Huarache 43, Terminator 60

For the first game of the night, things were looking bleak from the outset. Not only was there all of one fan in the stands at tip-off, but Huarache – desperately needing a victory – was without arguably their two best players in LeKeith Taylor and Christian Grant-Fields.

From the start, both teams were entrenched back in their respective zones, a stands 2-3 from the depleted Huarache squad and a 1-3-1 for Terminator. Freshly inked to a 10-day contract, coach Tony Chan was back on the floor for Terminator and seemed to have picked up a thing or two over the first eight weeks observing the rest of the league.

Despite only having seven players, Huarache jumped out to an early lead behind inspired play from Will Perkins, who fans that started to trickle in to the crowd affectionately called LeKeith Jr. Playing with athleticism and skying for loose balls, Perkins (10 points, 13 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, 2 blocks) was the lone big body Huarache had to throw at the likes of Al Reyes, Treasure Kyn Neal and Myorr Jahna and held his own.

Reyes, realizing that he was the biggest man on the court, was aggressive in the post. Coupled with the long-range detinations of Brendan Callahan (14points, 4 treys, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists) and cut throat play of Dan Gladstone (20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks), the game remained close. But after two early bank shots and a three by Richard Ting, Huarache was looking to play the part of spoiler. At the half, Huarache led by one, 22-21.

In the second half, Ting (17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists) picked up right where he left off, knocking down another bucket and continuing his onslaught. Teammate Pat Cassidy was being bothered by Callahan, who may have gotten to second base once Terminator switched to man. And both teams were getting scrappy. Seeing that third W looming led to lots of fouls as the battle raged on.

Then something happened. After Huarache regained the lead 41-40 after two Ting free throws, Callahan hit a trifecta that took the wind out of Huarache’s sail. Next thing you know, Terminator rattled out an 18-0 run and the game was out of reach. Although Huarache was able to muster one final bucket in the last ten seconds, the damage was done. After a 20-2 run, Terminator got their third victory of the season.

Final score: Terminator wins, 60-43.

	1	2		T
Huarache	22	21	-	43
Terminator	21	39	-	60

Box Scores

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