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After a long delay, welcome back to the United Isles of Myrtannia, for the Fourth Atlantian Oceania Basketball Championship. The tournament bosts a new name and new faces added into the mix, including 95X, Ereeland, and Milchama. We expect the competition to be exciting, filled with memorable moments roundball fans will remember for days at least.
No nation has ever won the men's title more than once, though two previous winners are featured in AOBC IV. The first winner, Lamoni and the most recent winner, Myrtannia, both look to add the elusive second title to their trophy case. Plenty of challengers lurk in their groups, though, and perhaps another new champion will be crowned.
The same holds true for the women's division. Only Myrtannia has experience, but three new challengers stand in the way of their lifting a second title. Tune in for all the exciting action of AOBC IV! |
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The Gnomes will be entering the exact same players they entered last time around.
Coach: Mk-Mnty
The coach of the Sandcaster Sorcerers from the - Basketball Association, the current defending champions. He believes in a complete full court press style of basketball, which is why he chosen to coach the team. There are other coaches with more experience, but the only chance Az-cz has to win is to press the other team into the ground, so that's what they will attempt. Back again to try to lead the Gnomes to their first ever win
Players:
PG:
Gy-Pt 5'1 140 lbs
Age: 28
Team: Lost Soul Minotaurs
Gy-Pt is known as the best on the ball defender in the -League. He is incredibly quick and uses that to try to get to the whole. He has a good all around game, but can struggle against players as fast as him.
SG:
Rn-Mndez 5'5 140 lbs
Age: 23
Team: Pyramid Dragons
Rn-Mndez is the sharpshooter of the team. He can drill shots from anywhere over half-court. He is a decent defender, but needs help getting open for his shots.
SF: Sh-Bob 5'7 150 lbs
Age: 27
Team: Sandcaster Sorcerers
Sh-Bob is a balanced player. He is an incredibly intelligent player so he can often rebound against taller players and draws many charges to help his team. He is a brilliant part of the press because he knows always where to be.
PF: Dwaty Jones 6'6 220 lbs
Age: 25
Team: Necropolis Mummies
Due to the lack of height there aren't that many ethnic Az-czzers on the team, but all of the players were born in Az-cz. Dwaty Jones tries to do everything for the team. He doesn't have any incredible advantages, but he also doesn't have any weaknesses.
C: Julio Barthez 6'9 245 lbs
Age: 29
Team: Castleview Goblins
Barthez is a patroller of the paint. He isn't that tall but he has incredible strength that helps him battle against taller players. He has a suprising touch for a big man.
Bench:
PG: Duk-Fn 5'2 130 lbs
Age: 32
Team: Necropolis Mummies
Duk-Fn's role on the team is to be the shooting PG. If more outside shooting is required from the PG spot, then he is called upon to play.
G: Je-Do 5'4 140 lbs
Age: 31
Team: Sandcaster Sorcerers
Je-Do can play either guard position. He specializes in defense and can really play havoc against other teams guards. He is the starting PG for his team, but will back up both positions in this tournament.
SG: Ap-Or 5'4 145 lbs
Age: 30
Team: Sandcaster Sorcerers
Ap-Or starts along Je-Do for Sandcaster. He is an incredible slashing player, and considered by most to be the best dunker in the -BA.
SF: Kiz-Fa 5'6 160 lbs
Age: 31
Team: Castleview Goblins
Kiz-Fa is another solid small forward. He doesn't specialize in any one area, but generally can listen to what the coach needs and provide that. His biggest weakness is that his shot is streaky. When he's feeling it he's dangerous to the opponent, but when he's off he's dangerous to his team.
SF: Mk-Fk 5'5 145 lbs
Age: 29
Team: Olympus Gods
Mk-Fk is another player on this team for purposes of shooting. He isn't expected to see much court time except when Az-cz is trying to rally from huge deficits.
PF: Rt-Lng 5'7 175 lbs
Age: 27
Team: Lost Soul Minotaurs
Rt-Lng is a player that Az-cz uses when they are trying to draw the other team away from the basket. He has a solid shot and a good court sense, such that he has to be guarded all the way out to three point line. This can free up other players, so is his use.
PF: Brethur Knee 6'9 235 lbs
Age: 30
Team: Pyramid Dragons
Knee's role on this team is for defensive and rebounding strength inside. His offense isn't as strong as other players but he is a strong defender.
