Suns Split First Two Games
In their first AORBC away from home, the Myrtannia Suns have tried to show the competition that homecourt advantage wasn't the only reason they've finished in the top four in both tournaments so far. Without Rahir Abdul, this has become Vito Munise's team, and the Myrtannian men seem to be in a transitional phase, moving to the post-Abdul era of Myrtannian basketball.
"It's a lot to put on one guy's shoulders, but that's why I've got my teammates. You don't win the AORBC with a one-man team," Munise commented, "Even Lamoni's title win in the first one was more than just Hugh Humber. I do kind of wish Rahir had been able to win a title before he bowed out, but these things happen."
The first pair of games has been a mix of the good and bad of the new look Suns, the first one the tournament opener against Nedalia. Despite the sucess enjoyed by them on the football pitch, the Nedalians haven't done much of consequence in AORBC since finishing third in AORBC I. This game was a close one, as the Lions didn't want to go away.
Despite 20 lead changes during the course of the see-saw battle, the Suns managed to break away in the fourth, led by Vito. Munise scored 15 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, and racked up an impressive 12 blocks and 16 rebounds as well during the course of the game. Nedalia attempted a late run, but were cut short by the defense of Munise, Brenton Senosk, and Ytzhak Golden. Final tally in this one was Myrtannia 97, Nedalia 94.
Myrtannia's second game showed the glaring problems in the new Suns team - when the opponent shuts everyone else down, Vito can't win the game on his own. This was the case when the Suns went up against defending champion Khazaron, who are looking very good in their defense of the title so far.
Despite a heroic effort by Vito, including 46 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 blocks, the Suns' offense was shut down by the Silver Sharks. Kirby Rylant was the second leading Suns scorer with 15. The whole game through, the Sharks just outplayed and outdefended the Myrtannian team, who ultimately fell by a score of 86-97.
Next up for Myrtannia is winless tournament newcomer Quakmybush, whose men's team has been having a lot of problems in Group B. Vito will play well, and if Rylant and co. can show up to support him, Myrtannia wins this one pretty handily.
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Dryads Unbeaten, Face Dorian & Sonya Next
Where the Myrtannian men have had trouble coping without their former starting shooting guard, the women haven't lost a step. Zenobia Abdur-Shareef retired after Myrtannia's third place finish in AORBC II, but now patrols the sidelines as an assistant coach. In the last AORBC, Ping Seek emerged as the Dryads' leader on both sides of the court, while Abdur-Shareef struggled most of the time, combating old injuries.
Having built the third edition Dryads around a returning front court, Myrtannia looks just as good as the team that won the title in AORBC I. A new starting back court and some new faces on the bench as well have energized the Dryads as they hunt for their second title in three AORBCs. So far, so good.
In the first game, Myrtannia set a new AORBC women's division record by racking up an astounding 103 points against the hapless Reds of the host Socialist Union. Ping started out strong in the Third AORBC, putting up 44 points, 18 rebounds, 10 blocks, and 12 assists, but she wasn't the only Dryad to make headlines. New point guard Cheryle Odmark added 30 points and 15 assists, as the Dryads cruised past the Reds.
It was so bad for the Socialist Union that Myrtannia let its bench players finish out the final eight minutes, and the Reds still couldn't keep up. Dryads pulled out a 103-73 blowout of the Socialist Union.
The next game was far more competitive, as the winless but feisty Quakmybush women faced the mighty Dryads. Having lost closely previous to the match, the Quakers were looking to upset the Dryads, and played a very close game the whole way. At the end of the third quarter, the score was tied at 68 apiece. In the final quarter, Ping and company went on a 10-0 run, and it seemed to seal the Quakers' fate.
However, the ladies of Quakmybush didn't say uncle just yet, and roared back into it with their own impressive run. With little time left, it was 78-76 Myrtannia leading, until Beth Collins hit a difficult three point shot from the left corner that put her team up 79-78.
But Myrtannia, not to be outdone, came right back after a timeout and scored on a Ping dunk, taking the lead at 80-79. On the next play, the Quakers tried their one last chance to win, and almost got the shot off too. But Rona Lee picked up a block and recovered the ball, taking it all the way to the other end for an easy layup. As the final horn sounded, it was the Dryads with the win, 82-79.
The third matchup for the Dryads will be against the other unbeaten team in the women's division - Dorian and Sonya. In a rematch of the semi-finals of last AORBC's women's tournament, both teams will try to pick up what should be a hard-fought win. |
