Huarache 48, Generation 59

Sometimes, it’s just one of those nights. Before the game started, Generation only had five guys in the building with J.J. McGowan, Bobby Joseph, Jomo Davis, Adrian Miles and Brian Saul, and that whole loss avenging thing seemed like a pipedream. Featured in the key matchup, Richard Ting came out hot as he knocked down an open three and then scored again in the lane. But for Generation, recently anointed All-Star Rafael DaSilva (along with vets Joe Branch and Dan Cherry) was nowhere to be seen.

But all of a sudden, DaSilva showed up and it’s as if the wind changed. While McGowan was having a tough time getting started early on, letting the frustration of missed baskets get to him, once the fab frosh arrived the shots just seemed to fall. Knocking down a three to tie the game 7-7 at the 12-minute mark, McGowan (25 points, 5 rebounds) decided to let loose.

As any game would be after the All-Star break, the play was sloppy in the early going. Without an All-Star of their own in LeKeith Taylor, Huarache looked to the senior leadership of Pat Cassidy (14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) to keep the pace and allow them to stay in the game. But Generation’s zone defense was tough, not allowing entry passes on either wing, further exposing Huarache’s desperate need for a true point guard. By halftime, Generation had pushed their lead to eight, as they led 31-23.

While Huarache was struggling to find their offense, their bigger problem was on the defensive end. Despite solid D from Christian Grant-Fields, without Taylor in the middle as a shot blocking threat, Generation was running what seemed like layup lines en route to the hoop.

In the second half, DaSilva (19 points, 5 steals, 3 rebounds, 3 assists) came out gunnin’, while Will Perkins and Grant-Fields were trying to bring Huarache back into the game. Switching to a zone, the match quickly became about zone execution and who was going to get it done.

At the 15-minute mark, while Generation’s lead had dwindled to five at 36-31, McGowan was just getting started. On the other end, Grant-Fields was pleading for a call as he took it hard to the rim play-after-play, finally getting that and-one call as he converted to make it 42-41 with 10 minutes to go. But from that point, Generation went on a 7-2 run after they realized that McGowan and DaSilva were to quick for anyone on Huarache to guard.

Final score: Generation wins, 59-48.

	1	2		T
Huarache	23	25	-	48
Generation	31	28	-	59

Box Scores

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