Generation 35, Hyperflight 43

 

"Everyone makes the playoffs"

 

Whenever a team had a tough loss, or even sometimes as a reminder for teams not to get too comfortable, the fact that the post-season is promised to all was constantly uttered in the NRF. Generation and Hyperfuse were two teams banking on the fact that they had a spot in the second-season. Both teams had rough regular seasons but come March 2nd, everyone starts back at zero. 

 

Team Gen and the Hyperflight squad started the '11 NRF playoff's looking tighter than five Shaq's in a Volkswagen beetle. That is until all-star Niko Klansek boogied behind his back to the rim, for the score in traffic. Fellow all-star and Hype-mate Jeremy Siler played pick-pocket at half-court, and helped Hype to a 5-4 lead. But Generation veteran Joe Branch hit a three to send a message and take a two point lead.

 

The two teams didn't go away from what they've done all year, as Generation ran half-court iso plays and Hyperflight tried to push as much as possible. Klansek and Siler each connected on and-one's late in the half to take a 12-9 lead but J.J. McGowan (10 points) got involved knocking down a shot to keep Generation in the game. Branch also responded with a three late in the half, but Hyperflight held on to a 17-14 halftime lead.

 

Jamaree Pinkard helped extend the lead at the start of the second off a drive to the cup. But Dan Solomito hit a 3-pointer to keep Generation in the mix (21-18, Hyperfuse).

 

A shoving match between Solomito (10 points, six rebounds) and Siler got both teams revved up, midway through the second half. But it seemed like the battery in Siler (eight points, six rebounds) back was a bit more charged, after he nailed two unanswered buckets and helped his team to a 27-20 lead.

 

"Me and Dan got a little emotional but it's the playoffs," Siler said. "But our team plays emotionally and this like is one of the few time all season that we've had the whole team together. I'd catch a tech again if I had to," Siler added.

 

Never one to be rattled, Branch (10 points, seven rebounds) took matters into his own hands, playing tough on the block an bringing Generation back within two. Solomito followed suit and scored in the paint, giving Generation a one point lead (28-27). A Bobby Jones three at the 8:30 mark, gave Hype a one point edge. On the ensuing play, Pinkard and Jones hooked up for the give and go and a three point lead. Now up 35-29 with four minutes to go, Klansek (10 points) hit a three for a nine point cushion. Generation cut the lead to four with three tics left on the clock but Hyperfuse held on for the 40-36 win.

 

"This season was very humbling from a basketball standpoint," Branch said. "Every year, teams have gotten better. They played well and did the little things. We had a chance to win but we haven't done the little things all year. That's that," he added.

 

Hyperflight now has a chance to knock off the Wu-tang Killa' Bee's (Huarache) next week, which has been tough to say and impossible to do all season.

 

"Hopefully we catch Takyi DJ'n at an Armani party in Milan next week or something," Siler said. "But at this point we're all 0-0 and trying to make the Garden."

 

 

	1	2		T
Generation	0	36	-	35
Hyperflight	0	40	-	43

Box Scores

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