Post by FLHoya on Aug 7, 2011 21:30:22 GMT -5
2011 KENNER LEAGUE FINALS
It made sense somehow.
After all, about the only thing we hadn't seen in the craziest Kenner League summer in memory was an ejection.
It was just another counter-punch in an already epic, intense summer league game: Otto Porter drained a long two point jumper in transition, and the freshmen-led Tombs on a 8-2 run had re-taken the lead 71-67 from their veteran opponents Clyde's with eight minutes to play.
But away from the play, a real scuffle was unfolding: a shove or two, and future Hoya teammates Aaron Bowen and Greg Whittington were jawing face to face as the officials raced to intervene. The emotions of a hard-fought, competitive final had boiled over, and the game changed immediately.
Most directly: Bowen and Whittington were both ejected from the game. Bowen had been a pest all afternoon, recording 5 steals and providing athleticism to complement Clydes' power. Whittington had once again started slow, but had come alive in the second half, slashing and gliding his way to the basket, and even besting Bowen in the post moments earlier.
More subtly: The emotions on both sides continued to bubble up. This was something of a slow boil at first. For one, there was initially confusion--despite an emphatic signal by the official--as to whether Aaron and Greg had been ejected. Greg loitered near the Tombs water cooler and Aaron at first didn't even leave the court. As it became apparent that the Tombs-Clydes final was suddenly down two Hoyas, the crowd expressed its displeasure, and both players walked up the staircase to the mezzanine in a foul mood.
(Over the remainder of the game, a strange scene unfolded on the mezzanine. Aaron and Greg, still visibly ticked off (at themselves or each other is unclear), sat 20 feet apart but separated by one of the pillars that partitions the upper McDonough hallway by the basketball offices. Greg sat in the bleachers next to the video camera operator, while Aaron had the company of Moses Ayegba on the hand bike machine. In the center were a group of Georgetown coaches and staffers who at various times spoke to both players. At one point, Henry Sims intervened and chatted with Greg...I had to laugh at the thought of big goofy Henry Sims, of all people, trying to mediate that argument.)
With those few moments extra to marinate, the intensity of this finals contest went to 11. Surprising then that it was the Tombs--a collection of four freshmen, a few old hired hands, and a long-armed guard from Harvard--that almost took control of the game after play resume.
But not surprising in the least which player lead the Tombs charge in that charged atmosphere. Jabril Trawick--for better and worse this summer--plays on the razor's edge of intensity and insanity, and he played with a ruthless efficiency over the next few minutes. After an initial exchange of baskets following the double ejection, Trawick had a hand in Tombs next 11 points as they found themselves with their largest lead of the game, 82-74, with 4:30 to go in regulation.
And you could be forgiven for asking yourself: well, how did they get here?
Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"
KENNER LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
CLYDES 105 TOMBS 101 (2OT)
Exactly a week ago, Tombs and Clydes played probably the most disappointing game of the summer, a 72-46 blowout victory for the freshman over a Clydes roster featuring Jeff Green, Greg Monroe, Jonathan Wallace, Tyler Crawford, and Nat Burton. The veteran Hoyas played at about a third of their capacity, and never gelled against a Tombs team that had become a well-oiled machine.
(This was the last game Tombs played with Tyler Adams--he was injured in the first half).
Of course, it's a well established Kenner League truism that everything changes in the playoffs--from the composition of certain rosters to the intensity level of the competition. Tombs had learned that lesson in heart-stopping playoff victories over two opponents they'd previously defeated much easier. Quarterfinal opponent Team Turner brought in Nolan Smith as a ringer, and Tombs had to fight back from 17 down against a Boss Auto team they defeated by 15 in week one.
There was no doubt that Clyde's cast of Hoya heroes of yore--Greg Monroe, Jeff Green, and Austin Freeman--were going to bring their A game Sunday afternoon, for pride of course, but also to test the mettle of the Hoya freshman class who had scraped and clawed and even lucked their way into a dream final for die-hard Hoya fans without lawns to mow on a humid Sunday afternoon.
