Playoffs Semi-Finals – Winter/Spring 2010 Season
(1.) SWAT 78 – (7.) Velvet Hoop 64
Clayton Crellin’s game-high 33 points sends SWAT to their first Metro League final after a convincing win over the Cinderella kids, Velvet Hoop.
Crellin’s numerous dunks and continuous assault at attacking the rim brought SWAT back into the game after falling behind in the first 10 minutes of the game. Velvet Hoop jumped out the gate with point guard Nick Toews nailing five threes before the game was even 15 minutes old. SWAT used an early timeout to reestablish their defensive strategy, sending their best defensive player Jerome Jacobs to guard Toews who was on pace to break the Metro League record of nine three-pointers in a game. Jacobs was able to contain Toews for the most part, challenging his threes and making it tough for the young guard to get to the rack.
The defense set the tone for the offense for SWAT, as they took over the lead late in the first-half, and never looked back. Up six at halftime, SWAT continued to build their lead in the second half as Crellin bombed from outside and penetrated inside, while teammates Andrew Sturgeon (14 points), Sherlan Long (8 points) and Darren Spithoff (8 points) chipped in offensively. Velvet Hoop managed to get the SWAT lead down to three points early in the second half, but down the stretch SWAT proved to be to much for Velvet Hoop to handle.
Nick Toews was the game-high scorer for Velvet Hoop, dropping 30 points including an impressive seven three-pointers. Velvet Hoop enjoy their best finish yet in the Metro League, while SWAT keep their undefeated season intact and head on to the Metro League championship game.
(4.) Heart, Hustle & Soul 81 – (6.) Team Serbia 74
H.H.S. use their three-headed monster of Mark Tasic, Jason Birring and Casey Archibald to take down the always tough Team Serbia in what was a close game throughout the first-half.
Serbia was completely in this game through the first 25 minutes as the lead changed six times in the first half, with H.H.S. taking a slim five point lead into the break. The second half is where Serbia unraveled. H.H.S. busted out the gate with Tasic scoring inside and Birring and Archibald doing it from inside and outside, earning their squad an early eight point lead, which they contined to build. Serbia managed to stay in the game, pulling within five points in the final three minutes, but time, literally, wasn’t on their side. Serbia would be forced to foul in the dieing two minutes, stopping the clock and sending H.H.S. to the charity stripe where they knocked down their free throws, sealing the game.
H.H.S.’s Birring (26 points), Archibald (25 points) and Tasic (24 points), scored an incredible 75 of their 81 points, to lead all scorers. Igor Dutina led Serbia with 18 points. Serbia’s inaugural season ends while H.H.S. are off to their first Metro League final.
