The Full Court Press: Making The Grade | Division 1

The 12th season of IBL kicked off several weeks ago and things are in full swing as we head into the second half of the season. The summer is upon us, and players are returning home. The IBL has seen a rise in competition; especially at the Division 1 level. The page has turned and new dynasties will be forming. Two new teams (Running w/ Friends and Space Jam) have come in and quickly deemed themselves as contenders. Below the two; they’re six teams jockeying for position midway through the season.

IBL | Season XI | Division 3 | Final Four Preview

A pair of intriguing contests awaits the crowd that will assemble inside Ontario High School’s gym this Sunday evening for the Season 11 IBL Championship Weekend. The Stage has been set for the Division 1 and 2 finals. However 4 teams will have their eyes set on the Division 3 crown.

In the first game, scheduled to tip off just after 5:10 p.m, the Burger Kings, the No. 2 seed with a 7-1 record, will meet Coast2Coast, a six seed coming in off a win over No. 3 seed Mighty Healthy in the opening round. This weekend, the Burger Kings make their third consecutive trip to the divisions semi finals. This isn’t unfamiliar territory for this battle tested team. The Burger Kings have played in countless semifinal games.  A few players on the roster have even played in the championship game. The last time we seen the Burger Kings in the Championship was Season 9 when they lost to the repeating champion HiiiPower. The Burger Kings defeated the No. 9 seed Skywalkers (69-46)  last weekend in Claremont, behind the outstanding play of Charles Grays, David Aguilera (20 points each) and Vince Pryor (16 pts, 10 rbs) Joshua Payne and Mike Criscione also have made important contributions throughout BK’s season but were not in action last weekend.

Coast2Coast overcame the ever so daunting task of playing on Court 2 to prevail over third seed Mighty Healthy in the quarterfinals last Sunday. Paced by the terrific play of Jairo Lopez (26 pts, 14 rbs)  , they are hoping to clinch the team’s first championship berth. However this will be an uphill climb. After Lopez, you have to scan up and down the roster to find another player on the roster who is a viable offensive threat.

Players to Watch:

Burger Kings: Vince Pryor –  No one on Coast2Coast is capable of keeping Pryor in front of them. If his shot is falling early, it’s going to be a long day for Coast2Coast.

Coast2Coast: Jesus Alvarez – Alvarez will have to do all the dirty work for his team. That means clean up on the boards and make the hustle plays.

Wonton Soup vs. California Raisins

Now it wouldn’t be the IBL playoffs if the Cali Raisins and Wonton Soup didn’t meet. Sunday’s second Division 3 game will feature a the No.1 Seed California Raisins as they take on longtime rival Wonton Soup who finished the regular season as the fourth seed. Wonton Soup is  making their 5th trip to a divisional Final Four since Season 3 . After upsetting last season’s champs the MadVillians in the first round.

The Raisins on the other hand; shot their way past Slaughterhouse in a 79-49 debacle.Both teams met in Week 2 with the Raisins coming away with a 59-52 win. However no matter how many times the Raisins beat the Soup in the Regular season. They always find a way to lose in the playoffs. It’s sort of like a curse.GM Ashwin Sharma’s squad last reached the Final Four in Season 7, when they won it all.

Forward Jamaal Logan (16.2 ppg) leads Wonton Soup in scoring, followed by guard Brandon Taylor (11.9 ppg) and  guard Demetre Smith (11.3 ppg). After two up & down seasons with the California Swag Bears, Jaden Radcliffe jumped ship and leads the Raisins in scoring with (14.3 ppg) Kenny Saldana is the team’s second leading scorer with (13.1 ppg).

Players to Watch:

Wonton Soup: Josh Johnson–  the Honey badger seems to show up in big games and seems to always performs well while playing the Raisins.

California Raisins: Korey Davis –  Davis has been spotty all season, but with a trip to the championship game on the line look for him to have a big game, doing all the little things to help his team win.