Greg Monroe in particular seemed ripe for a breakout game against Tombs improving but unseasoned center-by-necessity Mikael Hopkins. Last Sunday, I remarked that had Monroe been going at full speed against Hopkins, he might have scored 30 points; as it was, he backed off after a quick three field goals and finished with 13 points.
Jeff Green too could have been counted on for a big day. In Tombs loss to DC Assault, Green had single-handedly taken over the final minutes of the game, and on the decisive basket had blown past Hopkins to the cup for a brutally efficient lay-in.
On paper, Clydes should have been clear favorites in this match up of experience and savvy against youthful exuberance and scrappiness. But so little has gone as planned this weekend at McDonough, nothing would have surprised anyone in attendance.
In fact, the first half was a fairly even affair. Yesterday's hero Max Kenyi led that charge early, scoring 8 early points to stake Tombs to a 12-10 lead before the first timeout. In what became the emblematic theme of today's game, Clyde's responded through a veteran, in this case Jeff Green, who slashed his way to two three-point plays in short order to give Clyde's a 24-17 advantage with 12 minutes left in the half.
Over the next 10 minutes, Clyde's maintained a steady lead of 5-10 points as both teams searched for an advantage. It was abundantly clear that Clyde's were taking things seriously: Monroe pivoted and battled in the post, Green changed speeds and had defenders desperately adjusting, and Austin Freeman barreled to the cup like he has for five summers in a row.
It was the young ones though who had the final say in the first half: a small run brought Tombs within reach, and after Otto Porter was fouled at the buzzer (shooting a three? on the floor?) he sank both ends of a one and one, and we were tied at 43 at the break.
Tombs came out of halftime on fire, and the intensity level on both sides shot up. After Aaron Bowen picked off a pass and streaked in for a layup, Jabril Trawick screamed in frustration. Despite the mistake, Tombs were playing inspired basketball, and a three pointer from Kenyi finished off a 12-4 run and gave Tombs a 55-47 lead. Soon after, Otto Porter fought down low for an offensive rebound from a free throw, and rifled a pass to a cutting Mikael Hopkins who threw down with a fury; the whole young Tombs roster was involved and the score reflected their level of play and focus.
Like so many times, their older brothers on Clyde's wouldn't let it last. Minutes later, Green returned the favor, throwing down after blowing past Porter in the post, and we were tied again 65-65.
It was in this atmosphere of back and forth, big blow after big blow, battles all over the court, that Aaron Bowen and Greg Whittington came to shoves and shouts. Maybe it wasn't a boiling point after all--the pot had already been simmering since halftime. The Tombs run that ensued, after all, was just following the punch-counterpunch pattern that had been the script since tip off.
It meant though, that Tombs 84-76 lead wouldn't be safe for four minutes.
Clyde's got it back quick. Mikael Hopkins had battled Greg Monroe all afternoon, and though he'd finally begun to break through on the scoreboard, he'd paid the price on the defensive end. Hopkins' eighth foul led to a 5-point Clyde's possession. It took the blue-clad veterans only two possessions more to reclaim the lead, when a loose ball rebound kicked right into Austin Freeman's hands for an uncontested layup. When Tombs came up empty on offense and Jeff Green sank two free throws, the weight of Clyde's counterpunch was enormous: an 11-0 run in 2 1/2 minutes, a 87-84 lead with 1:48 to play.
Jabril Trawick went hard to the basket and came up empty in traffic, but Otto Porter fought through the trees and stuck back the rebound to pull Tombs within a point. Clyde's went with a veteran approach, as Monroe found Freeman in good position and he was fouled. Austin missed the first but made the second, and Tombs took possession down 2 with 1:13 left.
A ball out of bounds gave Tombs possession under their basket with 57.5 seconds left. Tombs tried Hopkins down low this time, to no avail. But they were bailed out by their own veteran, as Jamal Wise's put back tied it at 88 with 49 seconds left.
"ISO!" went the play call. Monroe vs. Hopkins, a go-to match up for Clyde's all afternoon. Greg collected in the high post as Hopkins, with eight fouls, bodied him up. Monroe leaned into Mikael, and turned, and pivoted...
...and traveled.
Trawick took it to the interior again for Tombs, but found the treading no easier this time around, and Clyde's would have their chance to win with 12 seconds to work.
