The Playoffs will conclude this Sunday with 3 champions being crowned after an amazing Season 10.
D1 Most Hated vs. Under Rated
D2 HOOPAHOLICS vs. MMG
D3 A$AP vs. Winner of MadVillians vs. A.D.A.N.
Training Camp crowned its Champion a few weeks ago. Where NO MAAM went up against Avengers and gave them their only lost of the season. Winter 2013 Season also tips off in the midst of the 3 Championship games for those teams that have been out of action for a few weeks due to the playoffs. There will be new faces with new teams in the IBL along with some original IBL teams back from season 2-4. For all other teams who have not completed registration, you can email me for deposit information to get your team back on the court Feb. 10th. There will be a Bye Week for the Super Bowl Feb 3rd.
#1 Most Hated vs. #2 UnderRated
Then there were two. The defending champions and #1 seed Most Hated will square off with #2 seed UnderRated to crown the 5th champion in IBL’s 10th season. The two teams met earlier this season with UnderRated coming away with a 61-58 win. After going 1-2 through their first 3 games, UnderRated has hit their stride and have ridden a 6 game win streak to this point. They have racked up wins playing tough defense, and out executing teams late in games. The team has managed to avenge both of their losses this post season defeating the Wolf Pack in the 1st round and Dynasty in the Semi Finals. Max Barkeley (17.0 ppg) leads now his second team back to the championship round, hoping for a different result as he faces a familiar foe Larry Dew (15.0 ppg). Dew’s Dino’s Finest team defeated Barkeley’s old squad Mile High team back in Season 7’s championship game. Now three seasons later, the two will square off, Barkeley looking for his first IBL crown and Dew looking for his 3rd overall and 2nd consecutive.
Most Hated’s offensive attack will consist of Larry Dew (15.0 ppg), Derrick Andrews (13.4 ppg) and John Shields (10.6 ppg). Dew is the catalyst behind the team’s offense; the über athletic guard can elevate with the best of them, and has been known to put his team on his back when the golden ball is on the line. Andrews is a streaky shooter with tons of athleticism, his defenders will have their hands full. Shields aka Two is the X-Factor for this team, Shields is prone to knocking down big shots and is a threat from behind the three-point line and in the paint when he is on the court.
Now UnderRated’s offense is a bit harder to break down. Max Barkeley (17.0 ppg), Jonathan Kaker (12.1 ppg), Mike Stricker (11.1 ppg) and Jaime Villalobos (11.0 ppg) are the four wheels that propel this proverbial car forward. At any given moment any of the 4 can have a huge offensive outburst. This team is known for their slow starts, but when they get it going, it’s tough to slow down especially after they find their footing defensively.
This should be a very great game, which will come down to the wire. Both teams average about 66.0 ppg, and give up around 59.0 ppg.
#9 MMG vs. #6 HOOPAHOLICS
In what can only be described as a shocker, the #9 seed MMG will meet the #6 seeded HOOPAHOLICS in the championship game for Division 2. MMG finished the season as the #9 seed and was an afterthought when it came to discussing teams that could potentially contend for the division’s championship. However after their opening round win over Special Delivery and the romping of the #1 seed the Secret Agents, MMG placed themselves in the championship conversation. They held off the hungry Han$um Goonz in the semi finals and secured a berth in the championship game.
The Hoopaholics traveled a road just as tough as MMG’s. They defeated the former division champions, the #3 seed American Deficit by a score of 68-49 and advanced to take on the #2 seed Tha Dream. The game with Tha Dream showed me a lot about this Hoopaholics team. They all play for each other. This is a real team, and that showed with their last two wins. Chris Purdom (16.6 ppg), Josh Crouch (13.7 ppg) and Ashton Bartlett (12.2 ppg) are the team’s top 3 scorers.
Shavaun Dukes (14.3 ppg), AJ (13.0 ppg), Kevin Dunbar (12.4 ppg) and Calvin (10.0 ppg) are MMG’s leading scorers on the season. The quartet of players has been on fire this post season posting huge numbers for their team. With the season as stagnant as it was, I really couldn’t figure out MMG’s attack, but after watching their playoffs games. I can tell you that, this team is young and they love to push the pace. Their defense is not very strong especially in the low post and that is where Thad Lowe of the Hoopaholics should thrive.
The Hoopaholics will break down this MMG team with pinpoint execution and fundamentals and at the end of the day; the Hoopaholics will be the new Division 2 champions.
IBL Full Court Press 