Foamposite 29, Generation 33

What a way to start a game. Tony Forte, who I hear eats weights for lunch, started with a monster block. But besides that, the first five minutes were pretty quiet. Nursing a 4-2 lead, Generation and their crew of eight deep was just physically stronger and longer on the floor. Case in point: After grabbing the loose ball, Danny Alotta threw it down court to Joe Branch for a ridiculous dunk attempt (that didn’t go in).

With both teams in search of buckets, Generation’s 8-2 lead at the 10-minute mark seemed like a ping-pong score. Was it hot in the gym? Yes. Were ice cubes melting and diluting lemonade. Yes. Could teams hit shots? No. And there were easy shots to be had. Finally breaking the draught, Brian Bachelor dropped it down to Chris Petrie for the and-one. It was go-time.

And although the lead was now 10-7 with five minutes to play, Foamposite put no offense on the floor. I realize you gotta rest your guys, but you also gotta score some points. But you gotta hand it to Do Kim for making moves late in the season. Playing without suspended Mike Tumbarello, the big man tandem of David Jacoby and Andrew Simon were coming up huge. At the half, Generation’s lead was just 12-11.

Thankfully, there were some quick buckets to satiate the appetite of the fans (and the media) still in the building. But can you imagine a 16-13 Generation lead with 15 minutes left in the game? I didn’t think so. Were there lids on the hoops? Nope, I checked. Was the basketball covered in the ectoplasm? Nah, I don’t think so. Whatever it was, thankfully Dan Solomito finally hit a three.

Here we go people. A win in this game meant a trip to play Huarache – a.k.a. “A trip to the executioners” – next week. And with 10 minutes left, Generation’s lead was 23-16. With the ball movement, the rebounding and the experience, Generation simply acted like they’d been there before. Probably because they had.

But a three from Bachelor and the game was 23-19. But any time they got close, it seemed a Solomito jumper in the lane was exactly what the doctor ordered. Before you knew it, there were two minutes left and Generation was up 27-23. Everybody was ready to faint. To finish this one out, Generation couldn’t hit from the line, and Foamposite wasn’t fouling the right people (or quick enough.) Although they did the whole foul and free throw dance, it was too late.

Final score: Generation wins, 35-29.

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