IBL | Season XI | Division 2 Finals Preview | H.B.A.M vs. Special Delivery

H.B.A.M. vs. Special Delivery

Special Delivery vs. Special Delivery Jr. last season H.B.A.M took IBL by storm, after a subpar regular season the team got hot at the right time and ran all the way to the finish line to come away with the Season 10 Division 2 crown. Now fast forward 3 months later, H.B.A.M is back in the championship game to defend its crown. However this game means a little more to both teams. Seeing as three of H.B.A.M’s core players (Sammeon Waller (19.7 ppg, 4.6 apg) , Kevin Dunbar (15.7 ppg) & Dejuan Simmons (9.2 ppg) ) were once members of Special Delivery, a win over their former team will make this championship that much sweeter.

H.B.A.M leads the division in three of the four major team categories ( 67.7 ppg, 33.9 rpg, 14.0 apg) they however enter the game with a 8-1 record coming off wins over the Han$um Goonz (58-54) and Mile High (73-62), their lone loss coming at the hands of Special Delivery in Week 4 by 2 points (52-50).

Special Delivery enters the game as the #1 overall seed sporting a flawless 8-0 record. Coming off a blowout (70-49) semi final win over CSB.  This season has been quite an anomaly for Special Delivery. They’ve been a resilient bunch finding ways to win games. They’ve earned the right to play for the championship. Led by Alwyn “Bama” Jordan (13.1 ppg), Lester Cole (16.8 ppg), and David Schex (13.3 ppg), Special Delivery is a team that is hungry. Everyone knows what role they play and week in and week out; they go out on the hardwood and play a physical brand of basketball that has been effective all season long.

Players to Watch:

H.B.A.M: Shavaun Dukes–  as the teams 3^rd leading scorer, Dukes will have to pick up the slack if Waller and Dunbar get off to slow starts, as is more than capable of doing so. Dukes is the teams most efficient 3 point threat. Shooting a mere %42 from downtown.

Special Delivery: Ray Thompson– Thompson is the MKG of his team, a non stop motor, filled with hustle and can knock down the occasional 3 ball from time to time. Look for Thompson to take up the task of guarding the opposing teams best perimeter player.

IBL | Season XI | Division 1 Finals Preview | Cali Raisins vs. UnderRated

 

Led by former Whittier College standout point guard Jordan Ramos (7.6 ppg, 5.8 apg) and former UCSD product Alan Husted (22.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg); the upstart Cali Raisin (7-2) look to capture their first IBL Division 1 crown.   However standing in the way of such feat; are the reigning champions of the Division Under Rated (6-3) who are led by last season’s Finals MVP Jaime Villalobos (16.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg).  The two teams had similar regular seasons, and dominated the first two rounds of the opening rounds, despite what the final score may indicate.

The Raisins secured their spot in the championship game as they defeated the #2 seed Wolfpack after obliterating Dynasty in a high scoring affair (97-81). UnderRated secured their championship berth by taking down the #1 seeded Swisher’s in a 71-68 nail bitter. The Champs led by as many as 20 points for the majority of the game. Under Rated only played one game due to a forfeit by their first round opponent (Most Hated).

Season 11 tipped off with the Raisins coming back from a first half deficit and defeating the defending champs UnderRated (65-61) in Week 1. The teams played well throughout the course of the regular season and opening rounds of the playoffs to get to this point.

Both teams have similar playing styles and match up extremely well with each other. However the game will come down to who can string together defensive stops.  The Raisins like UnderRated are like a well oiled fine tuned machine, the chemistry and comradery between the players are excellent and they let their play do the talking so it is only fitting that they play each other for the division’s ultimate prize.

The X-Factor for the Raisins will be the team’s second leading scorer Jaden Radcliffe (14.7 ppg), Radcliffe is a lights out shooter and if he gets hot, Under Rated will be in for a long day. The X-Factor on the Under Rated side of things will be Luke Finalet. Finalet joined the team in the offseason after his former team had disbanded and has meshed well with his new teammates. After struggling in the first two games of the season, Finalet has since hit his stride and is the teams 3^rd leading scorer with 12.7 ppg.  Finalet can get hot in a hurry so it is important that he gets off to a hot start.  Other players playing key roles, will be Victor Lee (12.3 ppg) for the Raisins and Max Barkeley (9.2 ppg, 2.5 apg) for UnderRated. Barkeley hasn’t had his typical double-digit scoring average as he had during his first couple of seasons, but he is still an intricate part of the team. Barkeley’s play making abilities will be huge as his team looks to capture their second consecutive crown.

