Category: BeerCityHoops

Nines stay atop the standings, City goes fishing

Seeding Round and Elimination Game highlight Week 11

 

It really all had to happen over Spring Break while players, coaches, and League staff were finally getting a chance to escape the pandemic for a few slight moments. Yes, folks, it all came down to who showed up in Week 11.

In Game A, otherwise known as the 7pm game (which normally starts about 7:12p, sigh), the Nines worked their way to a 59-55 win over the Crew to solidify their #1 seed in the Playoffs. With the win, the Route Nines achieved the storied honor of choosing their semi-final opponent. They have the option of facing off against the Crew for a second week in a row, but will have to weigh the return of players for both teams. MJ did his thing.

In Game B (we started at 8p, not bad), the Greens took advantage of an injury-riddled City team. Behind $ilky’s team season-best 43 points, the Green Ligers made a run just after halftime to send the City of Bridges into the 3rd game of the night and a date with possible elimination.

Oh, the terror of playing your last game of the season. That’s the nightmare the Hawks and City had to deal with. After a tough loss to the Greens and an immediate turnaround in a game against the hungry Hawks team looking to notarize the playoff paperwork late in the year. After a stretch of 7 straight losses, the Hawks won big in Week 9 and lost by 1 in the final game of the regular season. But Tuesday night, the Red Hawks of Force were flying a stealth bomber right up and over the defense of the City squad. “Green Light” Bandit led the way in the final 3 quarters, but really put it away in the 2nd. Mr94Feet and Berlin Wall complimented well and fan favorite Big Baby did his thing, driving the gallery into a frenzy.

 

 

Today is #NationalBeerDay, so go pop a top at a local shop and drop and flop some cash on your favorite people in the industry.

Los orders up a Fifty Burger with cheese in Nines victory over Greens

Los drops league-record 52 points

After a slow offensive start to the night, the Nines overcame a 26-8 deficit to push themselves into first place of the Gr3g League, beating the Greens, 73-70.

Without backcourt running mate MJ on the court, Los and the Greyline 9 looked to Boston, Red Leif and Goolay to methodically tear down the defensive wall the Ligers had built early.

$ilky did his best to keep the game close, scoring 30 to lead his squad while Moten (16), Sam Awry (10) and B Buckets (10) all hit for double digits.

The Nines moved to 6-2 overall and hold down first place for another week. The Greens fell to 3-4 before a quick turnaround against an up-and-coming City of Bridges club.

the Crew basketball logo

Crew builds the stage, puts on a show, then dims the lights on the Nines

In the race for first place coming out of the All-Star break, the Purple Crew surprised the Greyline Nines with a 56-40 victory.

Loubalance (22 points) and Jackson Sr. (21 points) led the Crew (5-2), who are now considered the league leaders, due to point differential (+81).

Playing in their second game of the night, the 40 points for the Nines (5-2) was their lowest output of the season. While MJ put up 19, Los was held to just 6 points. This time Greyline had the trouble in the middle as the Crew’s Diesel and Spaghetti owned the boards.

 

Nines game footage

Nines get early Week 7 victory over City

In the opening game of Week 7, the Greyline Nines rode the MVP-caliber duo of MJ and Los to a 69-56 victory over City of Bridges to take sole possession of first place in the Gr3g League.

MJ shoots photo
MJ swings the gate on the picket fence during Week 7.

MJ’s 27 and Los’ 24 (51 total) were the most by teammates in a game this season. The ability of the Nines (5-1) duo to find hidden paths to the lane and shoot from range helped the rest of the squad find open shots around the outside.

D Nags once again found his stroke from deep leading City (4-3) with 27 points but the team lacks dominant size in the middle amid their 4-out offense and the Nines were able to clean the glass efficiently.

 

 

 

Week 4 Recap: the Gr3g League

With the winter weather lifting a little bit early in the late weeks of February, the winds of change bring a newfound level of pressure that arrived on the scene suddenly on court Tuesday night at the Knapp Shack.

In Game 1, the Hawks hosted the Nines in the first 4v4 matchup of the season. With no subs, the Nines paced themselves to a nice lead just after half but watched as the red jerseys completed a second half comeback to send the game to overtime. Los, who finished with 28 points, scored the first four points in the extra period and MJ, who led all scorers with 31 points, put the final pickle in the bucket to seal the victory, 74-68. Bandit (20), Mr94Feet (15) & the Berlin Wall (12) all reached double figures.

Due to the shortened schedule the Hawks were back on the court in Game 2, this time facing off against the Greens. This game’s tempo took a slow roll to a 49-48 Greens lead with just seconds to go. On the last inbounds of the game, the Hawks last shot attempt went awry and the green Ligers escaped with the victory as Moten led the way with 21 points. Bandit scored 23 for the Hawks.