C: Eafo McMichaels 7'4 270 lbs
Age: 28
Eafo McMichaels is far and away the tallest player on the Az-cz team. Like many players of his height he has some maneuverability problems, but he is a strong defender, has good stamina, and is a big help to the press. However his awkwardness can cause him problems at the offensive end.
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Az-cz |
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Senator in Training |
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Posts: 246 |
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Az-cz Scroll
Myrtannia
Dr-J
Another AOBC rolls around. Gnomes back to compete.
The time has come for another Atlantian Oceania Basketball Championship. Last time around the Gnomes were whipping boys. While they still expect to struggle they at least aren't the least experience team going. Milchama, 95X and Ereeland are all competing in their first AOBCs. So Az-cz might have the edge on them.
Although there was a hope from the players that basketball would take off between the last tournament and now it simply hasn't happened. Soccer has sky rocketed while the big four remain popular. Even weird sports like curling and surfing have become popular. But basketball hasn't.
That also means there hasn't been that great of an infusion of new blood to the league. There are of couse new players in the league, but none good enough to steal any of the spots from players from last time around. That also means the Gnomes will still have significant height problems. We'll see if they've learned lessons from last tournament and are a better team. We'll see. |
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Az-cz |
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Senator in Training |
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Posts: 246 |
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12 man roster here we come:
PG: Stan Lofo 5'9
PG: Marian Stacey 5'11
PG: Oman Nisili 6'0
SG: Navin Hamilt 6'3
SG: Ootaman Gephard 6'5
SF: Charlie Ford 6'6
SF: Das Vadon 6'7
SF: Devin Hestershire 6'6
PF: Akbar Borasi 6'8
PF: Miller Foon 6'7
C: Eric Fifini 6'10
C: Sunni El Gadaf 6'9
Starters:
PG Marian Stacey
SG: Navin Hamilt
SF: Charlie Ford
PF: Miller Foon
C: Eric Fifini
This post has been edited by Milchama on Dec 23 2006, 12:07 PM |
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From University City News Daily newspaper, a few days ago
95X To Compete In First International Competition
Teams hope to draw on their youth and eagerness
Pacific City - 20 years after a bribery scandal led to the eventual folding of every sports league in the country, basketball rises again, with 95X sending both a Men's and Women's team to Myrtannia for Atlantian Oceania Basketball Championship IV.
"I never thought I'd coach another game," says Men's Team coach Frank Lester. "Then, I get the strangest call - it's from this kid saying 95X is gonna have a basketball team and needs a coach."
The 'kid' was 16-year old starting point guard Ryan Powell, who made the presentation to the 95X Board of Directors that allowed for the country's participation in AOBC IV.
Lester, now 61, left his coaching job with the Pacific City Express for the auto mechanic industry 18 years ago, the year before 95X's National Basketball League folded for good due to low attendance and no government support. He was not in any way involved with the illegal side of the game.
Coaching the team was an opportunity Lester couldn't pass up, mentioning he's followed the sport though TV and the Internet all these years.
For potential players, however, "only the young ones who weren't around or didn't remember the trials wanted to play," Lester commented about team tryouts. "In one city, a man in his late 20s stopped by, hit a few baskets, only to say 'any kid could do this, I'm going to my hard-working man's factory job.'"
As a result, only four players in the lineup are over 19, and they will be coming off the bench. Lester claims the young starting lineup is one of the hardest-working groups he's seen.
This will be well tested, as 95X will play top-ranked Lamoni, as well as Bazalonia and Milchama, in the first round.
95X is also fielding a Women's team, coached by Mark Walters. It'll play other women's teams from Bazalonia, Ereeland, and Myrtannia.
Support for the teams by the general public is another story, as the announcement was cheered by many who either watched the announcement on TV or heard it on the radio.
"Our phone lines went crazy," Says SuperTalk 107 Program Director Fred Yardley. "All the calls were people wanting to know how to get to Myrtannia, what bus to take, will the station carry the games...."
The teams have another two weeks to prepare, then they will be headed to Myrtannia for the competition.
