CCS Open Semifinals from Independence HS

[kiddman32]

Here’s where I light today, at Independence’s nice big 2000+ seat gym, for what should be two terrific boys’ games.

First game will pit 23-2 Pali Alto against 10-15 Mitty...

wtf? 10-15 a typo? Nope... Mitty was highly-regarded before the season started, but they didn’t come remotely close to putting anything together at all until they began to catch fire during the WCAL slate. They won just barely enough games to be playoff-qualified, finishing strong. They did get a break when a major player on Menlo was injured before the first round, and now are just two wins from a highly-unlikely CCS Open title.

Meanwhile, Paly has been flying high all year.

So... looking at common-opponents, etc is pretty much useless due to Mitty’s odd season. Same for rankings... In other words this game could go absolutely anywhere.

 

[SF_Mikey]

Key to first semifinal game will be how they plan to slow down Grigsby. Will Paly let Grigsby get his and not leave wide open shooters at 3 point line or will they collapse on him? I don't think Paly has anyone who can guard him one-on-one.

 

[kiddman32]

I haven’t seen Mitty play except a little bit on YouTube since their apparently magical turnaround... Ya never know anyway.. Look at Amador. Looked like they really had things figured out, but then it looked like they forgot everything the next time they faced Dublin. Hopefully, Mitty doesn’t suddenly have the mojo wear off like it did for Amador...

 

[factsmatter8888]

Grigsby can be the most dominant player in the section when focussed. We will see what Grigsby we get tonight.

 

[kiddman32]

Mitty throws the first punch... Couple of 3’s make it 12-4 Monarchs

 

[kiddman32]

16-13 Monarchs after eight minutes.

 

[kiddman32]

27-24 Monarchs with 3:56 left in the half...

 

[kiddman32]

33-30 Monarchs at the half... Only thing marring this is a lack of crowd noise... Open semifinal, and there are maybe 400 in this place...

So far as the game itself, it’s similar to expectations... Paly not as athletic, but more efficient.

 

[kiddman32]

Vaughn leads Mitty with 16, Schlemmer leads Paly with 10. So far, Grigsby has been held on check. I think I saw he has either two or zero points.

 

[kiddman32]

Paly ties it at 40... I think first tie since the tip-off.

 

[kiddman32]

2:50 left, 3rd.

 

[kiddman32]

46-44 Mitty after three q’s

 

[kiddman32]

3 consecutive bombs, Mitty up 55-48

 

[SF_Mikey]

Mitty hot from 3 point land early fourth with 3 - 3's. Mitty 55-48 with 526 remaining

 

[kiddman32]

Mitty is taking this one over... 61-50 with 4:42 left

 

[SF_Mikey]

Mitty continues to be en fuego and lead 64-54 with 245 remaining

 

[kiddman32]

67-59... Paly is scrapping hard, but not gaining much ground with 1:22 left

 

[SF_Mikey]

Sapp had 27 points / 8 3's. Mitty made 14 - 3's

 

[kiddman32]

73-61 final... Vaughn with 22, with 27. Team made 14 3-balls, Sapp had 8 of those.

 

[kiddman32]

GMTA...

 

[kiddman32]

Now we get Bellarmine vs St Francis...

 

[kiddman32]

The Bells won both their league meetings, the first was very close, the last by 14 or so.

Obvious players to watch, #4 Wojcik on Bellarmine along with Johnson, #2 on St Francis.

 

[SF_Mikey]

I got Bells by 10-15 points - the longer that I watch St Francis warm up the worse the differential gets in my mind. That's always the kiss of death though.....

 

[SF_Mikey]

Dana Stubblefield's son is nice as is Kruse both from Bells as well.

 

[TurtleLoveCA]

St Francis coach not present tonight. Anthony Landphere not playing due to illness.

 

[SF_Mikey]

St Francis head coach suspended one game for whining about #4 seed....not coaching tonight.

 

[kiddman32]

Bells score 14 straight to lead 18-8

 

[kiddman32]

18-12 after 1

 

[kiddman32]

Lancers pulled close, but the Bells answer with a ring of their own ... 27-17 Bells

 

[kiddman32]

33-25 Bells at the half... Game has slowed quite a bit, much of that due to zone D and passive man D... St. Francis is down 8, they’re gonna have to start gambling more on D, maybe scrap that zone altogether...

 

[SF_Mikey]

It only seems like it's after three quarters - half-time score. Boring game though as both styles are very deliberate typical WCAL pace / score....3 yards and a cloud of dust!

 

[kiddman32]

Johnson of St Francis and Stubblefield of Bellarmine each have 15 points at the half.

 

[kiddman32]

Action speeding up in the 2nd half... st Francis out of that zone. 39-33 Bells

 

[kiddman32]

49-44 after 3 (really this time!)....

Johnson doing everything for the Lancers

 

[kiddman32]

Bells take TO, Lancer at the line, 1and 1. 53-49 Bells, 6:19 left

 

[kiddman32]

Makes both, this could get good...

 

[kiddman32]

Tied at 58

 

[kiddman32]

Bells take lead back 60-58, 3:34 left

 

[kiddman32]

#2 sinks a 3 for the Bells... 63-58 Bells, 2:29 to go

 

[kiddman32]

67-61 with 39 seconds... Lancers play the foul game... now it’s 69-61 after a pair by Wojcik, who incidentally has been ice-cold shooting the rock tonight.