PLAYOFF time! St. Joe’s hosts Novato

[kiddman32]

Ok, ok, ok... Doesn’t sound like the most-intriguing matchup ever, but I feel like I “owe it to them” after avoiding all the awful matchups in that bleeping league they’ve been stuck in the last few years. Glad *THAT* is over... Next year, ACAL!

Anyway... Novato is only 10-16, but has been placed here, so the Pilots are here, I am here, the refs are here, so GAME ON!

It was fun sitting here as the Novato kids all sneaked peeks at the Jason Kidd All-American banner that hangs above the scorer’s table... For a nanosecond or so, I thought about going into Uncle Kiddman mode... “Hey, guys, I have some stories for ya”... Fortunately for both the kids and me, that moment passed quickly.

 

[ayalar09]

Pretty crazy over the last 4 years they haven’t lost once in conference!

 

[RJ223]

Not when you look at the competition in that league.

 

[kiddman32]

This is d3... Winner tonight faces the winner of Encinal-Drake on Friday.

Just glancing at the kids in the layup lines. I’d say St. Joe’s has a decent size edge... Will that Lippi zone shut ‘em down? Who knows.. I see the Pilots most-recent league wins have been slightly closer, so maybe the Wizard of Alameda has been experimenting with different stuff altogether

 

[kiddman32]

Pilots wing J for 3... 3-0.

Novato looks like a strictly zone team... but the Pilots are going man-to-man thus far... Scoring not poppin’ early.

Another 3 for the Pilots... same guy, #12. 6-0.

 

[kiddman32]

Rebound and putback for #11 of the Pilots... 8-0.

Novato finally hits the board with a lonnnngggggg 3.

Pilots score right back, 10-3. And a putback score... 12-3 Pilots. Time out, 3:11 left 1st.

 

[kiddman32]

Nother 3 for Novato... 12-6.

Niiiiice pass inside for the Pilots, 14-6.

Novato offensive board and score... 14-8.

Pilot #24 scores inside, 16-8.

And a 3 falls for the Pilots at the buzzer!! 19-8.

 

[kiddman32]

Nice drive by Novato #1, hacked and scores... FT goes. 19-11.

Pilots #22 scores from the elbow, 21-11.

Pilots force 5-second call... #12 nails yet another 3! 24-11.

Novato gonna try a press now... and it worked the first time... Steal, drive foul on a layup. FT’s go. 24-13.

Pilots two straight offensive boards, #11 fouled on a missed putback. FT’s split. 25-13.

#3 for Novato sinks one from the estuary... but Pilots score inside. 28-16.

Nice pass to #11 inside for 2... 30-16 Pilots. Novato right back... 30-18. 4:26 left in the half.

 

[kiddman32]

Turnover leads to an easy 2 for Novato... 30-20. Missed Pilot shot leads to another runout, but a Pilot draws the charge... Time out, 3:20 left in the half.

Steal! Chasedown, but Pilots #13 scores and is hacked! FT missed. 32-20.

Same guy steals it aaaaaaagainnnn... great pass to #24 for a dunk! 34-20.

Novato #3 drives, fouled... FT’s go. 34-22...

Pilots #0, gets ball at own end... RACES down the floor with 4 seconds left... gets a shot up... SCORES, and is fouled! Missed FT, but halftime score is 36-22.

 

[kiddman32]

Drive and short J for the Pilots... 38-22.. and a steal, Novato foul.

Novato #3, sharpshooter supreme.... with a long 3. 38-25.

Lippi not thrilled with Pilots’ effort level, calls time out. 6:18 left 3rd. 38-25.

#11 for the Pilots scores after a Novato gamble fails.. 40-25.

HUGE dunk off a great steal and pass... Pilots up 42-25.

#3 for Novato dials up long distance again... 42-28. Pilots offensive foul... Novato hanging around here, now #11 sinks a 3 for them... 44-31, but #24 scores on a Pilot putback... and fouled. FT good. 47-31.

 

[kiddman32]

#12 for the Pilots with a 3-ball.... 50-31. 2 min left in the 3rd, time out Novato.

Doesn’t help. 52-31 Pilots... Now a Pilot 3... 55-31, and a Novato halfcourt violation... Getting ugly now... TERRIFIC effort by Pilots #24 on a 2-rebound putback score at the buzzer! 57-31. Looking back, the Pilots have scored I believe 7 points at the buzzers tonight.

 

[kiddman32]

Sweet drive and reverse layup by Pilots #0... 59-33 after Novato scores quickly right back, which gets the Wizard to call a Pilots time out...

#11 scores a hook shot for the Pilots... then #24 steals, nice pass for another score... Novato still fighting, tho... putback score makes it 63-35.

FT good for Novato...

Nice pass, #33 to #12 for a 3... 66-36. Okay... I’ll stop typing till the ned now

(errrrr... Who’s Ned?).

 

[kiddman32]

77-45 final... Not sure where my Playoffs tour will put me tomorrow... Of course, I do know Thursday.... COUGARS, Baby!