Foamposite 54, Uptempo 53

The night of the underdog continued, as Foamposite jumped out to an early 11-10 lead behind Do Kim’s (six points, three steals) quick moves to the rack. Uptempo had their normal game plan of a fast paced offense but team Foamposite had obviously scouted well and did their best to stay in the half-court game play, taking a 23-13 lead with 1:37 left in the half. Team Uptempo set a full-court press to speed up the game but Team Foamposite simply gave the ball to Do Kim, who ran through the press for a halftime lead.

The balance of speed (Do Kim and Keith Howard) and power (Ron Jackson) helped Team Foamposite get an early 33-29 lead in the second half. Jeff Chen subbed in and knocked down a mid-range jumper to cut the lead 35-31. At the 7:30 mark, Scott Williams (19 points, five assists, four steals and four rebounds) showed up and hit the night’s second four-point play, cutting the lead to one (36-35). But Howard (24 points, five rebounds) answers back with a drive to the cup, to push the lead back to three. With three minutes left and the score 40-40, Jackson hits Howard in the lane off the curl to go up two. Jarek Carethers (16 points) hit’s a wide open three to take a 43-42 lead but is answered on the next play by an Evan Waterman (12 points) 3-pointer (45-43). Nick Blatchford (seven points) draws a foul with 4.1 left on the clock and hits both to force the games first overtime.

After opening fast-break buckets from Do Kim and Howard, Blatchford hit a jumper to tie the game at 49. Carethers drove through the Foamposite zone for an and-one but missed on the free throw (51-49, Uptempo). With four seconds left, Howard again gets the pass in the lane for the tie, this time from David “Vlade Da-Di Divac” Jacoby to force a second OT.

“This is better than any high school, college or NBA game I’ve seen all year,” said CGF. “This is like Syracuse vs. UConn, right now.”

Both teams played it smart in the second OT, taking and making only one basket. Waterman knocked down a two pointer in the lane for Foamposite and hit a runner in the lane, (53-53). In the third OT, Do Kim played keep away with the rock until teammate Howard drew a foul on a drive at 8.6 seconds. He only hit one but it was all he needed as Foamposite held on to a 54-53 win.

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