The Mailmen have had some ups and downs the past few weeks.
It started with a injury to Mike Giardina. He has been out for nearly three weeks with a high ankle sprain. Mike missed the teams first playoff game last night and is still in doubt for the playoffs
Then, the Mailmen suffered their worst loss of the year 60-43 versus Boston Road. The good guys only hit on 17 of 66 shots (26%). Brandon and Jason Hunter combined for a 7 of 25 showing from three point range (28%).
Next, the team, missing Jason Hunter, Mike Giardina, yet added back big man Kerry Hunter (his first game in over a month), soundly defeated Presley 70-9 for the biggest point differential of the season and for the league. The first game back for Kerry after a long recovery process, he scored 10 points off of 5 of 6 shooting and grabbed 8 rebounds. Brandon added 23 and 7 while Pat Cripple scored 18. Andy Kempf continued his dominance on the glass with 9 rebounds.
Finally, yesterday, the Mailmen started the playoffs right with a 56-45 win over the leagues "sleeper pick" Tune Squad. The game didn't start off the right way with Tune Squad hitting on 4 three's to start the game. The Mailmen found themselves down 16-5 early, but battled back and held a two point lead 28-26 at the half.
"We found our stroke in the later half of the first and brought it into the second," captain Jason Hunter said, "our second half has been our most dominant throughout the years I've been with the organization. This night was one in the same."
The Mailmen had a rough first half, turning the ball over time and time again. They found open lanes inside, but tried to fight tough passes in, often times too many passes, that led to tips, fumbled passes, and breaks the other way.
The second half, was a different story.
The team found Kerry Hunter in the middle of the 2-3 defending zone and cut through, scoring layups and hitting open threes. Jason had one of his better nights of the season, hitting on 4 of 8 from three and 3 of 6 from the rest of the field. He also made all three of his free throws.
"I felt great, comfortable," he said, "smile on my face. I was never worried."
Brandon Hunter (15 points, 14 rebounds) added to that sentiment, "It was good to see. I struggled a bit from the floor, so having him hit the shots he should...it adds another dynamic to our team. We are tough to beat if everyone is on their game...especially when other people aren't."
The Mailmen also dominated the glass. Three members, Brandon (season high 14), Kerry (season high 19), and Andy Kempf (third 15) found rebounds all around them. The smaller Tune Squad rarely got second chances, if any, at all.
Andy Kempf has been more than stellar on the glass with 62 rebounds over the past 4 games. That's over 15 a game.
"Just doing what I am supposed to do," Kempf smiled, "my job is to battle the glass and play great D."
His smile broadend, "...and hit the occasional three."
"One all year!" Pat Cripple yelled from across the locker room.
"One more and I'll be shooting better than you!" Andy cried back.
Cripple shakes his head with a grin, "Two is still better than one."
The Mailmen will have to wait some time until their next playoff matchup. The team will likely face M&M Buckeye, who the Mailmen beat by only 2, 42-40, earlier this season.
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