They drew up a perfect play, finding Austin Freeman cutting down the lane with a perfect pass. His bank shot glance the backboard, spun tantalizing on the front rim aaaaaaaannnnnnnnddddd...
...goaltending.
One of Freeman's teammates had tapped the ball--which was almost certainly going in--negating the basket and giving Tombs a chance to win it with 3.3 seconds to go the length of the court.
With Clyde's blanketing Tombs' primary scorers, the pass went up the sideline to Wise, who dribble into the front court and launched a 35 footer at the buzzer...
...back rim.
After three days of drama and nail biting finishes in the Kenner League playoffs, how could it have been any different?
The punches kept coming in the first overtime. Otto Porter out-fought a Clyde's player down the length of the sideline to steal the opening tip, and with a brilliant heads up play slapped the ball to Max Kenyi for a layup. Greg Monroe answered Porter's finesse with power, scoring down low to tie it at 90. Porter's displayed his passing skills once more, finding a cutting Kenyi who was sent to the line; he made one of two. The punches started getting heavier, as Austin Freeman bowled past Jabril Trawick to give Clyde's a 91-90 lead. Jamal Wise floated home from the free throw line for Tombs, and Freeman answered with a free throw to tie it at 93.
With the advantage back on Tombs side, Max Kenyi turned the ball over. Clyde's held as the clocked ticked below a minute, but could only muster a woefully short three pointer. Max Kenyi came around a screen, and had a clear path to the basket, but was stripped on the way to the cup. Unbelievably, Tombs came up with a steal of their own, the ball ricocheting around before landing in Jabril Trawick's hands. Tombs called timeout to set up a play to win with 18 seconds to go.
It fell to Trawick, the Tombs emotional leader, cleared out one on one at the scorers table. Everyone knew what was coming: Trawick used a hesitation dribble, and drove hard to the lane, where he met the resistance of Greg Monroe. Trawick grimaced, jumped hard to his right into the Hoya center whose jersey hangs on the wall behind that basket, and muscled up a shot.
Strength beat scrappiness.
Did it ever.
Greg Monroe stole the opening tip of the second overtime and jammed home just four seconds in. Tombs were patient on their end, but could only get a long three pointer that clanged away. Clyde's shot quickly...probably too quickly...and missed, but secured the all important offensive rebound, and took the first two-possession lead since 3:09 left in regulation, 97-93 with 2:13 left in overtime #2. Jabril Trawick made one final stand, a tough reverse layup in traffic, and Tombs called timeout down 97-95 with 1:36 to go.
The sequence that followed summed up the game and Clyde's ultimate advantage:
Tombs forced a five-second violation on the inbounds pass and took over with a chance to tie. They went down low to Hopkins, who for a brief time in the second half had come to life and shaken off Monroe's dominance. But it wasn't to be--Hopkins was stuffed twice. Still, Otto Porter leaped to tip away a sure pass for a layup, and Clyde's called timeout. For most of the game, Clyde's used their strength to overpower Tombs, but now their savvy set up the knockout blow. Austin Freeman inbounded to Greg Monroe posted up on the side of the lane; Monroe tapped the pass back to Freeman, who was unguarded for a layup and a 99-95 lead. Otto Porter launched from three but missed, and Jeff Green dribbled patiently up the court, sized up the defense, rose up from NBA range.....dagger.
Tombs didn't so much run out of energy in the second overtime; they ran out of ideas. There's only so much scrappiness can do for you; it takes serious play making skills to hang with NBA and All-Big East vets for four periods, and the Tombs freshmen just aren't quite there yet.
They had a final chance or two. Down four with 25 seconds to go, Otto Porter broke down court with the ball and numbers, but his pass slipped through Anthony Estes' hands. A deep three from Jamal Wise brought Tombs within 103-101 with 8.8 seconds to go, but Greg Monroe, fittingly on an outstanding day for the Hoya center, hit both free throws to ice it.
It was a wild ending to a wild weekend and even a wild summer of basketball. If we learned nothing else, the future is very bright for Hoya basketball, but the young freshmen have a lot to learn from their recent predecessors before they can achieve similar levels of success.
