opposite block, in case the three point shot was off the mark. Team Shooters ran the play to perfection, and even though Hensler's shot missed the mark, Lechleitner was there to tip the ball in at the buzzer, giving Team Shooters their first lead of the game at 23-22.

This provided the team with an uplifted sense of confidence in the second half. They knew that despite going 1-18 from three in the first half, they had still fought hard enough to earn the win. After a quiet few minutes that saw them lose the lead to BW3's, Sicnolf found himself alone on the wing. After hesitating, he decided to join the party and shoot from distance. The shot found the bottom of the net, and seeing the ball go through gave a renewed sense of confidence to the team as they quickly followed with a driving lay-up and a second three pointer from Dan Kimble. John Pallant - the main deep ball threat - who had been having a poor evening shooting the ball, struck again with another three from the corner. A few minutes later, both he and Kimble struck again from distance. This gave Team Shooters their first margin of note, taking what was a close game into a double digit lead. The lead forced Team BW3's to come out of their zone, and they simply couldn't keep up with Team Shooters for the remainder of the game.

The final score ended with Team Shooters on top 49-40. Hensler, noting the jerseys of their opponents carried BW3's official logo, said, "You start knocking off sponsored teams, and you know you've caught lightning in a bottle." Team Shooters looks to make it 21 straight next week, as they play the primetime game - 8:45. The late start shouldn't faze the team, as playing on the big stage is nothing new for them.

Approximated box score and short analysis

John Beyer - 6 points, 5 rebounds - Beyer continues to score with a high efficiency. Beyer is not a high volume shooter, so his point totals don't always show what he brings to the offensive end. He also continues to make the most precise cuts in the league, finding lanes to receive the ball for shots near the basket. Defended their best offensive perimeter player well.

Zach Hensler - 6 points, 6 rebounds - Hensler could not find his rhythm from deep, but he continues to play terrific defense in the post. Zach finishes very well in the paint for a man of his size, and he needs to continue to drive the ball more often toward the hoop. A strong free throw shooter and finisher at the cup, Hensler can make good things happen when he attacks the rim.

Dan Kimble - 8 points, 4 rebounds - Kimble hit two huge three's in the second half, and had the lay-up that sealed the game. However, like most of the team, his mark was made on the defensive end. He matched-up with former Wright State player and Dayton legend Eric Wills, and literally held him scoreless. Also had one of the best blocks I've ever seen, stuffing the ever living shit out of one of their players from behind, literally and figuratively.

Sam Lechleitner - 9 points, 12 rebounds - Sam, as always, was forced to guard the team's best player on the block. Sam didn't shoot enough on the offensive end, but he was our main representative on the board, and did an admirable job on the behometh he was guarding.

John Pallant - 10 points, 2 steals - John was frustrated for much of the game because his shots weren't falling, but he made some tremendously timely shots in the second half to help Team Shooters pull away. Came up with a couple big steals at the start of the second half and showed good handles at the end of the game when their opponents went to a man-to-man defense. Needs to keep shooting when he's open.

Ben Sicnolf - 10 points, 7 assists - Sicnolf is on pace to lead the league in assists and steals for a second straight year. He's starting to get his conditioning back, which will undoubtedly lead to breakout lay-ups and fights with opponents who don't like hustling.

O'Reilly's AutoParts Game Ball: Sam Lechleitner - When a shot went up for BW3's, it felt like Team Shooters' only chance to get the rebound was for Lechleitner to go get it. He is pound for pound the best rebounder in basketball history - that's a fact. Offensively, Sam is not afraid to go completely against the grain of his teammates and shoot a mid-range jumper, something none of his teammates has attempted in years. Lechleitner will only appear sparingly moving forward, as he got a job that will take away from his court time. I can't imagine Team Shooters winning a game without him, so it should make things interesting.