League leaders City of Bridges walked onto the court in the final game of the night to take on the Crew but limped off after an offensive 2nd quarter where they went scoreless. The Crew has found their point guard in Ureste, who finished with 23 points, and a go-to guy in Jackson Sr., who led all scorers with 28. City’s own Jackson continued his double-digit scoring streak with 11 to lead the Bridges.

Heading towards the last week of the first half, the standings look as follows:

PosTeamWLPCTGBHomeRoadL10STRKPFPADIFF
1930.75007-22-18-2L176972148
2850.6151.54-14-46-4L169661977
3570.41744-21-54-6L1666695-29
4570.41744-41-33-7L4638710-72
5490.3085.50-34-64-6W3667680-13

 

Jackson Walker “Larry Bird” Dog (8/7/2006-1/21/2021)

It is with a heavy heart and an empty soul that we bring you the news of the passing of Jackson Walker “Larry Bird” Dog.

He was 80 dog years old. That’s 14 1/2 in human years. He was preceded in death by his brother Chauncey, sister Oakley and lifelong friend Gertie.

Bird is survived by his sister, Zazou Louise, his mumma Jilly and his pop-pa Gr3g.

Born in Lakeview, Michigan on August 7th, 2006, this little guy has been the backbone of the happiness and joy that his people have felt since day one. Upon meeting the young pup, Grizzly and M jumped in their own vehicle to head out that way to make sure Chauncey was also well taken care of.

Throughout his years, the Springer Spaniel named after “the best boss ever” Kristi Jackson, President 43 George Walker Bush and the legend Larry Bird would continue his ways of bringing folks joy and some water “from the bottom of the bucket”. This kid could not stay dry. Any chance of rain, snow, ice, sleet or a simple cloudy mist, he was at the back door ready to pounce on the slippery slope of muddy knolls and grassy rabbit holes.

During the late summer of 2006, Jackson told Gr3g “we’re not going to AZ. You take that Postal job.” Had it not been for that moment, poppa Gr3g and mumma Jilly would never have met.

An avid front seat rider, his best move was sliding his face out the back window to slobber all over the driver’s side on the highway and just chill while cruising through the City streets.

Adventures on the road were key to the relationship between Bird and Gr3g. Whether it was in the blue Ford pickup, one of those Sables or these last few rides in the HoopsGiRl, they’d both sing away at high volume, low key. Houghton and northern Wisconsin, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, and the Lake Michigan shore were favorites.

While his physical abilities diminished over time, little man wanted to jump off the 3rd step every time. Every time. Even earlier this week. There was no give up in him.

In lieu of flowers, handwritten notes of kindness and remembrance would be greatly appreciated. Send to BeerCityHoops, 1971 E. Beltline NE #106-140, Grand Rapids, MI 49525.

If you would like to make a monetary contribution in honor of Bird, please visit www.gr3ghoops.org or Gr3g Hoops on Facebook.

Until we run again…

Godspeed, Bird. “Daddy’s Little Man”. I love you.

 

 

“Dear BeerCityHoops” -Gr3g

Whether I say goodbye now

or wait until season’s end

the same will be said

by all of my friends

“It was always the ball,

with his eyes on the Hall.”

So I’ve given my bones, my breath, my sweat and my tears. 

I’ve given 45 years.

and now it’s you that I cheers. 

“’cause I’d rather hit the mic

and later local beers.”

Blossomed from a note signed by the beauty Jill Green,

“go podcast that talk about the local sports scene.”

Fell down the stairs but can not deter

that dream that she mused, “here it is now!”. 

From the concrete at Langley where an NBA legend took aim, I will forever thank St. Paul’s where I first took aim. 

Saturday mornings I was a Falcon

like I was Loy Vaught

but it was MLK, Ridgemoor, IHM & CC where I was taught.

From the Dentist to the Boilermaker

Mr. Toothpick and Coach T,

nothing stays with me more

than the B-E-E….BEEF! 

“Bend those knees, eyes on the basket, elbow under the ball, and follow through”.

 

With that, it’s time for the Gr3g to take a step back and head up to the TV broadcast booth for the remainder of the 2020-21 BeerCityHoops League season as we find an appropriate way to complete the inaugural season for the players involved. Thus, any player(s) drafted by the Buzz are now fully eligible to SUBSTITUTE at any time for any team (no more than 2 games weekly).

 

 

 

Pre-Draft trades made to order

Friday night in a dark, smoke-filled room somewhere on the WestSide of Grand Rapids, the six GMs of the Beer City Hoops league got together to prepare for the upcoming draft.

Here are the transactions that took place and have been stamped “Approved” by the Commissioner.

 

  • The Crew is sending the 4th overall pick and #28 to the Reds for picks #11, #17 & #23.
  • The Nines send the 15th overall pick and #27 to the Buzz for picks #19, #25, & #30.
  • City trades F’Legal (2019 draftee) and pick #26 to the Buzz, Buzz sends CASH to Greens, Greens send picks #14 & #20 to City.