Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Three and Oh - What a Feeling

The Price is Right have moved to 3-0 after their last victory against the Dream Team 59-49.

The team has previous wins over against Winking Lizard 52-39 and Boston Road 62-59.

So what have you missed over the past three games?

Ryan Stuver hit a game winning shot; despite the 3-0 start, the team is shooting 29% from beyond the arc; and the team will have some roster battles to deal with over the course of the rest of the year.

Ryan Stuver (2.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg - 3 games played) was one reason why the PiR moved to 2-0 earlier this season.  With the game in doubt against the Boston Road Stuver hit the go ahead bucket with under 10 seconds to play to push the team to the 62-59 victory.

With top scorer Brandon Hunter (20.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg) being forced into tough shots, only connecting on 6 of his 18 total tosses, the team needed to find scoring elsewhere and turn up the intensity on the defensive end.

Enter Kyle Komer. 

Komer, a recent signing this season after appearing in a few games in the fall, stepped in to fill the void on the offensive side of the ball.  With 25 points, making all 7 of his threes, a big one coming in overtime, really gave the team an added boost on that side of the ball.

"I felt good, comfortable, and in a groove offensively," he said after the contest. "I had open looks.  I had looks that I took in rhythm.  It's good to come in and help the team get a big win."

Komer is averaging more than 14 points and 4 rebounds in the five total games this season.

Boston Road has been a thorn in the side of the PiR organization.  They are the team last winter season that ended up defeating the then named Mailmen in the Championship game.

"A huge win for us," coach Jason Hunter said afterward, "especially against these guys.  Hopefully it gives us a lot of confidence going forward."

The other members of the Price is Right are filing in right where they left off last season.  Big man Kerry Hunter is topping 10 rebounds per game and has been the linchpin underneath.  Andy Kempf is down in rebounding this year at 8.2 per contest, but that may be due to Hunter taking some of those boards from him.  Coach Hunter is averaging 9 and 3 in points and rebounds respectively and has upped his defensive effort this season.  Mike Petrilli (2 points, 2 rebounds per game) is still looking to find the range that the team signed him for this past year.

Brent Hunter also performed in his first and likely final game of the season against the Dream Team, topping 23 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.  He is playing overseas for the Czech Republic and was given one reprieve game for the holidays.

With the offensive struggles, it shines hope on the season with the 3-0 start.  If the team can begin to find the bottom of the net more regularly, especially from beyond the arc, the wins will come easier, especially with their defense getting better and better with each coming game.

The team has yet to suit up Rob Cruise as he is also involved in the same Czech Republic team that Brent is playing for.  Yet his contract overseas makes it easier for Cruise to join and play more regularly with the PiR, he has missed the 5 games of the year.

Kyle Komer has also recently signed a pro deal with a team Germany, the same team Andy Kempf was playing for in the fall.  The PiR organization gives all of their athletes free reign on where they want to play, especially if it aids their careers in anyway.

Komer may miss most, if not all, Monday contests from now on.

All of this, in turn, shows the need for scoring to come from the leaders of the old offense, brothers Jason and Brandon Hunter, while getting everyone else easy layups or shots in rhythm.  The two leading scorers in the organization must improve their 21 and 33 percent shooting from three point range, especially when the roster is limited in scorers.

Here is to hoping Santa delivered a hot hand for both as the season progresses.

The team will continue play next Sunday the 6th at 6:25 against Wacky Waver, a team still looking for their first victory in the regular season.

Happy holidays.