Rosters
(OOC: More on the players and teams will probably follow)
Men's Team
Starters
SF 10 Harold Steele 6'7" 18
PF 17 Carl Holgate 6'9" 17
C 75 Logan Lombard 7'5" 19
PG 9 Ryan Powell 6'0" 16
SG 19 Duke Woodstock 6'3" 16
Bench
PG 1 Vince Vermont 6'1" 21
C 11 Daniel Lancaster 6'11" 18
PG 13 Lansing "Lan" Claxter 5'10" 16
PF 14 Kyle Hawthorne 6'8" 22
SG 15 Blake Belmont 6'5" 17
SF 20 Eric Burnside 6'7" 21
SF 35 Mike Greeley 6'6" 20
Coach: Frank Lester
Women's Team
Starters
SF 24 Janelle Foxwood 5'9" 22 (SG-SF)
PF 42 Kristin Hazel 6'0" 17
C 11 Danielle Hazel 6'0" 17
PG 14 Jessica Whitney 5'5" 18
SG 13 Ashley Maranz 5'8" 20
Bench
PG 4 Shenika Telford 5'7" 21
SG 10 Dena Stoltz 5'7" 20
PG 20 Amy Linden 5'2" 17
SG 22 Marscilla Phelps 5'10" 16 (SG-SF)
SF 23 Shelly McPadron 5'9" 21
PF 32 Hallie Burns 5'11" 22 (PF-C)
C 34 Shannon Kellogg 6'0" 17
Coach: Mark Walters |
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Lamoni Hawks
Head Coach - Darren Ruddock
Asst Coach - Moshe Beriya
Asst Coach - Joshua Bennett
Starters:
11 PG Mark Riviera 6'5
22 SG Max Stromberg 6'6
20 SF John Carroll 6'5
54 PF Marvin Hughes 6'6
40 C Hugh Humber 6'2 (his last AORBC)
Bench:
15 PG Allan Gregory 5'9
23 SG Gregory Symbus 6'1
34 SF Oliver Cabezas 6'7
41 PF Mark Daimler 6'9
55 C Donald O'toole 6'10
33 G Markez Franco 6'1
25 F Joachim Suzuki 6'6
Reserves:
F Micheal Coldman 6'7
C Kelvin Riall 6'10
OOC: Yes, this is the same roster as the last AORBC. Too tired right now to make up new names. |
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Lamoni |
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Democratic Maniac |
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Posts: 1952 |
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Almost forgot my team's kit: 
This post has been edited by Lamoni on Dec 24 2006, 03:11 AM |
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Lamoni |
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Democratic Maniac |
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Posts: 1952 |
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"So what are our chances in this basketball thingy?"
"Well our guards are all ridicoulously short and ridicoulously talented. The small forwards are all pretty good also."
"And the big men?"
"Big white stiffs. None of them over 6'10 and they all really don't have much talent outside of the fact that they are tall. Fifini can shoot a bit and Foon is decent on the post but they are really on the team because they are tall."
"So then do we stand a chance?"
"Probably not, basketball is still a small sport here, we don't even have a league, although it is scheduled to start next year, check YOUR! cable listings for more details!"
"Why do I care?"
"Well you kinda brought it up"
"Ummmmm.......... so, your point being?"
"I thought you would care."
"Ok, why didn't you just get a man on a horse and win that way?"
"Because the horse did terrible in AOCAF"
"Oh don't worry he'll do great in the World Cup."
"What?! He's competing in the world cup? Wait how did you know that, we didn't even realease the roster yet."
"Ummmmm........ don't worry about it." |
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Basketball? Alrighty then...
It's not really the major sport for the Republic of Ereeland. That would be football, which happens to be the region's most popular sport as well. No, this is basketball, which most Errish people are still somewhat familiar with. Not since the Sociliast Union days have any Errish played for a national team, but they're willing to give it a shot this time.
While the Football Association of Ereeland (FAE) prepares in advance for the next AOCAF - long in advance - the Errish Basketball Association has hastily assembled Ereeland's first national teams ever. Well, the EBA and the WEBA, but that's beside the point. Point is that Ereeland's men look to get clobbered in a group that features the hosts and reigning champions.
"We're not figuring to be a factor in this go, but maybe we can be a spoiler all the same. We'll put up a good fight and see what happens," said men's coach Tim Meddaugh.
The men's roster looks something like this:
Ereeland Green Wave
Head Coach: Tim Meddaugh
Projected Starters:
13) PG - Dean Pidgeon, 6'2"
10) SG - Shane Wunderlich, 6'6"
24) C - Robert Harring, 6'11"
05) PF - Shane Moore, 6'10"
19) SF - Zachary Zwilling, 6'7"
Bench Roster:
02) SG - Vernon Geib, 6'5"
40) SF - Tim Gros, 6'11"
32) PF - Sam Bolander, 6'9"
20) C - Dan Kleine, 7'0"
03) PG - Wesley Messick, 5'10"
11) SF - Gordon Pigott, 6'6"
24) F - Greg Guinan, 6'8"
Our women's team might fare a little better, considering that only one team (Myrtannia) in their division has any tournament experience. However, don't get hopes up too high. The SUNA women went winless and were the only team knocked out of the group stage.
