Tuesday, September 11, 2012

New Look

There is a new look in the Brunswick Men's Rec Basketball League this year and it goes something like this:



Wrinkles aside, that is the new look for the old/new team The Price is Right.

You know some of the faces:
Brandon Hunter - coming off a near 21/8 season, leading the team ($8m this season, FA 2013)
Jason Hunter - coach and captain, who shot 43% from inside of 3 last season ($3.67m next 3 years)
Kerry Hunter (Z)- over 7 points and 8 rebounds per game (resigned - $1.45m/yr)
Andy Kempf - team leading 9.4 rebounds per game last season ($2m/2012, $3m, 2013)

Some past faces:
Mike Petrilli - 3 point technician (resigned, $2m/yr)
Ryan Stuver - resigned after some time overseas ($1.45m/yr)

And some new faces:
Rob Cruise - newly signed big-man to add to the middle ($1.37m/yr)
Kyle Knapik - another forward brought up from the Developmental League ($1.05m/yr)

These 8 make up your roster for the upcoming, though short, 6 week season this fall.

The season began yesterday albeit, a loss, to Metro Stars 59-67.

The PiR were down 34-24 at half and as their games usually go, battled back to a 47-47 tie near the middle of the second half of play.  Coach Jason Hunter found his stroke early, hitting on three of his five threes in the first 20 minutes.

"It was good to come out of the gates this year and play well.  I struggled last year shooting from three.  We went over some tape in the summer, changed up my form and technique for this year.  It's working so far."

The second oldest Hunter was 5 for 8 from three in this contest and totaled a team high 20 points.

It was for not however, as the Metro Stars found ways to aggravate the PiR ball handlers all night.  Jason and Brandon Hunter found their pockets picked on several occasions and a few costly turnovers in the second half led to their demise.

"It was frustrating," Brandon Hunter said afterword, "you think you were by them and all of a sudden they were going the other way with it."

Brandon and veteran big man Kerry Hunter got into it a little on the court during the game after a stolen dribble.  Both seemed to brush off the on court altercation.

"Oh that's no big problem," Kerry said, "it's heated because we were both frustrated.  When you want to play well and we aren't, that's going to happen.  We do this once a game, it's nothing new and we are fine."

Brandon simply smiled, "We get into it off the court too, it's how we are, that's our relationship.  There is no ill will on either side."

The PiR was without leading rebounder Andy Kempf tonight and may be without him for a few other games.  He played summer ball with a German national team and they are unwilling to let him out of his contract as of now.  We will keep you updated on any further ongoings of this situation as it unfolds.

In his place, Rob Cruise and Kyle Knapik got their feet wet totaling 4 points and 10 rebounds between the two of them in sparse play.

"They played well," Coach Hunter said, "when you have new guys, and new older guys trying to get back into the flow of what's been going on here it can be an adjustment at first.  We had some slight miscommunication on both sides.  I ran into Brandon twice on offense.  It's the first game, we will get better as a team."

The Price is Right will host Wilson Group next Monday at 6:30.

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Where is Crip?

Pat Cripple was viewed by most as the team's second best player, and even best player on some nights, last season.  Reporters wondered, where was he?

Word from the organization is Cripple, along with Andy Kempf both had opportunities to play overseas in the summer, and took them.  Both now are struggling with their teams in contract situations trying to get back home to play. 

Kempf may get to see some action this fall season as negotiations with the German national team seem to be moving along.  Crip's other team, the Chinese national team, has held stern on when and where Pat can play in 2012.  We have been told he will likely miss all of the fall season and his missed playing time could also leak into the winter.

In 2011, Pat was signed to a $3.5 million dollar, 2 year deal.  He would lose a portion of his US paycheck if he misses all of the 2012 fall season.


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