Welcome Back Woodstock
WOODSTOCK: Week 7 Power Rankings
By Kyle Sandy | Woodstock League Coordinator
Following a lengthy delay due to our courts being refurbished, the 2018 Fall Season has trickled over into the start of 2019. With the playoffs right around the corner, let’s see who is clicking on all cylinders heading into the postseason.
1. TEAM 3 | 5-1
No Reggie? No problem. Without the league’s most feared scorer, 6-foot-3 Reggie Thompson, who is currently nursing a back injury, Team 3 coasted without Thompson’s 38-points-per-game average, dropping Team 1 68-45. Mike Hattub poured in 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, but it was the explosive play of former Kennesaw State Owl football standout PJ Stone that ignited Team 3. Stone finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals while drilling two deep balls and throwing down a put-back slam. Naje Easley helped round out the attack with a game-high PPR of 21.8 to go with his 17 points (8-10 FG), 9 rebounds and 2 steals. It will be interesting to keep an eye on Thompson’s health as we move forward.
2. TEAM 4 | 5-1
A scratch golfer, Stewart Harrison left the clubs at home and was handing out buckets instead on Tuesday night in a 69-44 win over Team 2. Harrison had his defenders on skates as he wriggled his way to the basket whenever he wanted. The lead guard paced the offense in the first half and finished with 15 points (7-13 FG), 7 rebounds and 2 assists with a handful of crafty finishes around the rim. Double-double man Austin Fellows was steady inside with 11 points and 10 rebounds while Kamarhie Artie landed the deathblow in the second half, hitting 4-of-9 from deep to finish with a team-high 22 points. Team 4 will try to carry their momentum into Week 7 when they battle Team 3, who beat them 72-63 back in Week 2 when Reggie Thompson went for 46 points.
3. TEAM 2 | 4-2
Team 2 saw their four-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of Team 4. It was a woeful night from the field as Team 2 shot 17-of-60 (28 percent) from the field and 4-of-34 (12 percent) from deep. Bobby Brent had a night to forget, going 0-of-16 while 3-point specialist Justin Patterson even struggled, shooting 2-of-15 from deep but managing to muscle in a game-high 24 points. Curtis Haddox had the most efficient night with 12 points (6-9 FG) and 4 rebounds. Look for Team 2 to rebound against winless Team 6 next week.
4. TEAM 1 | 3-3
6-foot-4 Timothy “TJ” Russell is a bull in a china shop down low, the bulky big knowing how to throw his weight around to clean the glass. Averaging 21.6 points and 10.6 rebounds, he had a modest to his standards night with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks in a 68-45 loss to Team 3. A lack of a true consistent outside threat may be holding Team 1 back from the upper echelon of the league. Pirooz Jallali is their best option, but he had a quiet game with 10 points.
5. TEAM 5 | 1-5
Matt Norton was instrumental in Team 5’s first win of the season, the former Lassiter Trojan guard dumping in 31 points (9-19 FG, 12-13 FT) and grabbing 12 rebounds to post a 25.6 PPR. Norton was up to his old tricks, playing with a chip on his shoulder and a fire that is unmatched. He willed his team to victory and has Team 5 believing that some postseason magic may be in the cards.
6. TEAM 6 | 0-6
A 70-63 loss to Team 5 may clinch a winless season as Team 2 and Team 3 loom, two tough tests. Kurtis Greene Jr. posted a double-double in the loss with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Little man Quillian Stewart tossed in 10 points. Ball movement and shot selection will be two areas of focus for the rest of the season for Team 6.
Predictions
7 p.m. – Team 1 (3-3) vs. Team 5 (1-5): Team 1 by 9
8 p.m. – Team 6 (0-6) vs. Team 2 (4-2): Team 2 by 17
9 p.m. – Team 4 (5-1) vs. Team 3 (5-1): Team 3 by 6