Playing in Madison Square Garden is like no other place in the world. You remember shooting around in your backyard with the countdown going through your head? 5…4…3…2…1…swish. Well, last night that moment was played out by the members of Uptempo and Huarache. After some pre-game announcement thanks to yours truly, we were ready to go.

Billy Dodson got things going and hit the first bucket. And playing that tight defense with the trap right over half court, Huarache wouldn’t have it any other way. You could see that both teams were trying to work it around – especially on the large court – but everybody was missing their bunnies. Maybe it was the bright lights, maybe it was the raucous fans. But either way, the nerves were on. Everyone knew that his was it.

From the jump, LeKeith Taylor was being aggressive. While he deferred ...

Uptempo held on for dear life on Wednesday night, barely surviving a late run from Terminator before locking up a 44-42 nail biter of a semifinal victory. Uptempo, who secured their third straight NRF Finals appearance, had their tickets to Madison Square all but booked with less than two minutes to go before Terminator turned the game’s end from surefire conclusion into breathtaking finish.

After a basket from Scott Williams increased Uptempo’s lead to six with two minutes left, a bad turnover from Williams thirty seconds later ended up in a quick basket for Terminator center Al Reyes. With back-to-back misses on the front ends of Uptempo one-and-one’s, Jamaal Lesane inched Terminator closer by cutting the deficit to two. A good inbounds play drawn up for Uptempo forward Terrence Chin resulted in a trip to the line, where he made one-of-two and increased his team’s lead ...

Even a late-game appearance from Generation’s Superman couldn’t help save the day against Uptown Conference rival Huarache, who booked their tickets to Madison Square Garden and the NRF Final with a 59-53 in Wednesday night’s semifinal match-up. Playing without one of their top players, forward LeKeith Taylor, Huarache used a 39-19 advantage on the glass to eke out a victory after blowing a 21-point second half lead.

The first half of the match-up was a back-and-forth affair. An early Huarache technical failed to give either team a momentum boost, but Huarache forward Roscoe made his presence known with 10 first half points. Generation forward Tony Forte traded two acrobatic lay-ups in the paint with back-to-back strokes from Huarache guard Eric Raymundo late in the first half, and the first buzzer would hit with Huarache sporting a five-point lead.

Even though they looked shaky at times in the ...

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 ...

On paper, people were saying that Air Force 1 should easily win this game. But to say that would not validate Terminator’s great season. After a runner from Brandon Smith, Terminator answered right back with a three from Dan Gladstone. But as we noted before the game, this one was coming down to two players: Omar Grant and Paul Rivera.

From what I can tell, there aren’t too many people that Rivera doesn’t like. But from what I can tell, at least on the court, Rivera doesn’t like Grant. As two of the preeminent point guards in the League, these two just got at it! But with 10 minutes gone by, the score was just 10-10.

Then Terminator started to get that swagger that earned them the third best record in the League. Even though Air Force 1 was running nine deep for the first time ...

After watching Huarache dismantle Uptempo last week, Hyperflight could have just rolled over and died. But they don’t have an ounce of quit in their bodies. While it was definitely a tough game, especially missing three of their key guys, they battled their hearts out (at least for the first half) against a very impressive Huarache team.

Even though our key matchup never materialized – as neither Terance Takyi nor Chad Gittens was in the building – the role players stepped up. Jeremy Siler, who just might be the Most Improved Player this year, was an absolute beast. And while all season long he did his thing, Roscoe continued to get timely bucket and stops wherever he was.

If it’s tough to play from behind, it’s extra tough against a team with defensive prowess such as Huarache. And that’s where Hyperflight fell victim. With a lack of true ...

In a 1000-degree gym, the 2010 NRF Playoffs began. And if it means anything, Delta Force were the first ones on the board after a nice post move from Damian Bulluck. But getting his bucket parade underway, Scott Williams’ jumper had the shooter’s roll.

You knew this game was going to be a tough one, and early on each team was called for moving picks. But it was Uptempo’s ball movement – which all starts with Danny Milan at the high post – that got them going for easy buckets down low. And when you have Nick Blatchford hitting his threes, this team is in rare form. With nine minutes remaining in the half, Uptempo led 17-4.

At that point, it was make or break time for Delta Force. Were they going to go on a run? Were they going to make a stop? Or were they going to let ...

Air Force 1’s attendance problems are well chronicled, and with three starters missing, it was only a late appearance from seldom-seen Dao-Yi that gave the team a precious fifth player. Their opponents, even missing Mike Tumbarello and Keith Howard, were deep – eight Foamosexuals were in the building. Despite the depleted rosters, this third meeting between the teams was a chance for Foam to exact a measure of revenge for two close losses AF1 had handed them earlier in the season.

Midway through the first half, the score was deadlocked at 12-12, with AF1 striking from the perimeter courtesy of Brandon Smith and Bobbito Garcia, while Foam, enjoying a rare size advantage, earned buckets in the paint from Dave Jacoby and Ron Jackson. In the last few minutes of the period, Foam pushed ahead to take a 10-point lead on mid-range shooting from Brian Bachelor, transition buckets from Do Kim ...

As the NRF's two most dominant teams, both Uptempo and Huarache have figured out how to rack up easy buckets. For the defending champs, the method is long outlet passes and crafty shot selection; for the Uptown upstarts, opportunistic defense and perimeter firepower are the technique. But in their marquee 9pm showdown, Huarache made Uptempo scratch and claw for every point.

Early on, Scott Williams was matched up with high school teammate Billy Dodson, adding an extra wrinkle to the bristling intensity of this potential matchup between Madison Square Garden finalists. Rookie swingman Nick Blatchford went to the rack for a tough three-point play, but his attempt at repeating the feat resulted in having his shot launched into the stands courtesy of LeKeith Taylor's long arm. Midway through the first half, crusty warhorse Danny Milan went down clutching his leg and Huarache surged to an 18-8 lead. The ...

With the playoffs just around the corner, with a super hot gym and a dragged out NRF season, Dunk and Hyperflight were warm from the minute they walked into that piece (the gym). The first game was cancelled. So from 7:20 to 8:00, both teams were warm (or in need of Panama Jack Aloe Vera after tanning lotion). Also, both teams barely had five guys nearing the tip-off.

In the first half, the game was neck and neck, and this is usually how it is when these two squads battle each other. Maybe Hyperflight was trying to win one for the old three-point contest vet Lou Miguel. Who will Bobbito Garcia face next year in the finals? Everyone comes out for that battle. One thing I do know, Rafael DaSilva was gunning for a W tonight. Raf went for a quiet 30 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, 6 ...