It may not have been easy, but then again it never is, to get through the season unscathed, but Goodfellas did just that to finish an unblemished 12-0 on the season.  That also means they came away with their second consecutive title.  Congratulations to Goodfellas for another championship victory, this time over the always dangerous Anytime Bail Bonds Ballers.

            Both teams got off to a slow start in this one, in a relatively low scoring affair between two of our league’s most potent offenses.  Maybe it was the tension from the magnitude of the game, but low-scoring was certainly not a result of poor play.  Both teams showed the heart of a champion and battled hard from the opening tip to the final buzzer.  This game boasted 4 of the league’s top 20 scorers, including the number 1 overall, but they would combine for just 21 points.  Some can attribute it to an off night, but I would credit some excellent defense.  These guys were flying to the ball and contesting nearly every shot.  These teams definitely aren’t new to each other either, so they knew who they needed to stop and did a pretty good job of it.

            Stephen Mendes of Anytime Bail Bonds Ballers led all scorers into the break with 12 points.  Anthony Green helped to keep Goodfellas in the game with 8 points in the first half, and Kevin Johnson led the offense with 4 points and 2 assists.  The Anytime Bail Bonds Ballers defense was doing a number on the league’s leading scorer, Ty Jackson, but he didn’t let his offensive struggles impact his defense.  He was a menace on that side of the ball with 7 steals and 3 blocks in the game.  He also led his team with 6 boards.  However, the result would be a 23-21 Anytime Bail Bonds Ballers lead heading into the 2nd half.

            Goodfellas would come out of the half with stifling defense, and Anytime Bail Bonds Ballers just could not find any rhythm or answers.  They’d go nearly 8 minutes without a single bucket, and Goodfellas jumped on the opportunity to take a strong lead.  Goodfellas spread the wealth a bit in the 2nd, with 3 players coming down with 15 of the team’s 20 points.  Those came from Johnson, Ahsan Jamil, and Asad Faison, who each finished with at least 8 points on the night.  Johnson also accounted for a game high 4 assists.  Anytime Bail Bonds Ballers were not going to just roll over though.  Mendes was only able to tack on 2 points in the second half, but that was still good enough for a game high 14 points.  Rob Cheeks checked in with a game high 12 boards and tied Jackson’s 3 blocks.  They are a veteran team and know what it takes to win.  They’d storm their way back into the game, led by Wayne “Big Buck” Bucknor who scored 6 late points.  He would finish with solid numbers at 9 points and 8 boards.  A Chris Velez 3-pointer cut the lead to 2 with little time remaining.  After a foul and one made free throw, Anytime Bail Bonds Ballers found themselves with one last shot at the tie.  Goodfellas played it perfectly, however, and forced a last second 3 from well beyond the arc that wouldn’t connect, securing the 41-38 championship victory.

            Our league’s best team for the second consecutive season certainly is not bereft of talent.  Goodfellas Ty Jackson, the reigning league MVP, finished the season among the league leaders in every stat category.  He was number 1 in scoring and 3-point attempts made, tied for the lead in steals, finished second in blocks, tied for second in rebounds, and was 8th in assists.  Kevin Johnson ranked 9th in scoring, 2nd in assists, and was top 20 in rebounds, steals, and blocks.  Anthony Green finished 13th in scoring and was top 20 in 3-point shooting and blocks.  Ahsan Jamil and Gene Tolliver finished as the 6th leading and a top 20 3-point shooter respectively.

            Both teams certainly fought hard in this slugfest between two teams with championship pedigree.   Both were deserving of their spots in the title game, but only one can come out on top.  For the second season in a row, that team was Goodfellas.  Congratulations to the Russell Westbrook Division Champions!