Summer Hoop League enjoys a tremendous season; playoffs underway

The Summer Hoop League held a monthly meeting on June 8, hoping to field eight to ten teams.

The hoop junkies came out of the woodwork and 18 teams arrived at Ingleside Courts hoping to be the last team standing. The competition was intense and the fan base is continuing to the show its support in this final week of hoop dreams.

With a sudden-death, single-elimination format, the heat was turned up a notch with visions of winning it all. The Leaping Llamas were engaged against Ferrara Landscaping and both teams had their runs with Ferrara’s squad eking out a six-point win.

It must be noted that the lovable Llamas started out 1-5 and earned respect in their first year and won five games.

Winthrop High School I ran into a feisty contest and Winthrop Pizza Center had the horses and was too much to overcome. The high school team was somewhat depleted but gave it a go down to the wire.

The team with the most years of competing in the league is, of course, the Mondos. Beacon Photo, a new entry, went back and forth on a 95 degree day with Beacon showing some real talent but lost a tough one to the gritty senior citizens of the league.

On the same court Danilchuk and Prime Time squared off in an up and down game with Danilchuk getting the upper hand in a high-scoring game.

Both teams came into the affair with skilled players. The team from Saugus was nice to watch and always showed good sportsmanship.

Nick’s Place had the indomitable task of taking on the Petrilli Club. Dave Sax put together a formidable squad but the Petrilli team walked off with a 13-point win. Dave Brown can run his team with the best of players.

Prime Time and Santarpio’s needed overtime to seek the winner. In a three-point win, Santarpio’s fell, with both teams alternately securing the lead. Santarpio’s team is fun to watch and it gives its all against all opponents.

The match-up of RPM and the Celtics was an exciting one throughout the first half. Coach Wallerce does a great job organizing and coaching the Celtics. RPM closed it out and will move on.

It is time to get off the couch and join in the atmosphere of this competitive league.

The playoffs will continue to the end of this week. The referees, Billy English, Peter Lyons, Matt O’Brien, Trey, Joe Mullaney and the scorekeepers really make the league what it is.

Come on down and support the players and always sportsmanship first.

See you around the rim. Thank you to Sean Driscoll and Cary Shuman.

Commissioners Phil Lundberg and Peter Grimes.