"We've got a chance to do something memorable this time around. That means we can't afford to blow it," said the women's team coach, Mr. Gordon Bob.
The women's roster, as approved by the WEBA:
Ereeland Shamrocks
Head Coach: Gordon Bob
Projected Starters:
03) PG - Elva Pressnell, 5'6"
07) SG - Daphne Angelo, 5'8"
11) C - Carolina "Cari" Warburton, 6'4"
30) PF - Rachelle Mahony, 5'10"
50) SF - Glenna Bibee, 5'9"
Bench Roster:
01) SG - Keri Corning, 5'8"
10) SG - Joni Bornstein, 5'7"
23) SF - Candy Rohrer, 5'9"
25) PF - Fern Sleeper, 5'11"
31) C - Ina Dargan, 6'0"
05) PG - Patricia Tingley, 5'5"
12) F - Rosetta Kazmierczak, 5'10"
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Myrtannia AOBC IV Rosters
Myrtannia Suns - National Men's Team
Head Coach: Salim Al-Hakim
Asst. Coach: Sigrid Hodges
Asst. Coach: Mosezh Immerman
Starting Lineup:
8 PG Alec Rivlin 6'1"
21 SG Prince Manolis 6'4"
31 SF Berry Yeeloy 6'6"
30 PF Tad Trentinella 6'10"
51 C Vito Munise 7'6"
Bench:
1 SG Irwin Bartmettler 67"
10 PF Hunter Olinick 6'11"
6 SF Trinidad Descamps 6'7"
15 G/F Brant Mellerson 6'6"
21 PG Deon Pastano 6'3"
50 C Dewitt Boluda 7'1"
9 PF Claudio Scheuring
Reserves:
F Yong Vaneps 6'7"
G Rico Petris 6'4"
Myrtannia Dryads - National Women's Team
Head Coach: Moira Dakkon
Asst. Coach: Ok Regensburg
Asst. Coach: Zenobia Abdur-Shareef
Starting Lineup:
30 PG Cheryle Odmark 5'6"
4 SG Mary Finley 5'6"
3 SF Otylia Stone 5'8"
1 PF Shayna Szczygiel 6'2"
9 C Ping Seek 6'7"
Bench:
22 SG Kyra Platko 5'8"
6 SF Mona Vanhannen 5'7"
7 PG Lise Wiede 5'3"
5 PF Tempie Vandenbagh 6'2"
17 C Alanna Antoniuk 6'5"
45 SF Margaret Averbach 5'9"
8 G Rona Lee 5'8"
Reserves:
F Jenna Hunter 5'9"
G Wilhelmina Xanth 5'7"
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AOBC Returns to UIM, Home Teams Prepare for New Tests
HALOSEN - It's been a long, winding road to the Fourth Atlantian Oceania Basketball Championship, full of postponements and 'what ifs'. But now at last the region's premier roundball tournament has returned, with a smaller number of participants now. Yet the competition lives, and two past champions are in the mix in the men's division, along with other returning parties, as well as three newcomers.
For the men's team, the Suns, preparations for the tournament have been ongoing since AOBC's return was announced. Most of the team that won the AORBC III title in the Socialist Union is back to make another run at the championship. Two notable changes are the rise of Alec Rivlin from reserve guard to starter, as well as the promotion of Prince Manolis to the starting five. The moves are meant to try and give the Suns some backcourt ability.
They're also aimed at relieving the pressure on the centerpiece of the team, center Vito Munise. While Tad Trentinella's promotion to the starting lineup might help a little, the big man is the real power in the front court. Munise was the driving force behind Myrtannia's AORBC III title run, and will be the main offensive weapon again. Despite a knee injury that sidelined him from MBL play for a year, Munise made a monster comeback with the Halosen Lasers, being named MVP for the fifth time in his career.
Now Munise will be playing on the same floor that saw his return to the MBL, maybe for the last time on the national team. Age and the knee injury may eventually take their toll on the big guy. Which is why such high hopes are attached to Manolis, a flashy guard who's much improved his defensive abilities to go with his offense.
On the women's side of things, the Dryads face a women's division in which they are the only team with experience. The AORBC I women's champions will look to lift the title for the second time against a field that includes 95X, Ereeland, and Bazalonia. It could be interesting to see if the Dryads can live up to expectations.
