Monday, April 16, 2012

A Final's Berth

The Mailmen have worked there way into the Brunswick Men's Rec League final this past Monday, defeating M&M 74-61.

The team was paced by scoring forward Brandon Hunter who had 33 points and 11 rebounds. But this was far from a one man show.

Captain Jason Hunter had 15 points (7 of 11 from the floor), Pat Cripple added 16 points and 8 rebounds, Andy Kempf continued his rebounding with 8 boards, and big man Kerry Hunter totaled 6 points and grabbed 9 rebounds of his own. Clinton Weigel also had 2 points and 4 rebounds.

The Mailmen move to 2-0 in the playoffs this year and will face their rival Boston Road next week on Monday.

"The big game for us is next week," Coach Hunter said in a phone interview yesterday, "Boston Road has beat us twice, but I think we are there. We only had 5 players last time we went against them and just about everyone struggled from the floor. We don't have too many days where everyone is off their game. We stand by getting our chance taken away the first time we played them and we just played poorly the second time."

"It needs to come together on Monday."

The Mailmen are shooting a dismal 26% (14 of 53) from three point range against Boston Road this year.

"We live and die by (the three pointer)" leading scorer Brandon Hunter said, "I am guilty of it at times and so are others. We need to maybe get to the basket a bit more to start, maybe that will get the ball rolling sort of speak."

The team is shooting slightly better, 36%, from anywhere inside of three points, and even shot 46% against their bitter rival the first game they played.

"36 percent? Wow that's awful," Kerry Hunter replied after hearing it from reporters during the shootaround today, "You know that looks bad on me because I don't step too far from the basket. We as a team just need to take good shots and make them. We have done a great job the past few games of breaking down other teams zone defense. Finding cutters, hitting the open man and knocking down shots."

While Brandon Hunter has been scoring well in the playoffs 48 points in two games, his shot hasn't been as consistent. 10 of 35 from three (29%), 8 of 22 from two (36%), and only 2 of 6 from the free throw line.

Crip rebukes some of that stat line, "He took a lot of shots Monday because he was feeling it and he get's contested inside, whether he gets the call or not. We go as he goes most nights, those numbers will come back up."

Where the numbers havent been for the true scorer, they have been for Cripple and the Captain. Pat is shooting 45% from the floor inside of three (14 of 33) and Jason 69% (9 of 13) from two and 42% (5 of 12) from three. He also hit on all three of his free throw attempts so far in the playoffs.

Jason smiled and shook his head, "It's a good feeling, I won't lie. I felt like I struggled all year finding some consistency. I worked hard with the shooting coach, my teammates still had faith in me, found me open looks. I'm happy to be knocking them down now."

"Maybe he was sandbagging throughout the year," Brandon Hunter replied with a smile.

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Injury updates

Center Kerry Hunter says his new structured knee is "feeling fine" after the two playoff games. Seems to be operating at around 75% but has been a consistent and much needed help through the first two rounds; Mike Giardina is still "highly questionable" as coach Hunter put it this week wit ha high ankle sprain. Fear is he might be done for the season which is why Weigel has a much needed increased role, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Backup center Johno Reminder has also notched two DNPs for the playoffs but we have been told he is battling "a bad back". His return is "less than highly questionable" (coach Hunter) for the game Monday and continuing playoffs.

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