By Troy Bassett/reporter
The first game featured the seventh seed, Team 1, against the second seed, Team 3. The game was a mismatch from the beginning despite Team 3 playing the first half without its usual intensity.
“They’re not playing sharp playing a last-place team,” observed physical education instructor Michael Daniels. “That’ll carry over. You’ve got to play hard every game.”
Team 3 pulled together in the second half for a 61-31 victory. The victory means they play the winner of the sixth seed against the third seed this week for a chance to get to the finals.
Team 3’s undefeated season ended March 23 with a tough loss to Team 5. Because it’s the No. 1 seed, Team 5 received a bye and didn’t have to play again until March 30.
The assumption is that the two teams will have a rematch in the final game, but members of Team 3 were not getting ahead of themselves.
“Any team can take us if we’re not playing right,” said Team 3 captain Lee Calton. “We’ve got to play as a team, hustle and play hard.”
“It’s going to be a tough game. Either one of those teams can beat them,” Daniels said referencing the matchup in the second game between third-seed Team 4 and sixth-seed Team 2.
The second game was close the entire time, but lower-seeded Team 2 had a one-point lead at halftime.
When the second half began, though, Team 2 came out with an intensity not matched by Team 4, which had uncharacteristic turnovers throughout the half.
Despite finishing only 2-4 in the regular season, Team 2 played as a team and won 60-50.
“We couldn’t rebound. It’s hard to explain,” said Team 4 player Kendrick Speed of the loss.
The victory means Team 4 matched up March 30 against Team 3, which is hungry for a rematch against Team 5.
The third game featured fourth-seed Team 6 vs. fifth-seed Team 7.
Team 7 held a three-point lead at halftime, but Team 6 came back in the second half for a 55-44 victory.
Team 6 was to match up against the number-one seed, Team 5, March 30.