It made sense somehow.
After all, about the only thing we hadn't seen in the craziest Kenner League summer in memory was an ejection.
It was just another counter-punch in an already epic, intense summer league game: Otto Porter drained a long two point jumper in transition, and the freshmen-led Tombs on a 8-2 run had re-taken the lead 71-67 from their veteran opponents Clyde's with eight minutes to play.
But away from the play, a real scuffle was unfolding: a shove or two, and future Hoya teammates Aaron Bowen and Greg Whittington were jawing face to face as the officials raced to intervene. The emotions of a hard-fought, competitive final had boiled over, and the game changed immediately.
Most directly: Bowen and Whittington were both ejected from the game. Bowen had been a pest all afternoon, recording 5 steals and providing athleticism to complement Clydes' power. Whittington had once again started slow, but had come alive in the second half, slashing and gliding his way to the basket, and even besting Bowen in the post moments earlier.
More subtly: The emotions on both sides continued to bubble up. This was something of a slow boil at first. For one, there was initially confusion--despite an emphatic signal by the official--as to whether Aaron and Greg had been ejected. Greg loitered near the Tombs water cooler and Aaron at first didn't even leave the court. As it became apparent that the Tombs-Clydes final was suddenly down two Hoyas, the crowd expressed its displeasure, and both players walked up the staircase to the mezzanine in a foul mood.
(Over the remainder of the game, a strange scene unfolded on the mezzanine. Aaron and Greg, still visibly ticked off (at themselves or each other is unclear), sat 20 feet apart but separated by one of the pillars that partitions the upper McDonough hallway by the basketball offices. Greg sat in the bleachers next to the video camera operator, while Aaron had the company of Moses Ayegba on the hand bike machine. In the center were a group of Georgetown coaches and staffers who at various times spoke to both players. At one point, Henry Sims intervened and chatted with Greg...I had to laugh at the thought of big goofy Henry Sims, of all people, trying to mediate that argument.)
With those few moments extra to marinate, the intensity of this finals contest went to 11. Surprising then that it was the Tombs--a collection of four freshmen, a few old hired hands, and a long-armed guard from Harvard--that almost took control of the game after play resume.
But not surprising in the least which player lead the Tombs charge in that charged atmosphere. Jabril Trawick--for better and worse this summer--plays on the razor's edge of intensity and insanity, and he played with a ruthless efficiency over the next few minutes. After an initial exchange of baskets following the double ejection, Trawick had a hand in Tombs next 11 points as they found themselves with their largest lead of the game, 82-74, with 4:30 to go in regulation.
And you could be forgiven for asking yourself: well, how did they get here?
Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"
KENNER LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
CLYDES 105 TOMBS 101 (2OT)
Exactly a week ago, Tombs and Clydes played probably the most disappointing game of the summer, a 72-46 blowout victory for the freshman over a Clydes roster featuring Jeff Green, Greg Monroe, Jonathan Wallace, Tyler Crawford, and Nat Burton. The veteran Hoyas played at about a third of their capacity, and never gelled against a Tombs team that had become a well-oiled machine.
(This was the last game Tombs played with Tyler Adams--he was injured in the first half).
Of course, it's a well established Kenner League truism that everything changes in the playoffs--from the composition of certain rosters to the intensity level of the competition. Tombs had learned that lesson in heart-stopping playoff victories over two opponents they'd previously defeated much easier. Quarterfinal opponent Team Turner brought in Nolan Smith as a ringer, and Tombs had to fight back from 17 down against a Boss Auto team they defeated by 15 in week one.
There was no doubt that Clyde's cast of Hoya heroes of yore--Greg Monroe, Jeff Green, and Austin Freeman--were going to bring their A game Sunday afternoon, for pride of course, but also to test the mettle of the Hoya freshman class who had scraped and clawed and even lucked their way into a dream final for die-hard Hoya fans without lawns to mow on a humid Sunday afternoon.
Greg Monroe in particular seemed ripe for a breakout game against Tombs improving but unseasoned center-by-necessity Mikael Hopkins. Last Sunday, I remarked that had Monroe been going at full speed against Hopkins, he might have scored 30 points; as it was, he backed off after a quick three field goals and finished with 13 points.
