PLAYOFFS GO INTO FULL SWING TODAY!!!

The FABL Showtime 2023-24 Playoffs started Friday night at St Stephen’s Field House with a SIZZLE rather than a FIZZLE.  There were two play-in games, competing against the Century/Liberty game, that proved to be full of playoff fever.

In the opener, 17 seed DYE took on 16 seed LANE.  LANE prevailed 35-28 led by Jason Ricks with 10 points.  They will face top seeded MC CAIN Saturday at 7PM.

In the second game, 18 SEED needed overtime to knock off 15 seed MATHIS 39-36.  Mathis was led by senior Alex Pearl with 19 points including a clutch three late in the 4^th quarter to force the overtime.  Zachary Rose led the upstart DAMICO with 19 of his own including clutch free throw shooting to seal the deal in extra time.  They advance to face second seeded MATTHEWS Saturday at 4:00 PM.

The Sweet 16 opens Saturday with a  classic 7 vs 10 match when HAINES hosts FREY in a rematch of HAINES 2-0 blowout win earlier this season.  Technically this is the second time they will meet but the first time they will actually meet….if you know what I mean.  HAINES balanced attack is led by Chase Miller with 13.42 PPG and Ryan Durborow with 10.73 PPG.  FREY is capable of both high and low offensive output depending on who gets hot.  Trey Helmick scores 10.67 PPF and Nate Frey adds 9.56 PPG.  I am not picking winners and losers.  Every one of these games should be fun to watch.

At 2:00, 6 seed KIMMETT takes the home court against 11 seed HILLMAN in a rematch of Kimmett’s 51-46 week 16 win.  Since losing a couple of games where they have blown big 4^th quarter leads, KIMMETT has matured into a solid contender who knows how to finish.  Nick McGhin leads his team with 10.00 PPG and he is complimented by Brody Knight with 7.35 PPG.  Both players are capable of a big game.  HILLMAN is supported by senior Mason Plummer with 10.27 PPG, BTW Mason’s mom Lori has been a 4 year volunteer with our league.  Many thanks Lori.  Michael Smith and Colin Grimsley add 7.20 and 7.14 PPG to round out this solid squad.  THIS IS A MUST SEE GAME!!!

The 3:00 game feature 3 seed HEARN vs winners of 3 of their last 4 13 seed COELHO (always misspelled but not this time).  HEARN, the losers of only 2 games in 2024 is anchored by Jacon Klein with 13.23 PPG along with PJ Lownsbury and Cole Lakenan with 5.92 and 5.75 PPG.  The upset minded brown team actually beat HEARN 39-34 in mid-January making this game even more interesting.  Every player on COELHO is capable of scoring with 7 players averaging between 4.00 and 7.00 PPG.  This team represents true team play.  You better cover all of them.  WORTH STICKING AROUND FOR.

The 4:00 game has 2 seed MATTHEWS in a rematch of a tough 57-46 wins against 18 seed DAMICO team.  The MATTHEWS boys score in bunches led by Ryan Bauer (14.47), Ethan Long (13.12) and Brady Fitzpartick (10.40).  DAMICO, winners of 2 of their last 3 are led by Dom Damico (12.90) and Zachary Rose (9.35).  Don’t let their record fool you.  The red team could make a game of this!!!!

At 5:00 we start on the left side of the draw sheet with our 12 vs 5 matchup of MILLER (12) hosted by WOLFE (5).  WOLFE is limping into the playoffs having lost 2 of 3 while MILLER has found their way winning 3 in a row. This is a rematch of a week 15 upset win by MILLER 40-38.  WOLFE features senior Seth Jacobs with 13.27 PPG and Hunter Elrod with 8.38 PPG.  The MILLER offense is led by senior bomber Hayden Speace who averages 14.00 PPG and broke the league single season 3 point shooting record previously held by Trey Howes with 63 long range makes.  He is supported by Nathan Sweeney with 8.35 PPG.  Will lightning strike twice.  Let’s play and find out.

For dinner tonight at 6:00 we have a tasty matchup between 4 seed DAVIDSON vs 13 seed BUFANO.  These teams meet last year and played to a 49-39 DAIDSON win.  I guess you could say the rematch is long overdue.  DAVIDSON has 4 solid scorers in Parker Allen (14.40), Brayden Gmeiner (12.90) including his season high 22 point in week 17, Rocco Deitz (8.77) ands Greyson Glenn (8.33).  With their core four averaging 44.40 PPG this is a tough team to match up with.  BUFANO has league scoring leader Ian Alexander, 18.71 PPG and Kolton Price, 8.54 PPG hoping to step up big for a playoff run.  DEFENSE WINS THIS GAME (that’s all I have to say about that).

At 7:00 PM the top seeded MC CAIN squad takes on the dangerous 17 seed LANE.  MC CAIN’s players know how to pass the ball and share scoring duties with Lucas McCain (11.19), Cole Motter (10.08), Luke Notari (8.13) and Ethan Magulick (5.94).  Who do you cover?  ALL OF THEM.  Lane has shown potential all year and when these teams played in week 17, LANE made a run at them in the 4^th quarter before falling 44-37.  Senior Jackson Ricks average 13.13 PPG and Matthew makes them “for real” with 9.53 PPG.  The wild card might be Cole McAuliffe who is capable of big numbers.  HANG ON TO YOUR HATS….THE GYM WILL BE ROCKIN’ TONIGHT.

A good way to end the evening is with an 8 vs 9 matchup.  HAYNES vs LISKA….(this is going to be great!!)  The last time these guys met, HAYNES won 47-45 in a game where no team led by more than 4 points.  That was the first week of the season.  A lot has happened since then.  Tyler Ruch has emerged as one of the premier scorers in the league averaging 16.14 PPG for the orange team.  He is backed by Jackson Barioto (10.00), Dominic Crisp (9.54) and Rocky Remines (9.06) who not only put up big number but also have the coolest names in the league. (image the t-shirt sales)  If they all show up, watch out.  Liska has a similarly balanced attack featuring Mason Ambrose (9.92), Jacl Sellars (9.36) and Austin Shade (8.62).  All I can say is that we can’t have a better way to close out the Sweet 16 than this.

Enjoy tonight’s games and have fun.  REMEMBER NO FOOD OR DRINK IN THE BLEACHERS.