 

Players to Watch:

Cali Raisins:  Daryl Jones– in the open court no player is more fun to watch than Daryl Jones of the Raisins, he is a walking highlight reel and shot blocking machine.

UnderRated: Jonathan Kaker– Kaker is the team’s fundamentally sound big man. His array of post moves should get him easy baskets and seeing that Kaker had a terrible 1-8 shooting (3 points) performance in Week 1. He will be fueled to take his team over the top. The Road to the Repeat has been long, but the light at the end of the tunnel is only 40 mins away.

IBL | Season 10 | Division 3 | Championship Game Recap

 

 

#2 ASAP vs. #4 MadVillians

As in the other two divisions. A new champion has been crowned in Division 3, as the #4 seeded MadVillians pulled an upset over the #2 seed A$AP by a score of 54-46.

From the opening tip, you could see how engaged and focused the MadVillians were. Tre Fairman (11 pts., 11 rbs.) was active early and often on the glass just out hustling the opposition. While Terrance Clark (18 pts. on 7/10 shooting) shouldered the offensive load for his team, in the first half.

A$AP just could not match up offensively. The team had their worst shooting game, finishing 15/54 as a team. Jesus Contreras (12 pts., 7 rbs) kept his team afloat early with the help of Jesse Jimenez (7 pts, 4 rbs.) but with the team’s best 3 point shooter Robel Kevorkian (6 pts.) had an off game shooting 2/10 from 3 point range. With Kevorkian pretty much a non factor. Demetre Smith (15 pts. 5 rbs.) shouldered the scoring load late, however it was too little too late as the Mad Villains grabbed key rebounds when needed and team GM Red San Miguel hit a three pointer to ice the game and erase any doubt of the outcome.

This is the first Division Championship for Red San Miguel and the MadVillians. If this game was any indication of what’s to come, the division is in a lot of trouble. The MadVillians have size inside and shooters, they will be a force to be reckoned with for at least a few more seasons.

IBL | Season 10 | Division 1 | Championship Game Recap

#1 Most Hated vs. #2 UnderRated

A new champion has risen from the ashes in Division 1. Under Rated came in and set the tone early by hitting their open shots and tough defense. They withstood every run Most Hated threw their way, however due to winning the rebounding battle, Under Rated was able to put the game away late, to come away with a 63-55 win to hoist their first golden ball.

For namesake purposes, this was the perfect game. The current champions of the division and a hot rookie team squaring off in the division’s biggest game of the season. Under Rated’s Jaime Villalobos led all scorers for the game with 30 points on 11/18 shooting from the field. Villalobos also pulled in 7 boards to go with his game high 30 points. Going into the game I predicted that Larry Dew would possibly erupt for a big game, however Dew finished with 15 points on 5/13 shooting. Dew took a backseat to scoring with the emergence of Daimon Fleming. Fleming, who played with Under Rated for the past 3 seasons, joined to cast of Most Hated in the offseason and was eager to play his former team in the most important game of the season. Fleming was his teams X-Factor and found many ways to put the ball into the basket. He finished with 18 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Under Rated won this game with balanced scoring and cleaning up well on the boards. Max Barkeley (12 points) was the teams 2^nd leading scorer behind Villalobos. Jonathan Kaker was simply incredible in the paint and on the defensive end, pulling in a game high 17 rebound to help his team secure the win.

Most Hated kept the game close throughout and in the 4th quarter the team threatened with 6 straight points from Derrick Andrews (10 points), but they just had no answer for the energy and hunger of the Under Rated team. Under Rated finished their season with a 8-2 record, with their only losses coming at the hands of Dynasty and the WolfPack, two teams they defeated in the first two rounds of the post season.  Under Rated also keeps their win streak alive and it is now at 7 games.

