It has become the defining rivalry in the City of Alexandria Basketball league since 2016. The Green Dot Ballers have been the winningest franchise in the league this decade, winning over 70% of their games, since their debut in the summer of 2010. The Joy Boys entered the league beginning with the Winter session in 2016 and have similarly won more than 70% of their games, while securing three #1 seeds out of the 7 sessions they have played in that timeframe. In the lead up to another championship showdown between these two franchises, let's first take a look back at how we got here.
PART I - 2016 New Boys in Town vs. Historic GDB Squad
The inaugural matchup in week 2 of the 2016 winter session gave a good idea of what was to come from these two teams when they went head to head. The Joy Boys won a hard fought 56-51 game, with the Ballers facing rust after the winter layoff and then a forfeit in week 1. However, GDB would proceed to win the next 9 games in a row and found the Joy Boys waiting for them in the Final. A tense championship game went down to the wire with the Ballers, behind game MVP Will Harris III, outlasting the Boys 47-44. That season included a record setting performance by the Ballers, setting marks for most wins, most consecutive wins, most points per game (later broken in 2019) and best point differential (later broken in 2018).
PART II - 2017 Miracle in Old Town
The 2017 season brought more of the same as the rivalry got into full swing. During the winter session, the Joy Boys exacted their revenge on the Ballers, sweeping both matchups, including a win in the semi-finals. With a championship under their belt and another win over the Ballers at the beginning of the inaugural Fall session, the Joy boys had won 4 out of 5 against GDB. When the Boys brought an undefeated season (7-0) into the Finals matchup against the Green Dot Ballers, back to back titles were clearly in sight. The game itself was a back and forth affair featuring star turns from the Boys and the Ballers. The Ballers found themselves down 3 with less than a second left and it seemed they would once again have no answers to the Joy Boys challenge.....but then the Miracle in Old Town took place. Colt Street launched a fall away three pointer off an inbounds play at the buzzer, that clanged off the rim, but was fouled in the process. He stepped to the line with no time left of the clock and needing to make all three FTs. The first two swished and the third rattled home to improbably send the game to overtime where the Ballers scored eight unanswered points to take home another title.
PART III - 2018 We aint....going....nowhere......
Although the GDB was entering its eighth year of play and had won four championships, they had twice failed in trying to win consecutive sessions and ultimately losing in the subsequent final. The Winter session would present their biggest challenge to date, as the Joy Boys were back again, the G-Men submitted a stellar regular season and Grant Thornton had rebuilt their roster and ran off an undefeated regular season at 10-0. GDB experienced a mis-season swoon losing three in a row for the first time in franchise history, including losses at the hands Grant Thornton and G-Men that had them on the playoff bubble. A loss to the Joy boys in the last week of the regular season forced the Ballers to win a three way tie for the last playoff spot, just to qualify for the playoffs. That chance was all they needed. A stunning upset of the undefeated Grant Thornton squad in the semi-final, setup yet another showdown for the title against the Joy Boys. This time however, there would be no need for miracles or last minute free throws. The game was tied at 44 with eight minutes left, but a driving basket by Chris Larson ignited a 17-4 run, powered by Mike Reamy three pointers that led to a 61-48 victory. The win gave the Ballers a third title at the hands of the Boys and while the overall record favored the Joy Boys (5-3), the Ballers were sure to make their three wins count for three titles.
The Big Picture
As with the individual games, between the franchises, the overall record has seen a back and forth in the matchups. After the early success of winning 5 of the first seven face-offs, the Ballers have run off five in a row. The key to victory seems to be on the defensive side of the ball for GDB. When they hold the Boys under 50 points they are 4-0, but have won just one of six when giving up more than 50 points.
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