Ping Seek will be the leader for the Dryads, having led the team in scoring in each of the last two AORBCs. Newcomer Shayna Szczygiel should provide an extra boost on defense, especially with rebounding and blocking, and can at times put up some points to go with it. However, the primary support for Ping will be Mary Finley, a guard known for her accuracy from beyond the arc.
As for the outlook on the divisions? Here's the Halosen News-Times 'Slightly Intoxicated Predictions' for the group stage:
Men's, Group A:
AORBC I Champion and AORBC III Runner-up Lamoni will dominate this group, as star center Hugh Humber looks to get one last title before he leaves the international stage. The Hawks should easily get past newbies Milchama and 95X, who will be battling it out to not be the bottom team in the group. Bazalonia will have trouble with Lamoni, but should get past the newbies easily too.
Men's, Group B:
Myrtannia enters as reigning AORBC champions after a 105-103 win in the AORBC III final over Lamoni. Age may be catching up the the champs, though, which may mean that Nedalia might finally make a breakthrough. The Lions have suffered from underwhelming performances in past AORBCs, but this might finally be their chance to shine - even challenge for the group title. Az-Cz will improve and finally get a couple wins - over Ereeland, the team we think will bottom out the group simply due to inexperience.
Women's:
This is really anybody's game. Myrtannia appears to field the strongest team, but has never won the title in a group/playoff format. 95X and Ereeland could both compete for the top spot in the group, though the Dryads should end up first. Bazalonia's girls could also challenge for the top spot, making this a very competitive, very up in the air, group.
Coming up next for Myrtannia:
SUNS v. Ereeland Green Wave (Halosen Garden Arena)
DRYADS v. 95X (Elimico Court, Niniisto) |
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I should mention the refs don't need to worry - the yellow on black and black on yellow uniforms have "Ninety-Five X" spelled out on them. Nothing fancy abot them at all.
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HALOSEN - The long wait proved to be worth it for Myrtannian basketball fans, as both the men's and women's national teams took victories on the first day of action. At the Halosen Garden Arena, the defending AO basketball champion Suns faced regional and tournament newcomer Ereeland. The last team to come from their lands, the Socialist Union, was a knockout qualifier, but ultimately didn’t accomplish much of anything.
The Errish national team proved they weren’t the old SUNA squad, though. They played a tough game against the second ranked team in the region, though it took them a while to get into the rhythm of things. With the Garden filled to standing room only levels, most of the fans Myrtannian, the atmosphere was electric, to use a cliché. A MDF band performed the Errish and Myrtannian national anthems, and then came the player introductions. In their first game since winning the championship in AORBC III, the Suns were given a standing ovation lasting five minutes by the fans. Eventually, the Suns had to get them to settle down so the game could get underway.
From tipoff, it looked like a rout. Myrtannia raced to a 24-8 lead early, led by 12 points from Vito Munise, who seemed to just scoot around the Green Wave defenders at his leisure. Bad shooting plagued the Wave, and the Suns capitalized, out rebounding the Errish team by 14 in the first half. By the end of the first quarter, it was Myrtannia ahead 32-12. The second quarter didn’t go much better for the Green Wave, as Vito continued to pour it on in the paint. When Myrtannia went up 44-17 midway through the second quarter, a good amount of fans left their seats to get in line for concessions early.
They would miss the beginning of the comeback by Ereeland, chiefly the Green Wave’s 22-4 run after Munise was brought to the bench to rest his surgically repaired knee. His replacement couldn’t handle the Errish big men, who combined for 18 of the 22 points on the run. Myrtannia’s shooting took a nose dive too, and Ereeland narrowed the gap to 56-53 at the half.
“We just let them get too many easy baskets in there,” point guard Alec Rivlin said, “We let up and they started taking advantage of it as much as they could.”
The rest of the game was back and forth as the Suns and Green Wave took turns hitting baskets. Ereeland got as close as one point three times, but never quite managed to get over the gap. Vito Munise returned eventually, and on his first possession of the second half took it to the hoop for a tomahawk slam over an unfortunate Errish defender. With just over a minute left in the fourth quarter, Myrtannia was up 100-97, and looking like they’d walk away with the win. Not so easy this time. Ereeland got a clutch basket just inside the three point line to get back within one, then got a steal off the inbound pass. Before they could shoot, though, their player was fouled and sent to the line for two shots.
