In the world for combat sports, an opponent "taps out" when they have been placed into a position in which they cannot recover. It is a form of immediate submission that indicates defeat. With just over two minutes left, the Stars found themselves in such a position, down 25 points after being thoroughly outplayed over 37 plus minutes of the fall session semifinal. The result was a complete team effort on both ends of the court in a 70-45 victory that sends the Ballers into the Finals.
The acknowledgement of the complete domination brought validation to a prideful GDB team that had been frustrated in two straight defeats to the Stars. The first loss, in the semifinals of summer session in August, was brought about when the Ballers were riding high as the #1 seed. The Stars scored an upset win, that could be at least partially attributed to 2 of the 3 GDB captains missing the game. The second loss that weighed heavily, from earlier in the Fall session, featured an embarrassing performance at the free throw line (17 misses in 28 attempts) in a game that was 51-50 with a minute to play.
This time around the Ballers had a full complement of players and were determined to make sure that no free throw line performances would impact the outcome. The Green Dot jumped out to an early 9-2 lead, with four different players scoring in a a variety of manners. This would be a theme for the half, as everyone scored at least one basket in the first half and everyone on the team had at least four points and one assist for the game. The lead increased to ten points on a dynamic spinning basket by James Chappell (10 pts) at 21-11 with just over eight minutes remaining in the half. The Stars would make a run to get back in the game, fueled by #11 and his 12 first half points, on his way to a game high 25 points. He led a 12-4 run that found the game at 25-23 and it looked like there might be a battle to get to the finals. That fuel for that fight was quickly extinguished.
The Ballers delivered the knockout punch combining a swarming defense with an array of inside and outside baskets enabled by unselfish play and ball movement. GDB put on a signature display of basketball in a 15-0 run to put a stranglehold on the ball game. Three pointers from Chappell and Dave Ben were interspersed amongst a bevy of transition baskets and drives. When the halftime buzzer sounded the Ballers were in complete command with a 42-25 lead.
The Stars never really threatened in the second half and as the lead piled up, they knew that they were facing a determined opponent, who had finally played the right way with the right players and were not to be denied. With a little more than two minutes left, the Stars submitted. They tapped out, knowing that it was still not their time in the Alexandria City League.
The win by the Ballers sets up a fourth championship showdown with the rival Joy Boys. It will take place at the scene of the Miracle in Old Town, Charles Houston Rec Center, at 730pm next Thursday. GDB will be looking to close out 2019 by notching at least one championship in 4 consecutive years.
Comments