Jeff Green too could have been counted on for a big day. In Tombs loss to DC Assault, Green had single-handedly taken over the final minutes of the game, and on the decisive basket had blown past Hopkins to the cup for a brutally efficient lay-in.
On paper, Clydes should have been clear favorites in this match up of experience and savvy against youthful exuberance and scrappiness. But so little has gone as planned this weekend at McDonough, nothing would have surprised anyone in attendance.
In fact, the first half was a fairly even affair. Yesterday's hero Max Kenyi led that charge early, scoring 8 early points to stake Tombs to a 12-10 lead before the first timeout. In what became the emblematic theme of today's game, Clyde's responded through a veteran, in this case Jeff Green, who slashed his way to two three-point plays in short order to give Clyde's a 24-17 advantage with 12 minutes left in the half.
Over the next 10 minutes, Clyde's maintained a steady lead of 5-10 points as both teams searched for an advantage. It was abundantly clear that Clyde's were taking things seriously: Monroe pivoted and battled in the post, Green changed speeds and had defenders desperately adjusting, and Austin Freeman barreled to the cup like he has for five summers in a row.
It was the young ones though who had the final say in the first half: a small run brought Tombs within reach, and after Otto Porter was fouled at the buzzer (shooting a three? on the floor?) he sank both ends of a one and one, and we were tied at 43 at the break.
Tombs came out of halftime on fire, and the intensity level on both sides shot up. After Aaron Bowen picked off a pass and streaked in for a layup, Jabril Trawick screamed in frustration. Despite the mistake, Tombs were playing inspired basketball, and a three pointer from Kenyi finished off a 12-4 run and gave Tombs a 55-47 lead. Soon after, Otto Porter fought down low for an offensive rebound from a free throw, and rifled a pass to a cutting Mikael Hopkins who threw down with a fury; the whole young Tombs roster was involved and the score reflected their level of play and focus.
Like so many times, their older brothers on Clyde's wouldn't let it last. Minutes later, Green returned the favor, throwing down after blowing past Porter in the post, and we were tied again 65-65.
It was in this atmosphere of back and forth, big blow after big blow, battles all over the court, that Aaron Bowen and Greg Whittington came to shoves and shouts. Maybe it wasn't a boiling point after all--the pot had already been simmering since halftime. The Tombs run that ensued, after all, was just following the punch-counterpunch pattern that had been the script since tip off.
It meant though, that Tombs 84-76 lead wouldn't be safe for four minutes.
Clyde's got it back quick. Mikael Hopkins had battled Greg Monroe all afternoon, and though he'd finally begun to break through on the scoreboard, he'd paid the price on the defensive end. Hopkins' eighth foul led to a 5-point Clyde's possession. It took the blue-clad veterans only two possessions more to reclaim the lead, when a loose ball rebound kicked right into Austin Freeman's hands for an uncontested layup. When Tombs came up empty on offense and Jeff Green sank two free throws, the weight of Clyde's counterpunch was enormous: an 11-0 run in 2 1/2 minutes, a 87-84 lead with 1:48 to play.
Jabril Trawick went hard to the basket and came up empty in traffic, but Otto Porter fought through the trees and stuck back the rebound to pull Tombs within a point. Clyde's went with a veteran approach, as Monroe found Freeman in good position and he was fouled. Austin missed the first but made the second, and Tombs took possession down 2 with 1:13 left.
A ball out of bounds gave Tombs possession under their basket with 57.5 seconds left. Tombs tried Hopkins down low this time, to no avail. But they were bailed out by their own veteran, as Jamal Wise's put back tied it at 88 with 49 seconds left.
"ISO!" went the play call. Monroe vs. Hopkins, a go-to match up for Clyde's all afternoon. Greg collected in the high post as Hopkins, with eight fouls, bodied him up. Monroe leaned into Mikael, and turned, and pivoted...
...and traveled.
Trawick took it to the interior again for Tombs, but found the treading no easier this time around, and Clyde's would have their chance to win with 12 seconds to work.