After hitting the first shot, the Green Wave guard intentionally missed the second, hoping his team would get the ball back. Unfortunately, it ended up in Vito’s hands, and the big man hurled it down to a wide open Prince Manolis, who finished with a routine lay-in. Ereeland’s last possession saw them take it inside, only to have a shot blocked by Tad Trentinella, after which Rivlin picked it up and passed it to Manolis again. Prince squared up and took a jumper at the buzzer, nailing the shot and giving Myrtannia the 104-100 final tally.
“It’s great to win, especially against a determined opponent like Ereeland. They’re going to do big things in this tournament, but tonight’s our night,” Vito Munise said at a press conference after the game.
Meanwhile, the Myrtannia Dryads kicked off their AOBC IV campaign with a solid defensive performance, winning a low scoring affair 75-68 over the women’s team from 95X. Ping Seek led the way with 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 blocks, using her size to get past the opposing defenders with ease. When she dunked it in the third quarter, the fans at Elimico court went nuts. Chants of ‘Let’s go Ping!’ could be heard throughout the stadium. Seek’s performance overshadowed a good game by Mary Finley, who produced 20 points and 12 assists in her first start. Newcomer power forward Shayna Szczygiel had a decent showing as well, scoring 12 and contributing 10 rebounds to go with 2 blocks.
In the game, the Dryads never trailed, but never led by more than 9 points, as the 95X ladies stuck around for most of the game. However, they never really got anything going, and the Ping-Shayna combo up front simply overpowered what was a pretty good AOBC debut for the tournament newcomers.
“One down, five to go,” was all Mary Finley said after the game.
Next up for the Suns is Az-Cz who finally won for the first time ever in an AOBC game, pounding an uninspired Nedalian team to the tune of 97-83. The Dryads face Ereeland’s Shamrocks, who were 101-91 winners over Bazalonia in the other women’s division match. Both figure to be good scraps between teams that won their opener, and both could set the tone for the rest of the tournament for the Myrtannian teams.
Final Scores: Suns 104, Ereeland Green Wave 100/Dryads 75, 95X 68
Leaders: V. Munise, Suns: 36 pts, 17 rebs, 4 blocks. P. Manolis, Suns: 25 pts/Ping, Dryads: 27 pts, 14 rebs, 9 blk. M. Finley: 20 pts, 12 ast.
Next up: SUNS (1-0) v. Az-Cz (1-0), DRYADS (1-0) v. Ereeland Shamrocks (1-0)
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From the Pacific City Courier
95X No Match for Hawks, Dryads
Opponents win decisively
Myrtannia - It was a lot of firsts for 95X - including the first games in the first international sports competition.
What it was not was the country's first win.
Lamoni held the 95X Men's team to the fewest number of points and had the largest margin of victory of any game played in last night's Atlantian Oceania Basketball Championship, in 95X's 88-72 loss to the Hawks in Damascos, Myrtannia.
"We had to start somewhere," said Duke Woodstock, 95X's leading scorer with 18 points.
95X never lead, taking three minutes into the first quarter to score their first basket - a 10-foot jumper by Carl Holgate, who finished the game with 9.
At one point in the third quarter, Lamoni led by 21 points. A bench contribution of 12 points by Blake Belmont - 8 of which came in the third - helped to avoid a complete rout, but did little else.
Instead of blocking shots and hitting the boards, Logan Lombard watched most of the game from the bench due to foul trouble - and fouling out of the game with 10:18 to go in the fourth quarter, after playing a total of 10 minutes.
"The guys took it (the loss) well," Coach Frank Lester commented during XBN Sports' interview after the game. "They realize this was their first actual game, not just a friendly get-together in the gym like they're used to."
After a night of rest, 95X faces tournament veterans Bazalonia, who are coming off their 90-81 win over fellow newcomers Milchama.
Meanwhile, an undersized women's team was outperformed by the Myrtannia Dryads, losing 75 to 68 at Elimico Court in Niniisto.
The twin combination of Kristin and Danielle Hazel was shut down by Myrtannia's defense and home court advantage. Jessica Whitney struggled to lead 95X's scorers - with 9.
"They displayed great teamwork," Coach Mark Walters said. "But we'll have to expand on it and hope to gain momentum in our next game."
In that next game, the women will meet the Bazalonian Women's team. Both will be looking for their first win.
Domestically, the men's game, televised on XBN, garnered higher ratings than other recent XBN programming, overnight averages show. Although XBN is allowed to decide each day whether or not to air games as well as decide if they will be aired live or delayed, neither they nor any advertisers are allowed to have business dealings with the coach or players.
Ratings of National Broadcasting's radio broadcast of the games were unavailable at press time. |
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