We open a new round of pool today, beginning a six-to-eight day journey. The first series is...
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Twilight. The blue cue plays in 9-ball to open the round between a highly-hyped rookie and star veteran. Southridge's Bianca played a smooth game 1, working a four-ball run early on and a three-ball run-out in the end to keep Central's Twilight from building any momentum. Bianca's good game made it a 1-0 series lead in her favor with the win. The Defenders' Bianca took game 2 as well, showing a bit less confidence but late game poise with a four-ball run getting her in position. The Warriors' Twilight offered a late challenge, but missed on the 9, and Bianca tapped it in to clinch the series at 2-0. In game 3, Twilight didn't waste time for saving face, making the 2-9 combination to the bottom right with authority. Bianca still took the series 2-1, and will advance to the bracket semifinals, where a road match awaits her.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Dreamy. The red cue makes its round debut in Accuracy between the Blades rookie and his star teammate. Game 1 went well for both players, but slightly better for Dreamy, who staved off a fierce late attack from Bandit to retain the 1-2 win, giving Dreamy a 1-0 series lead as well. Game 2 was less impressive on both sides, with Bandit falling behind quite a bit early on. He held on and kept the game close, eventually gaining a late lead to win 3-5 over Dreamy, with his win tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw Bandit emerge with a three-shot lead, only to miss four straight at the end of the game, with Dreamy winning the 3-4 result in overtime. Dreamy's persistence earned her a 2-1 series win, and she will face the winner of the next series in the bracket semifinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Zach. The red cue gets another look in Accuracy between these Eastern Hills rivals. Game 1 didn't go to plan for either player, as Pronger's Zach saw his shot fall apart early on. Freedom's Stinky did little to assert himself, and ended up in a tie at the end of the game. Zach had the overtime break and couldn't sink anything, so Stinky had an easy route to a 4-5 win for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Cascades' Stinky had great command early on, but he and the Tridents' Zach both experience a collapse in the middle of the game. Zach's frustration prevented him from getting back into the game, dropping a 3-6 result to Stinky, who clinched the series at 2-0. In game 3, Zach kept the pressure high on Stinky but couldn't get the job done in regulation shots. Instead, Stinky's overtime miss allowed Zach to take the game in a 1-2 win. Stinky still won the series 2-1, and he will play the Blades' Dreamy at Swordpoint's Gillette Center in the bracket semifinals.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Fluffina v. Twinkie I. Strong veterans square off in a series of 15-ball with the silver cue. Maplewood's Fluffina tried to hold the pace of play in a chippy game 1, but it went back and forth between her and Lighton's Twinkie I. Fluffina was on the right side of the oscillation, making the last two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, Fluffina had control of the early parts for the Lumberjacks, but the Prestige's Twinkie I set the tone down the stretch with a six-ball run followed by the last two balls on the next turn, good enough for the visitor to win and make it a 1-all series. In game 3, Fluffina had the game in her hands in the late stages, but a scratch ended her four-ball run, giving Twinkie I ball-in-hand for the last two shots, and she converted for the win. Twinkie I takes the series 2-1 to head into the bracket semifinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Caitlin v. Spot. The silver cue remains in action for a series of 10-ball. Oceanside's Caitlin had a terrible break in game 1, leading to a messy first half of the game with her and Pronger's Spot missing frequently. Spot had one miss so bad, it resulted in illegal contact, and Caitlin mercifully ended the game with a 5-10 combination to the top right for the 1-0 series lead. The break in game 2 was much better, making for smoother play. The Waves' Caitlin didn't have a great game, and this left things open for the Tridents' Spot, who eventually closed the game with a three-ball run-out, ending by deflecting the cue off the 7 to take the 10 in the top right. This tied the series at 1. Caitlin's game 3 effort was highlighted by a pair of three-ball runs, the second of those winning her the game in a tight battle with Spot. Caitlin took the series 2-1, and will host a bracket semifinal series at this venue.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Potter. More Tridents are in action, as the captain plays the hosting role to her rookie teammate in this 8-ball series with the blue cue. Precious had a ball on the break to get started well, but she also nearly potted the 8. Her confidence was rattled, and Potter took advantage to make a three-ball run and then the 8 on the next turn, going ahead 1-0 in the series. Precious rattled off a strong six-ball run at the start of game 2, but a couple of turns later saw Potter fire back with an eight-ball run-out, coming from way behind after Precious went stagnant to take the win. Potter clinched the series at 2-0 with the impressive run. In game 3, Precious again had the better of the early play, but a piercing run by Potter gave him the advantage in the end, and he took the win to sweep the series 3-0. Potter will be on the road in the bracket semifinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Patches. The blue cue gets started in 12-ball in its last series of the day. Game 1 could have gone either way, but Boston's Patches knocked in Pearl's Watermelon's last ball, giving