EBC Playoffs: Ms. Jones’ X-Men vs. Terror Squad

The park is packed in anticipation of the start of this Terror Squad-Ms. Jones showdown, with the pre-tip conversation all focused on one question: “Who’s Joe bringing in?” Strangely, however, the Squad seem to be running with their regular rotation at the start of this one, and with Ms. Jones applying the pressure, it looks like we could have a game on our hands.

Two minutes in, however, Fat Joe makes his grand entrance, with current NBA free agent Al Harrington trailing him in the Terror Squad turquoise. Checking in moments later, however, he looks a little rusty, coming up way short on his first shot attempt, a contested baseline three. In fact, his presence signals a slump for his side, with the X-Men fighting their way within three at 17-14.

Harrington is soon forgotten, however, as the head-to-head battle of the season gets underway as Kareem Reid leaves his opposite number – Nate – looking the wrong way with a nifty spin move and layup. Undaunted, Nate steps up to the challenge, responding with a cross and a spin of his own, bringing the crowd to their feet, where they’ll remain for the next five minutes as the drama unfolds.

Kareem Reid responds with the play of the game, breaking out his patented spin before crossing it back and dropping Nate unceremoniously to his knees. The stands stay on their feet to watch teenage phenom Lance Stephenson chip in with a dunk and a tricky layup, but they’re still not ready for what happens next. Grabbing a rare rebound, Reid kills Nate with a nasty spin move in the backcourt, then tosses a forty-foot alley-oop to a streaking Al Harrington, who shakes the stanchion with his double-hander.

Although the score stands at 30-27 at the intermission, the second half brings better fortune for the Terror Squad, with a Ron Artest facial and more highlights from Kareem Reid giving them a quick ten-point lead. Ron-Ron effectively signals the end of the game when he shakes free on the break and throws himself an alley-oop off the floor and backboard that makes the difference eighteen. It’s simply a case of playing it out thereafter, Terror Squad eventually taking it 73-53.

- CYE