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.