Looking ahead to next season, this team packs quite a punch. The chemistry is unbelievable and they can only get better. Congratulations to team Under Rated, IBL’s Season 10 Division One Champions.

Game MVP– Jaime Villalobos (Under Rated)

With the win, Under Rated’s Brandon Kinard, Dominique Beebe and Nathan Apolonio become the first set of teammates to complete the IBL Sunday League Triple Crown (A championship in each of the 3 divisions).  It is a tremendous feat for the 3 individuals who have been mainstays in IBL for the past 8+ seasons.

IBL | Season 10 | Division 1 & 2 | Championship Game Preview

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.

 

IBL | Season 10 | Division 3 Playoff Preview

 

 

#8 A.D.A.N vs. #9 Burger Kings

Last season’s Division 3 runners-up, the Burger Kings will begin their Season 10 post season run. The journey will start when they take on the #8 seeded A.D.A.N team who have had their recent struggles. A.D.A.N was 4-2 before dropping their last two games. The Burger Kings season has been far from spectacular as well. Due to personnel issues earlier in the season, the team got off to a rough start but they have since rebounded and have played .500 basketball over their last few games. The duo of Jamaine Lee and Jamaal Logan will try to outduel the tandem of Tony Banta and David Aguilera when these two teams take the court.

 

#7 Slaughterhouse vs. #10 Those Guys

In a battle of two offensively challenged teams. #7 Slaughterhouse will take on the #10 seed Those Guys with a trip to the 2^nd round on the line. Both teams don’t really excel in any category as a team, but individual players on each team will be the story of the game. Jairo Lopez will need a lot of help from his teammates if Those Guys want to move on. For Slaughterhouse, their offense has been running through Aaron Gaulding Jr. the last few weeks and it has been effective for the most part. Gaulding is a defensive spark plug whose active hands on the defensive end lead to many opportunities on the offensive end.

 

#6 California Swag Bears vs. #11 X-Men

The Swag Bears embark on their quest to their 2^nd Division championship when they square off with the #11 seed the X-Men. The two teams met in the opening round of last season’s playoffs with the Swag Bears coming out on top. In a match-up earlier this season, the X-Men pulled out to an 18-2 lead only to fall behind late in the second half after a huge run by CSB. If the X-Men can control the tempo from the opening tap and convert at an efficient rate on their 3-point shot, I could see the X-Men advancing. However, if the X-Men fail to contain the flailing talents of CSB’s leading scorer Charles Grays, then this will be a very long game for the X-Men. The advantage goes to CSB who have a huge advantage in the paint with the season ending injury of Darrin Bitterolf of the X-Men.

 

#4 Mad Villains vs. #5 AM/PM TMGS

Last season’s #1 seed the Mad Villians will kick off this post season as the #4 seed when they take on the #5 seed AM/PM Too Much Good Stuff. When playing the MadVillians you kind of know what to expect.  A shooting exhibition.  AM/PM on the other hand will be playing inspired after the tragic loss of their teammate Ethan Gray. AM/PM will be fired up as they are not playing for themselves, they are playing for their fallen teammate. Look for a run n’ gun type of game with AM/PM moving on to the semi’s.

IBL | Season 10 | Division 1 Playoff Preview

 

After what has seemed to be about 15+ weeks of regular season play. The playoffs have dawned upon us in the New Year. The reigning champions

#1 Most Hated vs. #8 Mercenaries

After coaching their first couple of games while sitting out with an injury. Larry Dew has returned in full form, while leading the surging Most Hated to the playoffs and the #1 overall seed. Most Hated secured the #1 seed after clinching the tie breaker. With a win in their final regular season game. They will take on the #8 seeded Mercenaries, who have had a rough season to date. The Mercenaries have had a few flashes of brilliance, with the uber athletic Darnell Banks. They however have just not gotten it together for 4 full quarters. Most Hated is on a mission to repeat and as a group that has been together for 3+ seasons, I don’t see this team falling to an 8 seed

