Championship – Tuesday (3/27) 8:30pm @ Fashion High
(1) PREMATURE SHOOTERS (8-1)
Scouting Report: Even with MVP candidate (F) Bobby Bruns out of the lineup in the semifinals, the Shooters managed hold off UBC despite a furious late game rally. (G) Shane Gillelle proved more than capable of carrying the load offensively, scoring a league playoff-high 38 points in the win, but obviously, they’d prefer to have Bruns on the floor, who’s mobility makes him the kind of versatile defender PRE will need against their opponent’s mobile bigs. This is the Shooters’ second franchise appearance in a title game.
Key Players: (F) Bobby Bruns (19 ppg, 11.3 rpg), (G) Shane Gillelle (17.2 ppg, 2.6 spg)
(2) TRIBE (7-2)
Scouting Report: Tribe is not a physically imposing team, but their best position is still the forward spot, and that has suited them well all season. All of their undersized forwards are nimble and physically tough, which causes match-up problems for the bigger teams they have faced. Their forwards are also versatile defenders who can guard 1 through 5, so switching on screens is almost never an issue. Their only weakness has been consistent 3-point shooting this season. If the shots are falling, though, there is plenty of veteran presence on this team to get the win.
Key Players: (F) Saad Saad (13 ppg, 10 rpg, 4 spg), (F) Sherwin Salar (10 ppg, 10 rpg)
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Championship – Sunday (3/25) 3pm @ MLK HS
(1) NY DYNASTY (9-0)
Scouting Report: The Dynasty have been the prohibitive favorites all season, and they proved that point by holding off a dynastic Spaghetti Ramen franchise that made the kind of late-game run in their semifinal match-up that usually results in Ramen getting the win. Only this time it didn’t happen, Dynasty survived and they will have a chance to close out one of the most dominant seasons in D3 history. It’s surprisingly rare for a team to finish undefeated, but DYN will have a chance to do so tonight against a handicapped 30F playing without injured star (F) Joseph Han (knee).
Key Players: (G) David Chu (18.5 ppg, 5 rpg), (G) Ian Yu (10 ppg, 10 rpg)
(2) 30-FOR-30 (8-1)
Scouting Report: This is where 30-for-30 wanted to be, in the chip with a chance to redeem their loss to DYN in the regular season. Only they won’t have MVP candidate (F) Joseph Han this time (knee). Han wasn’t available for the semis either, but 30F handled a contending SNB team by (C) Ezekial Shin dominating the glass. They’ll need to do more of the same here. DYN is a powerhouse, but they are undersized. If 30F establishes Shin early, they can open up the 3-point shooting that helped put SNB away. They really don’t have much choice, Joseph Han isn’t gonna walk through that door.
Key Players: (C) Ezekial Shin (8 ppg, 17 rpg), (G) Rob Lee (12 ppg, 3 apg)