2016-2017: Week 11 Player Reports

9:00 - Team Vito (Orange) vs. Team Beave (Grey)

-This game was a laugher, of course, but it also most likely ended Team Grey’s season. Having to play Orange, Green, and Blue back-to-back-to-back was a cruel bit of luck heading into the playoff chase, but Grey had already dug their own grave with their selfish play all season long. Rob coasted to a near triple-double (17,13,9) and Jerry didn’t even show up. If nothing else, 2016-2017 will teach Steve not to take his teammates for granted; a lesson Troy has had to learn for five years straight.

10:00 - Team Vito (Green) vs. Team Bo (Yellow)

-Green continues to impress, easily handling the much bigger Team Yellow as they kept their undefeated season going. With a younger, more mobile squad (except for Fatt V), Team Green has benefitted from not having a ball-dominant lead player. Surely baby Statham is the focal point of their offensive attack, but he isn’t involved in much more than quick transition sequences. The rest of Green’s possessions are dedicated to sharing the ball around the perimeter until an opening presents itself. They are one of those teams that tease you with their small size and seeming lack of playmakers, causing other teams to gamble and put themselves out of position. Matt V has yet again drafted a deep team with very few weak spots. Drafting Varejo in the fifth round turned out to be a master stroke from a master stroke. Without his size and hustle, they would be helpless below the free throw line. Team Yellow continues to flail. This game illustrates how inconsequential size can be on a small court like the HatchetDome.

11:00 - Team Garmes (Blue) vs. Team Brennan (Red)

-Team Blue has a funny way of bringing the best out of their opponents, it would seem. It’s likely a mix between envy for the success of HatchetBall legend Mark Koll, hatred for Luke’s ethnic features, and bad team defense, but whatever it is, Team Blue has lost three out of their last four and you really couldn’t say they deserved to win any of the games they lost. Their scrap with Team Orange in Week 8 was an ugly dogfight that could have gone either way, but the losses to Green and Red were both sound defeats. Team Blue cannot keep pace with 80-90 point games; their defense must slow down opponents and keep the game in a more manageable range. With Mark and Luke attributing for 80%+ of the points, they need final scores in the 60’s and 70’s to gain an edge. It’s a good time for Matt Koll to wake up. If a thorough beat down from a skilled, but pretty soft, player won’t inspire him to get into playoff mode, then he might as well just retire now.

Standings

Team	Captain	Win	Loss	Record	Win %	Streak
Green	Matt V	8	0	8 - 0	1.000	W8
Orange	Vito	6	2	6 - 2	0.750	W3
Blue	Garmes	6	3	6 - 3	0.667	L1
Red	Brennan	5	4	5 - 4	0.556	W3
Light Blue	Guinane	4	4	4 - 4	0.500	L3
Yellow	Bo	2	6	2 - 6	0.250	L3
Dark Blue	Tierney	2	6	2 - 6	0.250	L1
Grey	Beave	0	8	0 - 8	0.000	L8