away the game as she tried to gain position. Watermelon graciously accepted the gifted 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Patches made a highlight reel shot in game 2, jumping over the 2 to hit the 11, which deflected perfectly off the 7 and into the top right. The Surfers' Watermelon replied with a three-ball run, but defense stagnated the game. Watermelon made an ill-fated pact with Patches to exchange wild-card balls, which then led to Patches making her final shot on the next turn to tie the series at 1, saving only a lot of time. Watermelon had a chance in game 3, having all four remaining shots lined up, but her play at the bottom left ruined it, and Patches cut and banked her final two shots in to take the win and a 2-1 series win. Patches will host the bracket semifinal series at Boston's Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Rainmane. The Southlands Derby heads to pool in this 9-ball series with the red cue. Golden's Dusty looked great, making two balls early on, but Midland's Rainmane was perfect, rallying for a seven-ball run-out, giving her the win and an early 1-0 series lead with the dominant performance. The Predators' Rainmane came out strong again in game 2, working a four-ball run before the game got difficult. The Pilots' Dusty had almost no control in the game, missing a majority of her shots as she lost again to Rainmane, who won with a double-pot of the 6 to the top side and 9 to the top right to clinch the series at 2-0. Rainmane couldn't finish the job in game 3, scratching as she shot the 9, which ended her three-ball run and gave Dusty and easy shot to win on. Rainmane still took the series 2-1, and she will be the host of a bracket semifinal at HP Field Events Center in Midland.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Starlight. One of the most anticipated series of the Tournament goes now, as the superstar sisters meet in 15-ball with the red cue to lead off the post-break session. The early stages of game 1 did not go well for Pacific's Starlight, who struggled to pinpoint her shot. Central's Twilight carried the game for awhile, but the late stages were all Starlight, who made the last five balls on two turns to take the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went much the same, as both players had some difficulty with clear shooting angles. Each had an impressive indirect shot in the game, but the Warriors' Twilight couldn't complete the closing run. The Volcanoes' Starlight instead banked the 14 to the top right and took the 15 in the bottom right on a cut to clinch the series at 2-0. Starlight completed the sweep with a slow build in game 3, and while Twilight made a few shots, she couldn't get the win. Starlight will be on the road again in the bracket semifinals after her 3-0 series sweep.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Lexi. The red cue remains up for a series of 8-ball between these players on new teams. Infinity's Mr. Snowman had the early advantage in game 1, and nearly won, but his three-ball run ended with a scratch while shooting at the 8. It didn't drop, and Harrison's Lexi charged forward from here, winning the game in the next two turns with strong positioning for the 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Lexi fell behind again early in game 2, watching as the Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman picked through an unfriendly spread. Lexi then shocked the crowd with a four-ball run-out, including an improbable bank to make the 8 in the bottom left, sealing the series at 2-0. Mr. Snowman made a big rally in game 3, keeping himself in the game after Lexi had a hot start. Mr. Snowman was more effective in the finish, playing defense to stymie Lexi, and he won with a bank on the 8 to the top right. The series ended 2-1 in Lexi's favor, sending her through to the bracket semifinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Rosalina v. Tigerette. A big-name rookie for the Gems takes on the Tradewinds captain in 9-ball with the silver cue. Diamond's Rosalina is halfway to a bit of an upset, making a four-ball run-out with a 6-9 combination to the top right in game 1, stunning Commerce's Tigerette as Rosalina took the series lead at 1-0 in the win. In game 2, the Tradewinds' Tigerette held a stranglehold throughout the game, making a four-ball run early and ending on another four-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 against a completely weakened Gems' Rosalina. Tigerette completed the series comeback with a game 3 win, making the last two shots, with a 6-9 combination to the top side as the winner in a 2-1 series win. The veteran Tigerette will be on the road again in the bracket semifinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Dani. The B-level Queen faces a newcomer to the Spiders in Accuracy with the silver cue. Swordpoint's Snowball was not without error in game 1, but Web City's Dani couldn't play away from that, and the two went to overtime. Dani tried a soft break, but Snowball blasted the rack apart and got the win 3-4 when the 3 sank at the bottom left, good for Snowball to take a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Snowball was unbeatable in game 2, playing a perfect game, while the Spiders' Dani was decidedly less so, scattering four misses throughout the game in a 0-4 loss to Snowball, who secured the series at 2-0. Game 3 was a mess that saw Snowball blow through two multi-shot leads, and then give the game away on a poor soft break in overtime, allowing Dani the 5-6 win. Snowball won the series 2-1, advancing to the bracket semifinals.
That's all we've got for today, and we'll be back with more tomorrow. If I had to pin a date for the end of the round, I would say March 24 right now, pending any poor shooting breaks.
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