Terminator 29, Uptempo 41

The Defending champion Uptempo team came out hot from the opening tip, with a spin to the rim from Terrence Chin-word to Clyde Frazier-to start the game with a 7-0 run. The Termies couldn't get on board until Dan Gladstone hit a runner in the lane and Omar Grant (10 points, five rebounds, four steals) made a lay-up over two defenders to keep the  deficit at seven (11-0 Uptempo). The boys in blue, built on the lead (18-7, 9:08 in the first) but neither team was able to finish on most of their fast-break opportunities. 

Six minutes remaining, captain Chin re-entered the game and dropped a dime for Jarek Carethers in transition (20-7). But the Team Term made a run behind Gladstone and Grant to cut the lead to five. Uptempo guard Jeff Chen made a diving cut to the basket off an in-bounds play and made the basket through contact for an old-school three-point play and a 23-15 lead at the half.

Back to back buckets from Carethers helped push the lead to 10 (27-17). After another bucket in the paint from Chin, Uptempo goes to Carethers who was a complete workhorse (13 points, 13 rebounds). Scott Williams (14 points, eight rebounds) helped cap the 10-2 run, with a pass to Chen for the breakaway layup and a 33-17 lead.

At the 9:38 mark, Williams threw an oop to Carethers for the 37-19 push. A four-point play from Gladstone (14 points, six rebounds) late in the game to cut the lead to 14 was as close as the Termies came to dethroning the Champs.

"Well, we had to win," Williams said. "We made huge plays on defense and cane away with the W. Our defense and having fun were the two biggest keys to victory tonight."

A lack in chemistry was a reason for the Terminator loss-that and only having five players. 

"It's been a disappointing season and lack of attendance killed our Chemistry," Gladstone said. "We have a core group of guys that we'll be able to build around and we'll be back strong next year."

Box Scores