#1 Morningwood vs. #8 Canyon City Basketball/Dictators
After 7 Weeks of play the reigning champions Morningwood (7-0) are ready for the “real” season, they start their title defense as they take on Canyon City/ Dictators (Depending on a tiebreaker between both teams). Morningwood enters the game with a flawless 7-0 record, this is their second undefeated season, the last time they entered the playoffs with a 7-0 record was Season 2 where they hoisted the trophy at the end of their playoff run. The team seems adequately prepared for this run, the big man in the middle Dewayne O’Neal leads the way for this team he has finished his 5th consecutive regular season averaging a double-double (15.9 PPG, 14.0 RPG). Below O’Neal on the stat sheet is one half of the Pickett brothers Diahnte Pickett (14.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG), Rich Cobarrubias finished the season as the teams third leading scorer with (14.1 PPG).
Canyon City Basketball (1-5) and the Dictators (1-5) as well as everyone other team, entered the season with high hopes to earn a playoff berth and play for a championship, both teams have only recorded one win this season but are still very much in the discussion for the 8th and final playoff spot. The two teams will square of in a tiebreaker game and the winner will take on Morningwood in the first round. Canyon City Basketball is led by Phil Conklin (15.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG), and Travis Campbell (14.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG). The Dictators are led by Tongun (13.8 PPG, 9.0 RPG), Lonnie (11.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG), Andrew (12.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG), Sam (10.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG).
Both teams will encounter one of their greater challenges of the season when they take on the Champs, there will be no (#8 Golden State – #1 Dallas) upset look for Morningwood to breeze by any of these two teams, with their stifling defense, their accurate 3-point shooting, and most of all their post presence Dewayne O’Neal. The injured Derrick Pickett will most likely not suit up for this first round playoff match-up as his presence on the court will not be needed.
#2 STAT vs. #7 Fly Society
If you’ve been in the IBL the past two seasons, you would know one of the hottest rivalries is between the two youngest teams in the division STAT and Fly Society. These two teams have played each other once in the past two seasons splitting the two games with STAT coming out on top this current season. The teams have gone opposite ways in terms of Win/ Losses (STAT 5-2-Fly Society 2-5) but Fly Society has found a way to sneak into the playoffs to play spoiler. If there was any team that STAT would not want to face in the first round it would have to be Fly Society, due to the simple fact that both these teams match-up very well with each other. In their previous regular season match-ups neither team won by a margin larger that 2 points .
Fly Society has had a rough road to this point, they’ve had several personnel issues through-out the season, but have pulled it together for this playoff run. They’ve lost their last 3 regular season games and released key players (Jairo Lopez, and Damien Ephriam). Jaime Villalobos (11.7 PPG, 9.3 RPG) is nursing an injured ankle, team GM Desean Collins (11.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG) is “broken” the majority of the time, and in their last regular season game big man Ralph Chavez (15.6 PPG, 11.4) literally ran out of gas, as he could not get subbed out of the game due to match-up reasons. We all know what to expect from these 3 players but the X-Factor for this team is Robert Aguilar (8.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG) Aguilar has a smooth offensive game and may cause problems for the opposition.
After their Week 1 come from behind victory over Fly Society (46-45), STAT has slowly gained the respect of several league analysts as they’ve defeated 3 other playoff bound teams. Most of their victories have been by double digits. This team is the best defensive squad in the division holding the majority of their opponents under the 50 point mark (47.5 PPG) this season. The off-season acquisition of Anthony Fitzpatrick went unnoticed by many, he however has been a crucial piece to STAT’s success this season averaging (14.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG), the Big Man Danny Longmire has also been playing his best basketball since his first IBL Season with CFB. Longmire is averaging a double-double (12.7 PPG, 11.0 RPG). The play of Longmire and Fitzpatrick has freed up the 3 point specialists ( Robel Kevorkian 9 3Pts Made and Jimmy Nguyen 11 3 Pts. Made). The X-Factor for this STAT team is the play of point guard Brandon Kinard (9.6 PPG), Kinard is having one of his best offensive seasons to date, a lot of credit has to go to his improved jump shot and superb speed.
This game will indeed be intense, and will most likely go down to the wire. I can certainly see both teams coming out with the victory, however the game will go according to which players show up. Fly Society has made some noise from the #7 spot before as they upset a #2 seed before; they defeated the #2 seed Brown Mambaz in Season 3. Lets hope STAT takes note of this teams talent and not their record.
#4 Washed Up vs. #5 Do Work
Besides the game above, this is one of the more intriguing match-ups of the first round. #4 Washed Up takes on #5 Do Work, for the past two season Do Work has been in the IBL’s “ELITE” conversation but after losing in the Finals to Morningwood last season the team has had a major face-lift. They’ve replaced their leading scorer from a season ago Kenneth Ubom with newcomer Adam (16.6 PPG, 8.8 RPG) one of the Do Work “Originals” that did stick around for this season Dominic Smith is the team second leading scorer averaging 11.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.2 APG).
After losing their first 2 games of the season Washed-Up has been on a quiet 5 game win streak. After Morningwood this team seems to be the favorite to win the championship. They’re led by Richard Coombs (18.8 PPG, 8.5 RPG), Earl M., (18.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG) and Earl J. (13.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG).
Washed Up has an offense that consists of 3 point shooting and second chance points. Do Work will have a hard time containing the shooters for this team, this game can swing either way, but I see Washed Up keeping their Win Streak alive to meet the winner of the (#1 vs. #8) match-up.
#3 Knicee vs. #6 IBall
These two teams met in Week 7 with Knicee prevailing 56-40. Knicee seems to finally found the on switch and chemistry seems to be there for this team. That is what they’ve lacked most in their losses. Knicee will be without the services of PG Marcus Angeles (23.3 PPG) as he is ineligible for any playoff action with only 3 out of the mandatory 4 games played.
Knicee is led into this first round match-up by John Dang (15.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG) Dang has been the cornerstone of Knicee’s offense for multiple seasons now. Behind Dang is free agent pick-up Jesse Jimenez (11.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG) Jimenez was the teams leading scorer in their Week 7 match-up with I Ball, he finished with (18 points and 5 rebounds). The key component to this game will be who can rebound the ball, Knicee had a major advantage with Odell Howard (13.3 RPG) and Minh Thong (7.7 RPG) in their front court to snatch rebounds they out rebounded IBall (37-22) in Week 7. Howard had a game high 15 boards.
I Ball enters the game with their 16 point loss in the back of their minds. I Ball does not seem to have any statistical advantage over Knicee for the season, however behind a stellar performance from Tony Bell (12.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG) , Wilson Fiallos 11.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG), and Daimon (9.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG) a #6 over #3 upset may be plausible.
Knicee is way to stacked at the guard position and the big men will eat up every board of the rim for second chance opportunities. Knicee should take this game and advance to the second round.
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+ Game Previews, recaps and write-ups are articles written by Nathan Apolonio.
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