Dan Picciulla scans the court in Lux's victory over AXA.

Dan Picciulla and Charlie Comerford carry the load in victory over AXA, while Sean Satarian returns to Kronies Jamfest after a two season absence, but can’t lift Victorious Secret over IMPROV.

Buffalo, NY- Another electric afternoon of basketball swept through Buffalo for week two of Kronies Jamfest 4.  AXA and Victorious Secret made their season debuts after first round byes, while the ranks of undefeated teams are rapidly declining after only two weeks of basketball.

The opening game of the week featured the Monstars against red-hot newcomers White Men Can’t Jump.  The Monstars played them tough in the first half behind the strong play of Timothy Rhodes, who scored 15 of his 17 in the first half.  But in the second half White Men Can’t Jump blew the game open behind the one-two punch of Scott Grandits (21 points) and Tim Cammarata (26 points).  James Kim (12 points) also had a strong game, but it wouldn’t be enough for the win as White Men Can’t Jump locked up their second straight victory 76-44.

In game two former Baby Steps teammates Mike Capuana and Darren Kresge found themselves in unfamiliar territory as rival captains on now competing teams as Practical Modern Basketball squared off against The U.H., an homage to the University Heights neighborhood in Buffalo.  From the outset the two teams seemed to match up perfectly and by the end of the first half the score indicated as much as The U.H. took a 17-15 lead into the second.  However in the second half The U.H. big man Lucas Pichette put in a Chamberlainesque performance dominating the inside and leading all scorers with a game high 23 points, while leading The U.H. to a 52-36 point victory.

Dave Vanoni puts up the jumper as Tom Cavanagh defends.

In game three Victorious Secret made their season debut against IMPROV, who were coming off a heartbreaking loss to the VeryAggressiveGuys in week one.  It was a tough debut match-up for Victorious Secret, who were anchored by Kronies Jamfest veterans Nick DeMonte (8 points) and Franklin Jackson (9 points) as well as former NF Boys star Shawn Satarian (16 points).  IMPROV played another good game, but this time came out with the 65-50 point win behind the balanced attack of Darrick Bloomfield (14 points), Vincent Ceretto (11 points) and captain David Vanoni (9 points).

In the Week Two Game of the Week, the Kronies Jamfest 2 Champion Flint Tropics played the reigning Kronies Jamfest 3 champion VeryAggressiveGuys.  The Flint Tropics came out firing behind the sharpshooting offensive attack of captain Nick Pfohman (16 points) and took a 30-21 point lead into the half.  After some soul-searching and tactical adjustments the VeryAggressiveGuys came out in the second half and executed one of the greatest runs in Kronies Jamfest history, starting the half on a 30-2 run and finishing off the Flint Tropics 61-39.  The VeryAggressiveGuys were led offensively by Mike Bennett (19 points) and Mike Bartoszek, who scored a career high 15 points.

In the fifth game of the day, Sponge Bob Square Pants took on John Bowen and I R Colludge Edjukated.  John Bowen got back on track offensively with a 21 point performance and got some support from Nolan Niespodzinski (19 points), but they couldn’t overcome the early hole they dug themselves into.  Adam LaFleur led Sponge Bob with 21 points in leading his team to 2-0 start with the 72-66 point victory.

Next up was Swoopin’ In On Ya Girl against Marc Antecki and the Hoosiers.  Swoopin’ came out hot in this one, jumping out to a quick lead behind a barrage of three-pointers and transition baskets.  Jorge Ebanks had an excellent game, leading all scorers with 24 points and leading Swoopin’ In On Ya Girl to another win, 67-57.

Lux captain Sean Coughlin

Court Justice had the next game against Kronies Jamfest newcomers Ball So Hard.  Moe Bailey must have been well rested for this one because he was nearly unstoppable scoring 33 points and earning Player of the Week honors.  It looked like a play stuck on repeat as Ed Stephens put lob after lob up in the the air near the basket and Moe Bailey went up to get it and throw it down. Ball So Hard fought back and made a late run to tie the game and force it into overtime, but came up just short in the end falling by two points 71-69.

For a nightcap Lux faced off against Steve Frettold and AXA.  This was a phenomenal game to cap off the days games, as AXA brought a retooled roster into KJ4 to take on Sean Coughlin and Lux.  Kronies Jamfest newcomer Charlie Comerford feasted on AXA with 31 points, doing his work almost exclusively in the paint with an arsenal of low post moves, while Aaron Turner and Danny Picciulla (21 points) ran the pick-and-roll flawlessly all night.  AXA big man Jeremy Kelley also made a nice first impression in his Kronies Jamfest debut with a couple of thunderous dunks, but it wouldn’t be enough as Lux squeezed out the one point victory, 67-66.

Week 3 Game of the Week

D’Andre Bobbitt and Ball So Hard look to get in the win column against big man Jon Burgio and undefeated Sponge Bob Square Pants.  Will Ball So Hard have an answer for Burgio in the paint?  Will Elton Frazier be there for Sponge Bob?  Find out next Sunday at 5pm.