Terminator 49, Hyperflight 52

Basketball is all about runs. Doesn't matter how you start, or how you finish, but how many runs you can put together throughout the game to put yourself in the position to win. To begin this game, Terminator jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead before Hyperflight battled back to make it 9-8 at the 15-minute mark. And with all those runs, it's great defense that makes everything else possible.

Early on, despite their solid play, things were going against Hyperflight. After a rough first game, the tech-happy refs handed out another one to jovial Jay Corbin who was less than pleased with a call. Also, when Hyperflight was making it to the line, they kept missing their free throws. And if their offense wasn't hurting enough, their rotation on the defensive end just wasn't cutting it. Case in point: Dan Gladstone hits a three with five minutes remaining in the first half to make it 24-20.

But things change. After getting two Tommy Points on one play for his hustle on the ground, Jeremy Siler made a bucket to tie the game 27-27. And while they would have been happy to go into halftime all tied up, Omar Grant had other plans. After missing last week's game, it took Grant almost the whole first half to re-find his rhythm, but he definitely did as he converted a layup right as the buzzer sounded in the half.

In the second half, the offense was flowing (finally) for Hyperflight. (Which is kind of ironic if you think considering their point guard, Chad Gittens, wasn't there.) Tied and 36-36 with 14 to play, both teams were digging in on the defensive end, but it was Siler and Niko Klansek that stood out from their peers. Forming a tenacious twosome in the lane, these two (who looked like they'd each lost 35 pounds) were getting after it. But continuing to attack the cup, Grant wanted everyone to know that he is tough as nails.

Just like in the first half, the action behind the arc was coming at the hands of Gladstone. Possessing one of the most deadly three-point arsenals in the NRF (on the low), his trifecta and jumper pushed Generation's lead to 45-37 with just under 10 minutes to play. But as good as Gladstone was from three, his backcourt mate was getting a little too comfortable pulling from NBA range. While Grant can definitely knock those down, they were definitely the wrong shots at that point in the game. And with neither team boxing out, it was all about executing on every trip down the floor.

So here came Hyperflight charging back. Derrin Woodhouse tied the game 46-46 with three minutes to play, before another trey bomb from Gladstone pushed the lead back in favor of Terminator. But unlike other games this season where Hyperflight disappeared in the final minutes, they seemed to find themselves as time was winding down. On one play, Klansek stole the ball, missed a layup, but then Siler got the rebound, got it back to Klansek, and he converted underneath.

With a one-point lead and 30 seconds to play, Klansek came up huge once again, this time blocking David Morissy in the lane. After sinking two free throws, Terminator had one more chance - a running three ball from Grant - but the attempt was in-and-out. Game over.

Final score: Hyperflight wins, 52-49.

	1	2		T
Terminator	29	20	-	49
Hyperflight	27	25	-	52

Box Scores

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