This Sunday, after an exciting season, the 11/12 recreational basketball season will come to an end. Many exciting moments happened this winter, including Team Deluca’s “down to the wire” win against Team Giordano, giving them their only loss of the regular season. Tyler Stallwood’s 26-point game to eliminate Team Aimone in the playoffs. And Zach Herrling’s 21-point outing to help beat Team Aimone in the first game of the season.
Most fans believe that Team Giordano will get an easy win in the championship against Team Rudolph since they only lost one game. However, Team Rudolph has been on a tear, taking big teams down like the #2 seed, Team Deluca, and the #3 seed, Team Aimone.
Team Giordano’s roster consists of athletic players like former Central basketball players Casey Delaney and Luke Christensen, Central soccer players Rich Bezahler, Zach Herrling, Kevin Miller, and one of the best defensive players in the league, Owen Mayrides. These stars have been very beneficial to Team Giordano because of their stamina and how much energy they still have in the tank down the stretch.
Team Rudolph’s roster also has great players like former Central basketball player Jayden Patel. Along with other athletic players such as seniors Tyler Stallwood, Wesley Chan, Sid Patel, and Connor Casey,
Team Giordano is coming off a super-hot week against Team Camporeale. Three players—Rich Bezahler, Owen Mayrides, and Casey Delaney—each scored over ten points! When asked about the dominating win over Team Camporeale, Anthony Giordano had this to say: “It was a tough game; they (Team Camporeale) have some great players, and we planned to contain the three-point shot and force them to drive, and I think we did a great job at that. We attacked their zone well and made sure to feed the infamous hot hand, Rich Bezahler.” Anthony also had this to say about his team’s mindset going into the championship game. “We see this game as just any other game. Although we beat Team Rudolph in the regular season by 40, we can’t take their strong playoff team for granted after their recent performance against Team Deluca. We also can’t go into the game worried, and trust me, we’re not.”
Rudolph’s team is coming off two consecutive absurd shooting games. In the quarterfinals, Jayden Patel and Tyler Stallwood combined for 40 points to take down Team Aimone. Then, in the semi-finals, senior Connor Casey dropped 12 points to defeat Team Deluca. When asked about Team Rudolph’s strategies, Jayden Patel said, “We (Team Rudolph) have to make sure we are hustling on defense, make the right passes, and crash the glass on both sides of the court.” Patel was also asked what Team Rudolph can take from their games against the #2 and #3 seeds, ensuring they beat Team Giordano. “We know each other’s game, how everyone plays, and also know that we have to bring in the momentum that we brought to the past two games, hit our shots, and lock up their players on defense.”.
With the stage set for the championship showdown, anticipation is at an all-time high. Both Team Giordano and Team Rudolph have showcased their resilience, talent, and strategic powers throughout the season. While Team Giordano enters as the favored contender, their opponents, Team Rudolph, have defied expectations with their recent stellar performances.
So mark your calendars, rally your support, and get ready for a thrilling finale to an unforgettable season. The stage is set, the players are ready, and the championship trophy awaits its rightful owner. Don’t miss out on the action as Team Giordano and Team Rudolph battle it out for the win!