#2 UnderRated vs. #7 Wolfpack

Under Rated sits at #2 and in prime position to capture the gold ball when things are said and done. Their first test will be the #7 seed the Wolfpack, who have struggled as of late. The Wolfpack have lost their last few games, their last win coming over the men of Under Rated in a 74-70 Week 4 win. Both teams are hungry for a win. Gary McNellys and Tyler Poullard will have their hands full with the Under Rated team who will be playing very confident, due to their previous 4 point loss to the Wolfpack without the services of their top 3 scorers (Jaime Villalobos, Mike Stricker and Max  Barkeley). If McNellys can get and stay hot early. Poullard will be able to get open shots.

#4 The Pack vs. #5 Washed Up
The Pack vs. Washed Up. Now we have seen this story play out over the past few seasons. Washed Up has won 2 division championships and on both of those runs to the golden ball, they have faced the Pack. In Washed Up’s first couple of seasons, they would in essence be the “Big Brother” and bully the little brother The Pack. Last season, the tables turned and the Pack defeated their rival in the opening round. Convinced that his team would have won if they had 5 players. The two teams met earlier this season, with The Pack coming out victorious yet again.

#3 Dynasty vs. #6 Knicee

the #3 v. #6 match-up is quite intriguing. This is a match-up that would suffice in latter rounds, but Dynasty and Knicee have all the makings of a good ol’ fashion Barn Burner. Both teams posses high-powered offenses, who can fill it up in bunches. Knicee has picked up their play lately but due to players not showing up as they once did, they fell into the #6 seed. Looking back to earlier in the season, Dynasty was the #1 seed with a 4-0 record and was the last undefeated team in the division, but they dropped 2 of their last 3 and almost dropped their game to the winless Mercenaries. Every season GM Keith Hatter says his team will win the championship, and every season his team falls short. This is another season where Dynasty falls short.

IBL | Season 10 | Division 2 Playoff Preview

 

#7 UNDFTD vs. #10 Bromantic

In what was considered to be their redeem season after a disappointing semi finals loss to the eventual champs Quiksilver in last season’s playoffs has been all but redemption. The former champs and division powerhouse UNDFTD have stunk it up this season on the hardwood, which has landed them in the #7 spot with a 3-4 record. They open the post season taking on the #10 seeded Bromantic who is coming off a win in their opening round game over the #11 seed Dipset.  UNDFTD’s GM has confirmed that regardless of how this post seasons run ends; the team will not be returning next season.  With the emergence of Jazz Freeman as a potent scorer for Bromantic, UNDFTD’s defense will have their hands full. The game will be played according to who shows up. Literally. If UNDFTD can get all their players in the gym then this game is theirs. However if they don’t we will be looking at a #2 vs. #10 match up in the semi’s.

 

#8 Special Delivery vs. #9 MMG

In the 8 v. 9 matchup we have Special Delivery led by Lester Cole taking on the #9 seeded rookie team MMG. Special Delivery has regressed since last season’s disappointing playoff run where they fell to eventual runner-up HighLife. MMG has flown under the radar much of the season and haven’t really had any signature wins to date. Special Delivery should win this game just based off experience. They’ve been to the playoffs before and they know what it takes. Regardless of not having the team’s two key players from last season’s run (Alwyn Jordan & Sammeon Waller).

 

#3 American Deficit vs. #6 HOOPAHOLICS

The reigning champs of Division 2 will kick off their latest post season run when they take on the #6 seeded HOOPAHOLICS in the 2^nd round of the Division 2 playoffs. American Deficit has played under the radar for the most part of the season, and managed to secure the #3 seed with a 5-2 regular season record. With the core of last season’s championship team returning, GM Richard Hak added former BYU Point Guard Lamont Morgan to the mix for their race to the repeat.  On the other side of things, we have the HOOPAHOLICS, who are a well oiled fundamentally sound machine.  This team may not have the most athletic players, but they have been known to punish opponents with their execution, and selfless team play. If any team is capable of upsetting the champs and kicking off the post season with a bang it would be the HOOPAHOLICS.