2021-2022 Playoffs

	1. Blue
	4/4/22 @ 6:30 PM
4. Red		1. Blue
3/28/22 @ 6:30 PM	4. Red
5. Orange
		4/11/22 @ 7:30 PM	1. Blue
3. Purple
3/28/22 @ 7:15 PM	3. Purple
6. Black	4/4/22 @ 7:15 PM	2. White
	2. White

Round One, Game One: #4 Team Red versus #5 Team Orange

-It happens each year that a team that looks great on paper just doesn’t live up to expectations. Team Orange was that team this year. They seemed to have plenty of scoring, basketball IQ, and athleticism to compete with any team in HatchetBall. It rarely turned out that way. Often, they would dig themselves holes that put them too far behind. They never seemed ready to play. They were, basically, the polar opposite of Team Red. Kyle Garmes’ squad played hard for 40 minutes every game. They never let anyone run away from them and kept the pressure on. In the 3^rd matchup of the season for these two teams, the script was basically the same. Orange let Red get a big lead, came back to even it up, just to lose by a couple baskets. Team Orange’s season feels like a waste of potential. Team Red’s season feels like they maximized their potential every step of the way. So, seen from that perspective, maybe this outcome wasn’t too surprising. Red advances.

Round One, Game Two: #3 Team Purple versus #6 Team Black

-Sometimes you make a prediction that you believe in, but you almost feel bad when it comes true. That isn’t the case for Team Black. We all knew they would find a way to piss away a good opportunity and they came through on that. Team Purple was actually a decent matchup for them and they actually appeared in control for portions of this one. Team Purple was solid, with a much-needed scoring boost from Troy, but Team Black ultimately shot themselves in the foot by turning the last 5 minutes of the game into disorganized chaos. This has been the hallmark of the Steve/Chuck partnership. They are competitive and have had pretty fair regular season success. But when it matters most, they just don’t respond and rise to the occasion. It’s hard to think that will ever change. #FreeChuck

Round Two, Game One: #1 Team Blue versus #4 Team Red

-After a dominant regular season, Team Blue rightfully came into this game with supreme confidence. They raced out to a 15 point lead and looked like the dominant team we knew they could be. But, right on cue, Team Red dug deep and stayed the course, erasing the entire deficit by halftime. In the second half, after some infamous hi-jinks, they took control. It was obvious Team Blue was feeling the pressure. But to their credit, they hung in there to give themselves a chance. That chance came in the form of some unlikely heroics from an unlikely hero. Jake Brandner hit the biggest shot of Blue’s season and his life and squeaked his team to an overtime, where Team Blue was finally able to put the pesky Team Red to bed. The “better” team won, but Blue was fortunate to escape with the win and make it to the finals.

Round Two, Game Two: #2 Team White versus #3 Team Purple

-This was a fitting semi-final matchup between two teams that played reverse seasons. Team White struggled in the first half before becoming a slaughterhouse in the back half of the season. Team Purple looked like a contender early on, but skidmarked their way all the way to the postseason with a befuddling decline in play. Momentum matters in sports. It matters for a season and it matters for a single game. While Team Purple had all the roster tools to beat Team White, they were missing all the intangibles. Team White expected to win. Even when it was tied at half, they kept the pressure on and eventually Purple cracked. This one turned into a snoozer as Team Purple basically gave up. Another year of heartache for Troy. Jerry will get a shot at a 3-Peat.

Championship: #1 Team Blue versus #2 Team White

-In another year of transition for the league, we had a massive influx of talent and youth. Not only does this secure the longevity of the league, as these are the heirs to what we created, it also elevated the quality of the on-court play. Sometimes, in all the fun and antics, we lose sight that the whole point of this is to play basketball. We saw some great games and individual performances throughout the year, but in the title, we saw the true power of team basketball. Scoring leader Chris Soczek was held to just 12 points, but it didn’t matter at all. Team Blue had 4 players in double figures and stifled Team White on defense, holding them to a paltry 44 points. Team White battled courageously, but you usually can’t just hustle your way to more scoring. Jerry drafted for the safety of hard-nosed guys to support one of the best scorers in the league. The strategy mostly worked, but the lack of scoring and playmaking outside Justin was blatant in this one and left them at a huge disadvantage. Team Blue leaned on White until they succumbed. Matt Koll snagged his 4^th title. Brad Falco got his 1^st. Congrats to the winners. Next year should be an absolute bloodbath. Prepare yourselves.