HILLMAN (2) TO MEET HAINES (5) IN THE FINAL!!!

Over the years we have preached that DEFENSE, REBOUNDING & LAYUPS win championships.  Well, it looks like two teams have figured that out and applied it as their game plan!!!  Thursday’s results set up Saturday’s Final as a Battle Royale….The Clash of the Titans, the Battle of Midway, Bunker Hill, Waterloo….The Donnybrook in da Burg!!!  Saturday’s primetime showdown will have St Stephen’s Field House rocking!!!

Let’s recap Thursday’s action…

Haines, whose defense has given up 35 PPG in the playoffs outlasted the upstart Frey 46-28 by giving up only 11 second half points.  Nicholas McGhin (18) and Alexander McGhin (11) combined for 29 points with timely 3 point shooting and consistent ball control offense.  By giving up 28 points, they became the lowest scored upon defense in a Final 4 in league history….until the next game.

Hillman and Rexrode came out exchanging early body blows and when the dust settled, Hillman held a 16-15 halftime lead.  Ryan Bauer scored 12 points for the pink team, including 8 of 10 from the free throw line to lead all scorers in a losing effort.  It also turns out that Bauer was responsible for all of his team’s 7 second half point as Hillman became the lowest scored upon defense in Final 4 league history giving up 22 points.

Equally important, all 8 Hillman players who finished the game, Brian Mathis left early in the second with injury, scored.  Zach Rose had 11, Chase King 9, Colin Grimsley 8, Stephen Puckett and Ryder Hecox 6 each, Evan Lawson, Dom Califano and Dylan Reisig each with a bucket.  (BTW, Rose needs practice at the free throw line going 0 for 5…could have been 16 points….just sayin’)

Prediction…

I will not be making a prediction, actually I will be making a prediction to be kept in a sealed envelope and revealed after the game, because this final is going to be awesome.  These two teams met last year, meaning 2024, in week 2 and Hillman beat Haines convincingly 57-40.  After that loss Haines won 8 of 9 and gained a reputation as a team with solid offense and consistent defense.  Hillman’s boys are all hustle and fun to watch.  I expect that when the smoke clears and our champion is crowned, the players, fans and officials will again prove that this league, FABL Showtime, is the premier rec league in Carroll County, if not the State of Maryland!!!