They drew up a perfect play, finding Austin Freeman cutting down the lane with a perfect pass. His bank shot glance the backboard, spun tantalizing on the front rim aaaaaaaannnnnnnnddddd...
...goaltending.
One of Freeman's teammates had tapped the ball--which was almost certainly going in--negating the basket and giving Tombs a chance to win it with 3.3 seconds to go the length of the court.
With Clyde's blanketing Tombs' primary scorers, the pass went up the sideline to Wise, who dribble into the front court and launched a 35 footer at the buzzer...
...back rim.
After three days of drama and nail biting finishes in the Kenner League playoffs, how could it have been any different?
The punches kept coming in the first overtime. Otto Porter out-fought a Clyde's player down the length of the sideline to steal the opening tip, and with a brilliant heads up play slapped the ball to Max Kenyi for a layup. Greg Monroe answered Porter's finesse with power, scoring down low to tie it at 90. Porter's displayed his passing skills once more, finding a cutting Kenyi who was sent to the line; he made one of two. The punches started getting heavier, as Austin Freeman bowled past Jabril Trawick to give Clyde's a 91-90 lead. Jamal Wise floated home from the free throw line for Tombs, and Freeman answered with a free throw to tie it at 93.
With the advantage back on Tombs side, Max Kenyi turned the ball over. Clyde's held as the clocked ticked below a minute, but could only muster a woefully short three pointer. Max Kenyi came around a screen, and had a clear path to the basket, but was stripped on the way to the cup. Unbelievably, Tombs came up with a steal of their own, the ball ricocheting around before landing in Jabril Trawick's hands. Tombs called timeout to set up a play to win with 18 seconds to go.
It fell to Trawick, the Tombs emotional leader, cleared out one on one at the scorers table. Everyone knew what was coming: Trawick used a hesitation dribble, and drove hard to the lane, where he met the resistance of Greg Monroe. Trawick grimaced, jumped hard to his right into the Hoya center whose jersey hangs on the wall behind that basket, and muscled up a shot.
Strength beat scrappiness.
Did it ever.
Greg Monroe stole the opening tip of the second overtime and jammed home just four seconds in. Tombs were patient on their end, but could only get a long three pointer that clanged away. Clyde's shot quickly...probably too quickly...and missed, but secured the all important offensive rebound, and took the first two-possession lead since 3:09 left in regulation, 97-93 with 2:13 left in overtime #2. Jabril Trawick made one final stand, a tough reverse layup in traffic, and Tombs called timeout down 97-95 with 1:36 to go.
The sequence that followed summed up the game and Clyde's ultimate advantage:
Tombs forced a five-second violation on the inbounds pass and took over with a chance to tie. They went down low to Hopkins, who for a brief time in the second half had come to life and shaken off Monroe's dominance. But it wasn't to be--Hopkins was stuffed twice. Still, Otto Porter leaped to tip away a sure pass for a layup, and Clyde's called timeout. For most of the game, Clyde's used their strength to overpower Tombs, but now their savvy set up the knockout blow. Austin Freeman inbounded to Greg Monroe posted up on the side of the lane; Monroe tapped the pass back to Freeman, who was unguarded for a layup and a 99-95 lead. Otto Porter launched from three but missed, and Jeff Green dribbled patiently up the court, sized up the defense, rose up from NBA range.....dagger.
Tombs didn't so much run out of energy in the second overtime; they ran out of ideas. There's only so much scrappiness can do for you; it takes serious play making skills to hang with NBA and All-Big East vets for four periods, and the Tombs freshmen just aren't quite there yet.
They had a final chance or two. Down four with 25 seconds to go, Otto Porter broke down court with the ball and numbers, but his pass slipped through Anthony Estes' hands. A deep three from Jamal Wise brought Tombs within 103-101 with 8.8 seconds to go, but Greg Monroe, fittingly on an outstanding day for the Hoya center, hit both free throws to ice it.
It was a wild ending to a wild weekend and even a wild summer of basketball. If we learned nothing else, the future is very bright for Hoya basketball, but the young freshmen have a lot to learn from their recent predecessors before they can achieve similar levels of success.
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