“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan
Much has happened over the course of Season XII. It all started the final week of September, when 22 teams took the court in week one. As always we had a good mix of new and old teams. Last season’s League A champs 2 Live Krew failed to make the playoffs this season, making it almost certain that a new team will bring home the title this season. The Money Team, the reincarnation of Pelican Bay, the Season X champs, is still in it, but will have a tough road to bringing home another title after dealing with some personnel issues. West Side Connection more than proved themselves in League A after picking up the League B title in Season XI. They finished with the top seed in League A and have secured home court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Toon Squad is still in the thick of things but hasn’t looked like a true contender with the absence of Josh Becker and Adam Brasky.
The Black Market is perhaps the most intriguing choice of all to win the title. After playing a number of seasons alongside Mitch Reese with R.I.P. Ent and the Buffalo Braves, Jamal Cottman split off to bring the Black Market franchise to the league. Mansa Habeeb, who is perhaps the most explosive new player to enter the league over the past five seasons, leads the Black Market. The combination of Habeeb (23.3 ppg) and Cottman definitely make the Black Market a contender. Although they didn’t play in the regular season, it is likely that Jamal Cottman and the Black Market will have to go through his old team to get to the championship. Despite the loss of Cottman, Mitch Reese and Aris Schultz have the Buffalo Braves playing solid ball and have kept their team right in the thick of things.
After amassing a large stock of Healthy Buffalo shooter shirts over the past few seasons, Edvin Ramulic has finally relinquished the scoring title as Monki Business’s Dave Robinson edged him out in the scoring chase 210 to 199.
In League B, we had a very unlikely finish as the Sometimers, Triple Threats, White Men Can’t Jump and Masten Finest all finished locked up at 6-2 in the standings in a four-way tie. Any four of those teams are capable of bringing home the title in what is possibly the strongest League B ever. Frankie Musso has been playing what is perhaps the most inspiring play of his career as he tries to get White Men Can’t Jump back to the promised land. Under the strong leadership of Neil Trapper the Sometimers also have their sights on the title. Like the Money Team, they have also struggled with some personnel issues. Although they have dealt with them flawlessly in the regular season, eligibility concerns could limit their ability to go deep into the playoffs this season, they have a core that could be a force to reckon with over the next few seasons.
Newcomers Masten Finest have brought a lot of passion and fire to the court in their debut season, caped off with a come from behind win over Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy in the regular season finale. Although they lack the interior presence of some of the league’s other teams, they could make a nice run in the playoffs if they can keep their level of intensity up there. And then of course you have the Billies, one of the league’s most tenured teams. While this season they might not look like as much of a contender as they have in the past, I wouldn’t count them out if Tim Graffam can find success in getting the ball to Frank Pieri and Mark Ward down the stretch.
The scoring title in League B returns to Shawn Satarian, who averaged 25.1 ppg while leading the Triple Threats to a share of first place in the division.
The action continues this Saturday at 2 pm. Click here to see the list of eligible players for postseason play. If you see any discrepancies or have any questions regarding a player’s eligibility please email me at chasdk@y2t.e80.myftpupload.com.
Get ready for some playoff hoops in Buffalo’s biggest league! Bring your ‘A’ game!
ROUND 1 (12/6):
2 pm: (4) Masten Finest v. (5) Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy
3 pm: (1) West Side Conncetion v. (8) Ernie Johnson’s My Dad
4 pm: (2) Buffalo Braves v. (7) The Money Team
5 pm: (3) Black Market v. (6) Toon Squad
6 pm: (4) Family First v. (5) Monki Business
7 pm: (1) Sometimers v. (8) Healthy Buffalo
8 pm: (2) Triple Threats v. (7) VeryAggressiveGuys
9 pm: (3) White Men Can’t Jump v. (6) Billies
SEMIS & FINALS (12/13): TBD
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